Terminal Velocity (1994)

Too much of everything

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Don't listen to the negative reviews

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

(Originally reviewed: 16/02/2017) Well I'll say this; Terminal Velocity is so bad it's almost good but even I can't quite buy its preposterous third act. The film begins grounded, it establishes character's and gets the story set up but then later on there's an absurd twist that is fairly stupid and obviously implausible which tells you right away the rest of the picture will follow suite. Charlie Sheen plays the lead character (Ditch) who gets entangled within the situation upon agreeing to an unscheduled sky diving lesson, in which he meets a young lady called Chris played by Nastassja Kinski; these two are pretty good here and have some nice chemistry but there romance is hardly as interesting as one would expect. The supporting cast features James Gandolfini (Ben Pinkwater), Cathyrn De prume (Karen) and Christopher McDonald as Kerr to name a few; however I think the acting all round is on a decent level and would consider the main problem with the film; it's lack of sense and it's at times poor writing.The picture is never as smart as it thinks it is; and there's plenty of clichés like breaking and entering and leaving the key switch cabinet wide open and the silly rocket getaway which I have seen before when it was actually original and plausible in a science fiction film and didn't need cheap, pointless slow-motion. I did however like it's comic appeal; there's some witty one liners that land such as a scene between Sheen and Gandolfini where he offers Sheen a piece of candy and upon taking one Gandolfini says "don't take them all" which I found well timed and certainty amusing. Another example is when Sheen is arguing with Kinski and says "great, were going on a guilt trip", there are quite a few of these that work and they help add something decent to the film.There is unfortunately noticeable corny dialogue as well including one line that is intended to be funny but just sounds too cheesy e.g. "Run, I haven't even stretched". Deran Sarafian (director) does showcase some good stunts but nothing I haven't seen before; but the blame has to go to writer David Twohy who probably is responsible for a useless scene where during a shootout a random old man who happens to be a bystander happens to find a rocket launcher and fires it randomly and then gets shot, I really do not get his purpose in the film but I'm guessing they wanted another explosion. I gave up all hope of any sort of well-structured plot during its third act which involves Sheen's character opening a trunk of a car in mid-air, while searching for the keys and taking his time; there's no way he would be able to get her out in time before the car hit's the ground; even superman would have been proud with that hilarious rescue.Then there's the usual fight scene where a villain in still alive and appears to stab one of the protagonists; and yet she fine later on and during them moments Sheen's character goes berserk thinking she's gone and does your standard fight sequence which doesn't end so well for the villain; we've seen it all before and better. This film has some quirky moments but overall its implausibility and poor story get the better of it, so thumbs down.

Ditch Brodie is a maverick skydiving instructor.One day, a beautiful girl comes in, wanting to take her first jump. Up in the air, Ditch takes his eyes off her momentarily, then looks back to find out that she has fallen out, dying on impact.Ditch is suspicious that all is not as it seems, because he distinctly remembers hooking her static line on...Charlie Sheen continued his run of nineties movies that should have made him a big star without tiger blood and other men, with this ridiculous, over the top, but fun movie.it's best not to take this film seriously at all, else you will find many flaws.Instead, just enjoy the very well choreographed action and jump scenes, the excellent story written by Twohy, and some brilliant one liners.This has to be sheens best film from the nineties that isn't Hot Shots! and proved he could handle action pretty well. of course, it's a mile from films like Wall Street and Platoon, but when the trailer features a car free falling and makes you smile, it's clear you're not looking for an intelligent night at the movies.This was unfairly overlooked at the cinema, maybe this was due to the fact that a similar movie 'Drop Zone' was released first (which was good, but far too serious.It's forgettable stuff for sure, but it's fun, breezy and entertaining all the way through.One of the nineties guiltiest pleasures.

Charlie Sheen was NOT a genius in this work. This was pretty lame, actually, in both substance and execution, however, it does bear some fun elements, and delivers a moderate amount of entertainment.I can't say that I'm surprised that Sheen's work is horribly lacking; it seems his fire went out right after Young Guns. This film is not much of anything, in the great scheme of cinematic wonders, however, it manages to deliver a bit of enjoyment, I think in SPITE of itself, rather than because of the work itself.Many think this was great fun, so as usual, I'm in the minority when I say that I found this film dated, puerile, and under-dramatized while it was also boring, uneventful, and anticlimactic drivel. It does manage a small amount of enjoyment/entertainment quality, if only mildly.It rates a 3.8/10 from...the Fiend :.

Skydiver Ditch Brodie (Charlie Sheen) is asked for a lesson. The beautiful lady (Nastassja Kinski) he takes on the plane seems to fall to her death as the parachute doesn't open. Brodie quickly finds out that she is alive and well, and gets into the middle of a conspiracy. Soon he is chased by secret agents, gangsters, Russians... everyone, really, and he doesn't know what for. What matters most to this movie is that it is moving fast, as its title suggested. And "Terminal Velocity" does well as an action movie with its stunts and explosions, if you compare it to others of the genre. Also it has a certain sense of humor because of the unusual situation that the pretty lady perfectly knows the espionage business, while the hero just follows her footsteps and even has to ask her how he can fire a gun. It's not a Bond, but Sheen and Kinski both have much less exciting films in their biography, so most watchers won't be disappointed.