FIRE BIRDS (1990) Revisited: Awfully Good Movie Review
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2022
- With TOP GUN: MAVERICK finally hitting theaters and breaking box office records over the past Memorial Day weekend, Awfully Good Movies is feeling a need itself…the need for another Nicolas Cage review on his failed TOP GUN ripoff, 1990's FIRE BIRDS!
22 years before the second GHOST RIDER, Nic was hoping to find a blockbuster hit for his career to balance out his weirder indie work like VAMPIRE’S KISS, and Disney’s Touchstone Pictures happened to have for him a wholly original script about a maverick Army soldier who enters a training program to help defend the US from a foreign threat while juggling a love affair with one of his flight instructors…not familiar at all!
But instead of a fighter jet, Nic is flying an Apache helicopter for the Army to fend off a drug cartel in South America during the crack epidemic of the 80s and 90s with the help of his mentor Tommy Lee Jones and former flame/fellow soldier Sean Young. Unfortunately, Cage’s crazy is clearly restrained by a limp script of cliches and overly edited dogfight sequences, and neither Tommy Lee or Sean Young can do much else than go through the motions.
Judging by the lack of Nic Cage memes that have emanated from this movie, it seems I’m not the only one who finds this flick to be a lifeless sludge through the TOP GUN formula that can’t even succeed as military/anti-drug propaganda. But it does have one big advantage that TOP GUN never did: two songs from Phil Collins on the soundtrack. Now that truly does take my breath away!
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I was a warrant officer candidate about halfway through Army flight school when this came on HBO in the dayroom. We all gathered around to watch and were quickly horrified at how bad the movie was. We relentlessly mocked the guys trying to get into the Apache program after that movie.
When I was a kid, my father and I used to hang out with an Army recruiter who was also a friend of the family.
At the time, Srgt. Hartley had been lamenting the shortage of applicants to Rotary Wing Flight School in addition to the general lack of interest in enlisting in the Army itself.
Then one day, he decided to watch "Firebirds" on HBO, and after that, exclaimed, "No wonder our recruitment rate is so low!!"
LOL, that's hilarious! It's ironic that THE DEER HUNTER probably got more people to enlist than FIRE BIRDS. I for one don't hold the many terrible films about the Army against the Army itself, with the sole exception of IN THE ARMY NOW starring Pauly Shore.
@@JeonardShadby505 I don't think there's any evidence that recruitment has increased because of a movie. Then again Americans take their TV too seriously and are easily brainwashed so who knows.
Nice Cage yelling in the flight simulator was Oscar level acting.
My family rented this one night on VHS (remember those). We all got some laughs from it. No one hated it, it was a 90-minute hoot to watch, but we all can see others were meh about it.
I remember renting this movie with Cadillac Man starring Robin Williams. The good old VHS days.
The simulator scene is hilarious. Top tier nic cage
All gone bye bye
I remember enjoyed watching this movie as a kid, mostly because helicopters = cool and Tommy Lee Jones' character was a hoot. I haven't seen it since.
Considering how much trouble she is off camera, Young’s performance was extremely wooden. You think there’d be a “she’s a pain, but worth it” factor.
Nick is just as crazy off camera. They cancelled each other out on screen.
I was 8 when Wings of the Apache came out and for years held such a lofty place in my heart. Now I'm the same age as Tommy Lee Jones was in this movie apparently 😳
Never herd it called fire birds before, in the UK its called wings of the apache. And its one of my all time favourite movies.
Of course Jesse Shade is reviewing a Helicopter action film starring Nicholas Cage. It's required in the deal he made with Malebolgia. Still excited to watch.
I still remember Nicholas Cage swearing vengeance on his mortal enemy with all the passion of falling asleep standing up >D
I was in the US Army when this movie came out and it was the first movie that I started finding flaws in them
the first mistake I saw was
Why do the soldiers have such long hair? Military regulations are strict with your appearance
also
If Jake had an eye dominance problem, it would have been far easier to put the scope on the other side of his helmet, which is simple enough to do, than it would be to spray paint a Humvee windshield while blindfolded with panties and a periscope strapped to his right eye
Why did they spray paint the windshield if he was blindfolded anyway?
