WasAnnon
Slow pace in the most part of the movie.
FuzzyTagz
If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.
Helllins
It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.
Fluke_Skywalker
Plot; The survivors of a plane crash must overcome their differences if they're rebuild their plane and escape their Hellish circumstances.I've never seen the original, which certainly has a better pedigree and reputation than this lightly regarded remake. The pieces are all here for the combination of tense drama and survival adventure the story promises, but in the hands of a less than accomplished director like John Moore (Max Payne, Die Hard w/a Vengeance), it too often falls flat despite the solid and game cast. Dennis "When they can't get Harrison Ford" Quaid heads an above board cast that includes Miranda Otto, Tyreese Gibson, Hugh Laurie and Giovanni Rabisi, the latter of whom steals the film as the weirdly enigmatic brains behind the plan they desperately cling to. The original is more highly regarded for sure, though as I said, I've never seen it. But if you're looking for a better executed new millennium film about survival adventure, I suggest The Grey starring Liam Neeson as this watchable but unremarkable remake never takes flight.
jb_campo
It's always a risk with a remake of a successful film, but Phoenix succeeds with flying colors. Quaid as the Captain delivers just the right mix of toughness, compassion, and comedy, when needed. The cast of characters was well thought out, with a nice mix of thinkers, doers, and listeners. They even cast a woman in a lead role, which I think worked well. The plot takes you aboard this plane that has mechanical issues and crashes in the desert. OK, now what do we do, they ask. the question is interestingly played back and forth, with some results, until the inevitable hopelessness compels them to try the one impossible task to rebuild the plane. While the ending is somewhat predictable, the movie is quick moving, finely acted, has a good pace, with breathtaking cinematography. This kind of movie always inspires the question - what would you do if this were you? If you enjoy survival type movies against all odds, rent this movie. You will really like it. Enjoy.
Wuchak
This version of "Flight of the Phoenix" was released at the end of 2004 and is a modern take on the 1965 film with Jimmy Stewart.THE PLOT: A group of mostly oil workers crash land in the Gobi Desert where being found by a search party is unlikely. One of the passengers turns out to be an airplane designer who insists that they can create a new plane with the workable parts of the wreckage. Although an outlandish idea, it may be their only legitimate chance at survival.The plot is exactly the same as the original version with a few notable differences: It takes place about 40 years later; it includes a woman (Miranda Otto); it features a more racially mixed cast; and it takes place in the Gobi Desert rather than the Libyan Desert (although it was shot in Namibia, while the original was filmed in the deserts of SE California).I'm not one of those people who hates the very idea of remakes. I'm open to filmmakers taking a heralded classic and modernizing it, like the excellent remake of "The Parent Trap." That's what we get with this remake of "Flight of the Phoenix," except that it's not excellent. But it's not bad either. Although there are some new touches that are as good or even superior to the original (Like Liddle's powerful line to Towns in the debris field, as well as the confrontation with the Mongols sequence), this modernization ultimately pales in the shadow of the original. Why? There's less focus on character development and therefore the movie has less interesting characters. Instead the filmmakers opt for scenes that might maintain the attention of those with ADHD, like an explosion scene, a lightning storm sequence and a dubious attack by the Mongol smugglers at the very end (shouldn't they have attacked while they were pulling the aircraft? Or earlier?). But the biggest negative is that the movie just lacks the brilliant dramatic flow of the original.The film runs 113 minutes.FINAL WORD: This would be a better film for anyone who hasn't seen the original, but if you've seen the '65 version it's just so mediocre by comparison. Still, it's worth checking out if, like me, you love survival films. And it is interesting to see a different take on the same basic story.GRADE: C
MovieSonic
This film is definitely 'good' - there aren't really any major things wrong with it other than the usual; "that's not believable" or "that's not what normal people do in that situation".Having said that, there are a couple of satisfying moments where people do take the action you want them to take.The opening scene of the crash (no spoilers as that is given in every tag line for the film!) is simply superb. I have honestly never seen a more realistic plane crash on film and I have seen a shocking amount of films.Some reviews have commented on the lack of action... well... they crashed in a desert... it's not as though there are going to be car chases and helicopter shoot-outs! Despite the surroundings, the story moves along at a good pace and there are some nice surprises.It is pointless being annoyed at the script / ending as this is a remake and does exactly what the original did.Overall, a good film and worth watching.7/10
