Black Thunder (1998)

To me, this movie is perfection.

One of my all time favorites.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** This is really a very very bad movie. Actually, it's easily the worst I've seen in a long time.The plot is quite old, it actually reminds me of 80's B-action flicks: A rogue pilot steals a Mirage (sorry, Nova stealth plane) and brings it to Libya, where a terrorist group plans to use it's ability to go invisible, to bomb a meeting of ministers and heads of state in Paris. Now, there's only one man who can take the plane back: Michael Dudikoff, aka Vince Connors, a pilot for the US airforce. Err, why not send a SEAL team in instead, or bomb the terrorists back to the stone age with a few tomahawks?Furthermore, I'll write down a few little details that make this film so bad, but so enjoyable at the same time.-According to a digital map in the control room, Libya is located in Saudi Arabia -Soldiers guarding a US airbase carry AK-47's -Recycled material from older Dudikoff films -the Nova Stealth fighter actually being an ordinary Mirage -bombers referred to as "B-3's" designated to carpet-bomb the terrorist base actually being F-16's. -Same terrorists being blown up twice*****SPOILERS*****-in the last dog fight, when Dudikoff blows his adversary away, isn't that the Mirage (Nova) exploding? Huh?*****End of SPOILERS*****I laughed out loud a few times, particulary at the "Libyan terrorists" who are obviously American extras and the Libyan landscape which looks a heck of a lot like southern California.That being said, the acting isn't that bad, considering the awful dialogue the actors have to work with.All in all, it's enjoyable but don't expect a serious action movie.PS: Producers, please note: A low budget can generate a pretty good movie, if you try.

Typical B grade action movie, probably made with a desperately tight budget & in a record time! The series of flight action scenes are tailored for the adrenaline junkey, but they were clearly extracted from other film footage. Don't expect too much on the acting side of things...it is well below par. For me, the worst portion of the movie came via the ridiculous and suicidally dumb Libyan soldiers, charging the opposition openly and without proper cover. How stupid can you get, Mr Director ? And how is it possible for two guys with hand-pistols and limited ammunition to fight off several soldiers with machine-guns and other automatic weapons...doesn't make sense. Even more so, the director finds enough time between gunfire exchanges to allow the "hero" to say farewell to one of his wounded buddies...ridiculous.On the positive side, I must say, I've heard alot about Landon Hall, and the scene (or scenes)where she struts her stuff, makes this film worth the while. She's simply gorgeous. Rent this if (a) you're a fighter plane enthusiast or (b) a Landon Hall fan. As simple as that.

Not too bad for a typical Dudikoff film. Nancy Valen is always a treat but has a terrible "Libyan" accent. Artistic license is taken frequently with basic geography and flight times but if you can ignore that it's a harmless way to waste an hour and a half. Watch for the same guy dodging the same Jeep twice and two soldiers getting blown up twice (actually just recycled footage).

This movie is a B-action. It´s just made for showing how bad Dudikoff can play sometimes. But still I like action so I gave it a 4/10. It´s almost the same in quality as Aces Iron Eagle 3.