Airwolf: The Movie (1984)
Airwolf is capable of supersonic speeds, invisible to radar and armed with ultra state-of-the-art hardware. Airwolf is the most awesome aerial weapon ever developed. When the helicopter is stolen by Libyan mercenaries, Michael Archangel, Project director for the CIA, enlists the help of Vietnam veteran Stringfellow Hawke and his closest friend Dominic Santini, to attempt to recover the Airwolf. The mission throws them into the midst of Middle Eastern violence and destruction, where they come face to face with danger, romance and intrigue in their battle to re-possess the deadliest aerial weapon ever used.
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Best movie of this year hands down!
A Disappointing Continuation
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Ironic plot line to this pilot considering what's happening in Libya right now! Must say this opening pilot episode packs quite an emotional wallop and it's actually much more of a character film and romance than helicopter action that the series would become. Stringfellow is a real man's man.*spoilers*I think the ease with which Santini and Stringfellow steal Airwolf from the Libyans is a bit silly. When String is playing his cello at the end following his tragic loss I couldn't help but shed a small tear with him, especially when the eagle appears. Really quite emotional for a TV pilot about a super powered helicopter. Did make me wonder though why String spent so long shooting the Libyans when he first got hold of Airwolf. Those few extra minutes might've meant saving his lady's life...
My love of the Airwolf Television series is based on what great TV is all about: meaningful writing, strong characters, justice and a beautiful helicopter. I loved the music and the drama. I found my- self drawn to the TV set every Saturday night when Airwolf was on CBS. Some episodes were better than others but none of them disappointed me. I wanted the show to go on forever. Of course that is unrealistic. Still, when I met the helicopter in Van Nuys, CA in 1986 I was so honored and overwhelmed. "The Lady" will live in my heart forever. Edward Eugene Smith The Lion of Yelm Washington State, USA
Airwolf is quite simply the greatest television series/movie ever made. I have over 20 episodes of Airwolf and I still can't get enough of it...Airwolf is piloted by String-Fellow Hawke, an elite combat pilot, who would only return the awesome machine if the top-secret F.I.R.M can find his brother (MIA). Airwolf is full of incredible air-fights and has a good plot to go with it. But the amazing chopper is not the only factor that gave Airwolf it's popular title. String-Fellow Hawke is a lonely man who lives in a cabin, 40 miles from the nearest village. Along with his slick flying, he pilots Airwolf skillfully, taking out the opposition with nothing but class. Airwolf is portrayed as realistically as possible making the series a one-and-only, using advanced radar, weapon systems, and stealth capabililites along with superb footage with Airwolf flying below radar scan a few feet of the ground.An irreplacable television series.
Hollywood enjoyed a period of unprecedented interest in technology during the mid-1980s with super vehicle shows such as AIRWOLF, BLUE THUNDER, THE HIGHWAYMAN, KNIGHT RIDER and the underated STREET HAWK.Borne from the mind of one of US Television's most creative writers of quality entertainment - Donald P. Bellisario who brought us TALES OF THE GOLDEN MONKEY, MAGNUM P.I., QUANTUM LEAP and currently with the military drama series, J.A.G., it had everything with action, adventure, espionage, adult scripts, international intrigue, coupled with real-world politics (which is rare in Hollywood) even pushing some right-wing, hawkish politics into the middle of the action.With grim-as-granite Jan-Michael Vincent in the main role as loner pilot, Stringfellow Hawke, aided by Oscar-winning movie veteran, Ernest Borgnine and a support cast including movie actor, Alex Cord (and C.I.A. Deputy Director - Michael Archangel) and TV regular Jean Bruce Scott, it was a show on the edge, that, with the exciting aerial climax at the end of most episodes pushed the boundaries of television with its movie quality action sequences, technology and locations (including the beautiful Monument Valley in Utah).It now has a sizeable following of loyal fans worldwide (the Wolf Pack), including many people who became pilots (military and commercial) through their love of the show - many fans of which have been following the commercially successful shows of Donald Bellisario (Belisarius Productions) from its humble beginnings in the early 1980s, including the current success of J.A.G. on CBS.A show which deserved a bigger following at the time, it's a rare gem of television history.