Another thing, you don't salute officers in combat zones. This results in officers getting shot if snipers are in the area
Actually, it was Warrant Officer or, to be more precise, Miss or Mrs. Snookykins, (Mister for men) not lieutenant
Wow thanks for the info, dude. I know little about the Army’s regulations circa 1990 or 2022, so I was just blue skying on my own criticisms. I didn't even notice that Tommy Lee had spray painted that car's windshield until you told me!
@@JeonardShadby505 Technically it was Jake's buddy that spraypainted the windshield, not Tommy Lee
@@dragonweyr44 Ahh, gotcha! Again, that buddy character was such a non entity in this movie that he could have vanished in midair during a scene and i wouldn't have noticed.
I completely forgot about this movie's existence.
This was hilarious. I still have this movie on vhs. I think I bought it at the grocery store when I was like 10. Never knew cartels have fighter jets? The Scorpion attack helicopter Hahaha
Loved this growing up as a kid, the bad guy and his "Scorpion Attack Helicopter" was way cooler than the 5th Generation Fighter of Top Gun 2.
Here in the UK the film went by the far better title of "Wings of the Apache"
Japan just has “Apache”
In Germany "Airborne -Flügel aus Stahl "
When will The Awfully Good Host’s genius be realized?! Love this guy!
I honestly have a soft spot for this movie. It’s very underrated.
FireBirds>TopGun
@@qwertyqaz1qaz Well, at least Fire Birds had an actual main villain in the form of Eric Stoller and his Scorpion attack helicopter. We didn’t see the Bisante Cartel and its members, though.
@@SolCresta3405 Stoller doesnt say word and is an absolute badass in the movie...
@@qwertyqaz1qaz Of course. He’s one of the few silent villains in action movies.
Another example of distribution companies renaming movies, it was called Wings of The Apache in the UK!
The room needs a sequel where Tommy is a ghost who haunts his old apartment...
An MST3K and Beavis and Butthead reference in an otherwise unrelated review is an instant win in my book
I just love it when Tommy Lee Jones gives his opener to the training…
Rules of engagement: One, whoever sees the other first is the winner, whoever gets seen is toast.
That man has the best voice.
"So if you can't handle THIS MUCH BADASS, or are currently pregnant, DON'T WATCH THIS MOVIE. I'm the President, TRUST ME!!" 😭🤣🤣😭😭😭🤣🤣🤣🤣
This movie was filmed in Fort Hood Texas, When i was a kid living there.. I remember hearing that they were making helicopter movie ala Top Gun on base.
My sister was a bartender in a local night club in Killeen and she saw Nicolas Cage in the club partying. I remember when the movie came out... that everyone hated it.
i was stationed there 87-89. 2AD Avn Bde. they used our motorpool in the movie.
@@grogvaughan5649 That is so badass!
This was called something like Apache here in the UK. Really liked it as a kid but it was basically Top Gun with helicopters
i was stationed at Ft Hood when they filmed this there. they used our motorpool and aircraft for the movie.
@18:29 2AD water tower, Ft Hood, TX. Hell On Wheels! I was stationed there when filming was in progress. Reliable sources said he frequented The Bunny Club off post. Good times!
Amazing, thank you for your service dude. I would love nothing more than to be in a place called The Bunny Club drinking with the early 90s Nic Cage. And now I know they filmed this movie in Texas, because they never specify where the training sequences are taking place in this flick.
Nicholas Cage... end of story
Greatest movie ever !!!
I've literally never even heard of this movie before.
I remember this film. It was called Wings of the Apache in the UK. I haven't seen it for years but o remember loving it.
Ok. looking for some help. When Nick had issues using the eye steering wheel, it reminded me of another movie where the main character had issues using that technology and come to find out he was right handed, but left eye dominant. It was weird how that movie just popped into my head and have no idea how long ago it was when i saw it or what it was.
I could be way off but Clint Eastwood's Firefox (1982) is about a mind controlled fighter plane.
Love the Top Gun Nintendo game music in the beginning!
This is hilarious. Great work!
Thanks dude that means so much
Love your background music of TopGun NES!
Nice to have you back Jesse! Keep it up!
I listen to a lot of your videos while I'm at work And this one Had me cracking up. You guys are hilarious with your editing and everything. Keep up the good work! Oh and I always Enjoyed firebirds growing up. You guys should do the original Iron Eagle at some time maybe even a wtf happened to this movie
I like how you guys leave little easter eggs in your videos. When you did the Top Gun video, this came up and to be honest, i had never heard of this movie. But through that part with Nick was freaking hilarious. No you got me watching this to see what the movie is about and a new episode of Ups and Downs is out out for Hell in a Cell last night.......Priorities I guess.
