Spectacular action scenes, insincere drama
Added 10/8/2009
BACKDRAFT
(USA - 1991)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Super 35)
Theatrical soundtracks: 6-track Dolby Stereo / Q Sound
Two firefighting brothers (Kurt Russell and William Baldwin) are forced to confront the ghosts of their past whilst pursuing an arsonist who targets prominent members of Chicago's political elite.
Former TV actor Ron Howard ("Happy Days") directed this high-profile Hollywood blockbuster, in which a cast of solid B-list actors and A-list supporting players (Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, et al) are upstaged by scenes of fiery devastation, wrought with frightening intensity by incredible stuntwork and state-of-the-art visual effects. Plot-wise, the film is an old-fashioned barnstormer, directed with gee-whizz efficiency by Howard, whose attempts to wring high emotion from Greg Widen's corny script rings entirely false from the outset. Hans Zimmer's generic music score is overbearing in places, particularly during the 'tragic' finale.
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I like it!
Added 10/2/2009
Backdraft: 2-Disc Set
This film is good. However i have noticed it's not for everyone. It seems that there's not much middle ground people either love it or hate it. It does have it's strong yawn moments. but the authenticity of the film and the firefighters they play makes it really well worth it. Me personnally? i enjoyed it and almost enjoyed the features as well as the film. Some of the features were really informative and interesting but at times they were repititous repeating in one feature what was said in another. Give it a try if you've not seen this one; I think it's worth the investment.
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Amazing effects
Added 6/28/2009
This whole movie was done without the aid of CGI or green screens for the fire effects. Those guys were really that close to the flames. To get the fire to do those amazing things it did... I don't know how to describe how much in awe I am of this.
As far as story goes, eh, it's good. Not great, but good enough to keep me interested, and maybe watch it a 2nd time in 6 months or a year. Acting is decent, and all that, but really, you watch this movie for the interaction of people with fire, and to see just how amazing fire really is.
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Iron Chef!
Added 5/23/2009
It's sad that when I hear the Backdraft music I think about Iron Chef now, but I'm sure the royalties helped add some cash to the music rights owners.
This movie surprised me. I wasn't expecting to enjoy or be moved by a firefighter movie. I like Kurt Russel and was surprised at how much I liked his character in this film.
The performance by De Niro was small, but good. Even the Baldwin wasn't too annoying.
I think what made me love this movie was the story. I didn't catch onto the twists and turns until the end when it all becomes clear. I enjoy the fact that the movie holds realism and doesn't sell itself out and become some BS feel good movie.
Highly recommend this film.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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The fire rages on in this thriller.
Added 5/4/2009
Stephen McCaffrey (Kurt Russell) and Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin) are both firefighters in the same unit. They are also brothers whose father died in the line of duty as a firefighter. Never having been on great terms with each other, they now have to work side by side, while Stephen is in charge. And the fires they fight are becoming more and more frequent and more and more dangerous because of the lack of firefighters thanks to the cities cut in manning due to supposed money issues. To top it all off, the fires are beginning to look a lot like an arsonist that is targeting certain individuals within the city.
While Backdraft might not be the best thriller out there, it is still a good one. Having not seen this movie since the theaters, I was caught in suspense until the ending because I had no clue who the arsonist was. Sure I had my guesses, but I was never sure. Kurt Russell was amazing as Lt. McCaffrey and as the brother of Brian. I could totally see Kurt being this firefighter for real. And even though Robert Deniro has a small role in this film, it is of course done with perfection. I could've done with a lot more of his character for sure. Willy Baldwin, he was ok. I'd much rather see him act than Stephen Baldwin for sure. Even the fire itself seemed like an actor itself in this movie the way Ron Howard filmed it. With it's creaks and groans and screams and sizzles, it just seems alive. I tell you what though, I'm still not a Donald Sutherland fan...heh. The only time I liked him in this movie was when he was up for parole and Robert Deniro started questioning him. That's when he shined, but other than that, I thought his acting was too goofy. Also, while I said Backdraft is a good thriller, sometimes it just feels a little cookie cutter. The way the investigation of the arsonist was being handled seemed like a straight rip off from Silence of the Lambs. And the bickering between the two brothers seemed kind of like "As the Firefighters turn..." And some of the actors just seemed wrong for their parts like Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rebecca De Mornay. They are ok actresses and all, but I don't know, they just didn't seem to fit in here. Maybe it's just me. One thing though that I did truly enjoy was the interactions between the firefighters. They seemed a lot like a family like I would imagine a firefighter unit to be. Joking around with each other when off duty, and working like a single person (most of the time) while on the job. Everyone just seemed to mesh really well with each other when it came to the firefighters.
In the end, I would say give this a rent, because I don't really see much second time viewing when it comes to this movie. Good movie though.
P.S.- I didn't even know this was a Ron Howard film until I saw his brother Clint Howard playing a Pathologist. Had to check then..heh.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Spectacular action scenes, insincere drama
Added 10/8/2009
BACKDRAFT
(USA - 1991)
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Super 35)
Theatrical soundtracks: 6-track Dolby Stereo / Q Sound
Two firefighting brothers (Kurt Russell and William Baldwin) are forced to confront the ghosts of their past whilst pursuing an arsonist who targets prominent members of Chicago's political elite.
Former TV actor Ron Howard ("Happy Days") directed this high-profile Hollywood blockbuster, in which a cast of solid B-list actors and A-list supporting players (Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, et al) are upstaged by scenes of fiery devastation, wrought with frightening intensity by incredible stuntwork and state-of-the-art visual effects. Plot-wise, the film is an old-fashioned barnstormer, directed with gee-whizz efficiency by Howard, whose attempts to wring high emotion from Greg Widen's corny script rings entirely false from the outset. Hans Zimmer's generic music score is overbearing in places, particularly during the 'tragic' finale.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
I like it!
Added 10/2/2009
Backdraft: 2-Disc Set
This film is good. However i have noticed it's not for everyone. It seems that there's not much middle ground people either love it or hate it. It does have it's strong yawn moments. but the authenticity of the film and the firefighters they play makes it really well worth it. Me personnally? i enjoyed it and almost enjoyed the features as well as the film. Some of the features were really informative and interesting but at times they were repititous repeating in one feature what was said in another. Give it a try if you've not seen this one; I think it's worth the investment.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Amazing effects
Added 6/28/2009
This whole movie was done without the aid of CGI or green screens for the fire effects. Those guys were really that close to the flames. To get the fire to do those amazing things it did... I don't know how to describe how much in awe I am of this.
As far as story goes, eh, it's good. Not great, but good enough to keep me interested, and maybe watch it a 2nd time in 6 months or a year. Acting is decent, and all that, but really, you watch this movie for the interaction of people with fire, and to see just how amazing fire really is.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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