Where does one begin with a film like this. As fresh as fresh eyes get, this was my first time seeing this and while the presentation likely can’t get any better, the film itself left me somewhat wanting. Top name actors giving top notch performances that we’ve all come to expect, in fact I’d say everything was handled quite capably given the limits of what could be done in 1980.
Kirk Douglas and Martin Sheen as commanding on screen as ever. Charles Durning beating his chest as only he can. Katherine Ross more than holding her own amongst them. The real star here though can only be the United States Navy. As much an advertisement as it is a movie, the full arsenal as it were is on display. The USS Nimitz demonstrated as the pinnacle of warfare technology for it’s time with F-14s screaming around like kids on a joyride in their father’s muscle car. After the carrier finds itself traveling through what it initially believes to be a freak storm only to discover that it and its crew have seemingly traveled back in time to 1941, we get to watch as those F-14s put a pair of Japanese Zero’s in the water with ease as though 40 year old aircraft would somehow be any kind of match in this situation.
One of the Japanese pilots notably played by Korean actor Soon-Tek Oh who is equal to the aforementioned Douglas and Crew, a nice childhood favorite from M*A*S*H where he often played enemy Korean soldiers. He manages to overpower a couple of distracted Naval officers and create a temporarily tense hostage situation that plays out about how one might expect given the numbers involved. Unfortunately that’s probably the most interesting scene in the film as nearly every scene involving some kind of discussion for this fantastic situation they’ve all found themselves in ends in a shouting match with little to know depth as Kirk Douglas’ Captain Yellend (somewhat appropriately named) is hell-bent on taking on the entire Japanese fleet and preventing the bombing of Pearl Harbor and possibly even the Pacific theater of WWII from ever happening. However that just isn’t to be as the “portal” through time that mysteriously showed up and brought them back in time just as mysteriously shows up again to bring them home. The fight is not to be. This third act result is where much of the palpable disappointment in my tone comes from as a bulk of the film is in service to setting up this explosive climax only to diffuse the bombs at the last minute. Well, without any real depth or discussion regarding the time travel or what the results might actually be were this formidable war machine let off it’s time constrained tether, there just isn’t much else left for one to hold onto or on a personal note, bring this particular viewer back. Frankly, the best part of the film wound up being the fact that the border collie, Charlie, that Katherine Ross’ Laurel Scott spends most of her time concerned about does in fact survive which was nice considering my own boyhood Shepherd/Collie mix named Charlie that I loved. Ultimately, if you’re a Top Gun fan and could use a new fighter jet fix, there’s a nice size chunk of this film that’s totally for you. Beyond that, there are far better time travel or alt-history films out there.
Picture quality is stellar. The 4k transfer and HDR bring it all to life brilliantly. Every audio option is strong and the Dolby Atmos is full and lively. A whole host of special features are present, an audio commentary courtesy of the director of photography Victor Kemper, featurettes with co-producer Lloyd Kaufman and an F-14 fighter squadron, trailers, tv spots and a poster and still gallery. Not to mention the soundtrack on separate CD and a nice informative booklet. From a presentation and package standpoint Blue Underground knock it out of the park once again. Hardly a bad edition to add to one’s collection and definitely recommended if you’re a fan of the film.
– Steven C