You probably knew it under the international release title ("wings of the Apache"), which is somewhat better known, for some unexplainable reason.
In preparation for Despicable Me: The Rise Of Gru, I hope Jesse reviews Megamind. The DreamWorks film that never got the same love or franchise appeal.
Megamind, not Mastermind.
@@KadeemG61 Megamind is an OK movie.
15:36 LMAO Best...scene...ever. Thanks for that!
Another great job and review!
I think it's hilarious that you're using the NES Top Gun video game music in the background of the video opening when you were talking about the films.
Hey, there was a series of games in the 90s where you pilot a Apache. I LOVED THEM.
40 years old ! he looks 57 and divorced twice .
Well, this is Tommy Lee Jones we're talking about, I think the man was born looking old like Benjamin Button.
LOL i worked on this film and it was a blast to work on, actually Seans co pilot BUZZARD was named after me lol
This was called Wings of the Apache in the UK
Yep, firebirds sounds shit lol
I watched this movie as a kid at my friend's house. I thought it was just okay back then. Now I know it sucks.
Thank you, Jesse! I needed this:)
That Nintendo themed top gun , was perfect !
Never heard of this movie, now I am glad to know I never did, but this video was great as usual, kudos!
Great video! If I could politely suggest, turn up the narrators’ voice. It’s hard to hear him and the inserted clips end up being super loud. Either way, I loved this movie as a kid! Thank you for covering it!!
“…Nicholas G*oddamn Cage and Tommy Lee Damn Jones!”
Nic is a legend !!!!!! Great video
Cylk Cozart was also in the ROTC episode of "Saved by the Bell".
5:59 man of the house, dude I thought it was a fever dream, never watched that movie again, not that I didn't wanted to, more like no one was playing it on cable anymore
This film was released as Wings of the Apache in the UK, if I remember correctly Poriot was the baddy in a cool wee black helicopter, though I could be wrong, about Poriot not the films name. 😬
This movie was horrible but 1989-1992 werent solid years for Nicolas Cage. Thank god then he did in 1992 the really charming and fun comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas" and then a couple of others solid movies like Red rock west, It could happen to you, Guardin Tess and the fun comedy Trapped in paradise. All in 1992-1995 before his Oscar winner role and his huge hit movies in the late 90s like City of angels, The rock, Con air, Face off, Gone in 60 seconds & The family man
I typically watch and enjoy all the videos on this channel. But this one just went off the deep end and talk about the Cage antics more than the movie itself. (Just a little too much). Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you for your criticism, my only defense is that the movie itself was so threadbare that I couldn't help but veer off topic. I try not to let that happen, but I'm glad you'll give my next episode a fair shot and I hope to keep things more on topic.
I remember seeing Sean Young in a quirky 1993 mad cap movie called 'Fatal Instinct', it also had Armand Assante, Sherilyn Fenn and others (it's worth finding and giving it a watch)... She looked... DAMMMMMMN FINE in it... 🤔😍😍😍
😎🇬🇧
2:11 this is cocaine in a nutshell
I remember seeing the trailer for this movie. Wasn't very impressed by it.
What does it meant I didn’t even know this movie existed?
It was Wings of The Apache when I watched it in SA.
I saw this when I was a kid and I thought the movie was awesome.
Plus I copied how Nicholage Cage flirted with the chick on this movie like a heel and it worked wonders for me 🤣
I'm your mother now.... Lol, love it!
I never watched this movie but I do remember seeing the trailer.
Damn this was a good one!
Thanks kindly, sir, it took way more effort on this episode because a lot of personal shit in my life. Always happy to see it pay off.
@@JeonardShadby505 "lot of personal shit in my life" I don't think there's any worst motivation killer than that. I hope it's just a phase for you and things get better. I on the other hand have been dealing with it almost my hole life. I wanted to die at least as young as eight years old.
I remember enjoying it as a kid. But you've convinced me to not give it a second try.
i remember watching this on TV on a random weekend when I was younger and thought I hallucinated it because I was watching too much Cage (The Rock, Face/Off, Con Air)
The movie was ok but i got the feeling, that a lot of it was left on the cutting floor. Or the script seemed rushed and somehow incomplete. It was very short
Good old vhs times
Yeah, like I showed with that film and trailer comparison, I think there's a lot cut out of this. Of all the movies to run 85 minutes, it should be a bad Adam Sandler comedy, not this.
