The Flight of the Phoenix Review
by Mark R. Leeper (markrleeper AT yahoo DOT com)March 7th, 2005
FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Director John Moore remakes one of the
better-remembered adventure films of the 1970s
and actually makes a version that compares
favorably with its original. A plane crashes in
the desert and, with rescue unlikely, the survivors
hit on a plan to save themselves that might be
genius and might be madness. The original was a
white-knuckle film in its time and the remake
almost matches the tension. Rating: +2 (-4 to +4)
or 8/10
For a filmmaker who wants to get good critical attention it is a gamble remaking a well-liked film. Simply reproducing the original film is not enough. If the film is too different from the original, the audience who loved the first movie will hate the remake. On the other hand, if the films are too similar, what is the point of remaking the film? To remake a respected film, the filmmaker needs to make a list of things that can be done better in spite of the first film's popularity.
The new film FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX is based on Elleston Trevor's 1964 novel THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX and on Lukas Heller's screenplay for its 1975 film adaptation. It would be difficult to discuss the new film without comparing it to the now classic original version. Scott Frank (who wrote for the television series "The Wonder Years") and Edward Burns (who wrote and starred in THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN) wrote the new adaptation. In some ways the script is better that the original and visually it is more sensational. There are spectacular shots of flying over the desert before and during a windstorm. The film features one of the most harrowing plane crashes in memory. We have a better feel for the mechanics of the survival plan in the film.
Without revealing too much of the plot, the story deals with an airplane that crashes in a desert. [In the original the crash was in the Sahara. Perhaps for political reasons the site was moved to the Gobi.] Faced with almost certain death, the survivors find an ingenious and seemingly impossible plan to rescue themselves. But to escape the desert they must overcome the personality conflict between the grizzled pilot, Frank Towns (played here by Dennis Quaid), and an enigmatic passenger who suggests an unexpected plan for survival. Here the passenger (renamed Elliot) is played in a fascinating performance by Giovanni Ribisi. In the original the corresponding character was called Heinrich Dorfmann and was played by Hardy Kruger. Kruger played the character disdainfully laid back. Ribisi almost resembles Kruger but he plays the part entirely differently. He fashions himself as a tightly wound little martinet with a nasal voice. He stands almost at attention with his hands behind his back. He projects being naturally detestable even before he gives his first order. In the original film there supposed to be doubt whether this expert was really right or wrong, but the viewer knew deep down that he was right. The tension between him and Frank Towns was all in whether Frank would overcome his personal demons and recognize the assertive passenger really had reason on his side. Ribisi makes it much harder to sympathize with that character in this film. He is precisely what the story requires and while Kruger was merely good.
The original film has a soaring and beautiful orchestral score by Frank De Vol. It had one piece of source music, Gino Paoli's song "Senza fine." Marco Beltrami's score relies heavily on familiar source songs starting with Johnny Cash's "I've Been Everywhere." It does not capture the emotion I expected. It seems a cheapened effect. On the other hand the visuals, enhanced by digital effects, are stunning. That is particularly true of the early flying scenes and the plane buffeted by the dust storm. The air crash may be the most exciting I have seen filmed. It is far more dramatic than the one in the original film. Perhaps it is overstated, but it is a real experience and is literally breathtaking.
FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX has not gotten good critical response. Still, I think that even for those who have see the 1975 film version this film has much that is worth seeing. If I had seen this film before the original, I might have actually preferred it. I recognize the first adaptation as being a great adventure film and for me it is the better film. But I also greatly enjoyed Director John Moore's take on the story. I rate it a high +2 on the -4 to +4 scale or 8/10. The original would have been a +3 or a 9/10.
Trivia note: the novel is credited to well-known thriller writer Elleston Trevor. This is one penname for Trevor Dudley Smith. He is the same man who wrote under the penname Adam Hall the Quiller spy books, starting with THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM, which was also adapted into a popular film.
Mark R. Leeper
[email protected] Copyright 2005 Mark R. Leeper
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