With that upgrade in video comes an upgrade in audio, too. Blue Underground continues their perfect streak of 4K video quality. Outside of that, this is a flawless image that showcases the kind of depth in every sense that can be achieved with added resolution and a thoughtful HDR pass. The only rough spots are inherent because filmmakers can only do so much with optical effects and stock footage. Sure enough, the 2.40:1 2160p Dolby Vision HDR picture is astonishing, looking so fresh and vibrant and clean you’d never guess it was shot 40 years ago. This is a Blue Underground 4K release and by now buyers should know that distinction practically comes with a guarantee the image you are about to see is immaculate. Also Read: Review Fantaspoa 2021: DETENTION – The Horrors of Military Dictatorship It offers a refreshing look at complicated issues.
This is smart sci-fi, with a capable cast and large-scale visuals. It could be easy today to imagine an all-guns-blazing approach to the material, with Douglas’ character practically foaming at the mouth to blast the Japanese but instead Taylor dances around the big action and poses something more introspective. Douglas, Sheen, and the rest handle their unique situation with aplomb once they have accepted the bizarre reality of their anachronistic appearance in 1941. The Final Countdown may play a bit dry at times but I appreciate director Don Taylor’s more grounded approach to such a fantastical scenario. Playing with the military comes with a price – that being government oversight of the script and how the branches are portrayed – but the upshot is getting to use all of Uncle Sam’s fancy toys.
The ship is pretty much the star of the film and the filmmakers made sure to shoot it from every angle, showing off the intricate interiors as well as the gorgeous views of the sea from within. As Lloyd Kaufman notes in the bonus features, having a name like Kirk Douglas attached to the film opened up numerous doors that otherwise would have remained shut.
#The final countdown movie full
The filmmakers had full use of the USS Nimitz as well as the cooperation of the Navy and, boy, does it ever add a heaping amount of production value to this low-budgeted feature. Also Read: SPIRAL: FROM THE BOOK OF SAW Review–Classic Horror Franchise Reimagined for a New EraĪ big part of why this film excels is because the scenario looks authentic. What’s great is these men never fight it out or come to blows these are terse, logical, fantastic discussions dealing with a very real threat in a finite amount of time. He knows every intimate detail about what will occur and he uses that knowledge to piecemeal his own version of events to come. James Farentino is a Commander and part-time historian. He immediately seizes upon the opportunity to drive back the Japanese and prevent a catastrophe. Martin Sheen is on board as a Department of Defense overseer. His battle is to keep his men safe not to, as he says, worry about a possible future that has yet to occur. Much like the Butterfly Effect every action by the carrier has the potential to completely alter the future.ĭouglas plays a man of strong conviction whose only loyalty lies with the Navy. Yet now he resides with the Nimitz after an intervention on their part. He’s a potential future White House candidate who had originally disappeared on the morning of December 7 th. The appearance of Senator Chapman’s (Charles Durning) further complicates the situation. This is not a film concerned with building up to a massive battle this is a tense and passionate conundrum.
Also Read: THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW Review–Bloody and Electric Thriller The potential to save countless lives is literally in the hands of these few people, They fiercely debate what actions to take. And although the Nimitz is a lone carrier it has more than enough firepower to severely cripple if not outright decimate the enemy. No one else knows the Japanese fleet is headed in their direction. history when the bombing of Pearl Harbor took place. Yelland (Kirk Douglas) and the men of the USS Nimitz who, due to a freak storm, are thrust back in time to December 6, 1941, a day before one of the most infamous dates in U.S. The Final Countdown (1980) poses a similar question to Capt. One common question in regard to time travel is if you could go back in time and kill baby Hitler, would you? Essentially, given the opportunity to play god with life and history to what allegiance would your actions be governed? Let things play out as they historically did, or alter the future forever? – potentially.