The film actually begins with an opening battle scene but has Nic Cage doing a voiceover and describing what's happening in the scene as you watch it - makes no sense. The film was obviously a disaster from every facet to casting, script, storyline, editing and direction. However, by some miracle, the film is still watchable and entertaining. I have no idea how.
Thank God Jesse is back!
On 9:30 I was like .... OMG , was it Vampire's Kiss on a helicopter? I just have to watch this movie.
I saw this late at night in the theaters back when it came out. I don't remember much about it cause I was 7 at the time. But I don't remember it being THIS bad. Holy shit.
This vid was a fuckin AAAAA masterpiece. Well done Joblo!
Now I k ow this movie sucks. But I saw this with my dad as a preteen in the theater. This was a time when, for cool helicopters, all we had was Airwolf and Blue Thunder. Of course, those are not real usable helicopters, but as the Apache was new and was very real, I thought this was awesome. With my time in service, I've got to see these up close and personal and I must say, I was quite impressed.
😂😭🤣 too many great jokes!
Does anyone else remember how HARD Hollywood was trying at one time to make Nick Cage a romantic lead/sex symbol? And does anyone else remember thinking..."Why?"
A man of the house reference. Lol wow. Who else but Jesse “motherfuckin” Shade
How am I just discovering this movie?
Ewww! It was called Fire Birds in the US?!
Over here in the UK It's called Wimgs of the Apache, a better title and I remember renting it in its first day of release on VHS in 1989!
II recall seeing this when a young lad in a mall and debating on leaving mid show. Stayed to see how MST3000 it would go.
The Apache is a cool helicopter it would be cool to see it more in movies.
Wait what? The Fire Bird? Over here in Germany the movie was called "AIRBORNE - Flügel aus Stahl" (Wings of Steel). This seems to be one of the many movies that have gotten a completely different english tithe for our market. Like with "The Wraith" which was called "Interceptor" over here. And in both cased i think the titles we got sounded way cooler.
Hey man love your videos but your audio is way low just a heads up
Hey just a heads up, the audio levels are a bit all over the place on this one. The voiceover can be hard to ehar while some sound effects and clips are too loud. I am on chrome on a mac connected to a full sound system so no headphones or laptop speakers
9:27 this is what many women Nic Cage has made love to experienced him saying.
This is outstanding
I remember my dad took me to see this in the theater. It was cool when I was ten. I haven’t seen it since so i kinda doubt it holds up.
Wait how are we not going to talk about how much MORE Ernest Goes to Jail made compared to Pretty Woman?!
That was kind of a joke, sorry to lead you on
@@JeonardShadby505 lmao! aw kind of wish that was true now
As a kiedy in the 90s i mady my dad rent this on VHS so often, that hi just bought damn tape :)
Never heard of this one alltough I like Cage. Gonna watch it. I should pay more attention when browsing IMDB. Then again I don't recall that I have ever seen Top Gun...
An interesting but probably little known fact is that the mission briefing screens from the pc game Gunship 2000 were copied directly from Firebirds/Wings of the Apache. There's only three things wrong with this movie: Nicholas Cage, Sean Young and Tommy Lee Jones! Obviously the real stars of the show are the Apaches, just like how the real stars of Top Gun are the Tomcats!
Thanks. You're right. Con-Air is a good film.
18:46 ...are the cartels flying SAAB Drakens?
Great review, very funny. I like this movie, but there's obvious problems with the script (and probably everything else). Tommy Lee Jones was very good but Cage & Young were miscast. The film is entertaining but ultimately lacks substance
This Film was the poor version of TOP GUN
One of my favorite aviation movies
I remember Firefox w Clint Eastwoods those movies w Lou gosset jr I remember air America
I have zero knowledge of this movie looks like the movie version of tv show Airwolf
The volume level of this video was way too low.
Hey Jesse, before that Thor: Love and Thunder coming out this year. Are you going review the 2011 film version of Conan the Barbarian Starring Jason Momoa.
Not a bad idea, I was thinking about MIB INTERNATIONAL because of the Thompson/Hemsworth connection, but that movie is boring AF.
hey his love interest on that movie should replace Amber Turd, as Mera
Replicants make good scout pilots