MovieChat Forums > Flight of the Intruder (1991) Discussion > The Real Reason This Movie Bombed(At The...

The Real Reason This Movie Bombed(At The Theaters)

posted 10 years ago by RussellDunn
12 replies | jump to latest

First off, let me say that this movie was, and still is, a favorite of mine. Brad Johnson owned the character of Jake Grafton and the same goes for Willem Dafoe and his character Virgil Cole.
The reason this movie bombed was the release date: 18 January 1991. That was a few days after the start of the Desert Storm. There weren't too many people interested in going to see a movie about Navy Bomber pilots during the Viet-Nam War when they could stay home and watch a modern war being played out live on CNN.
Other than that, it was a great film.

[–] micirisi 10 years ago

Agree. Also by 1991 I believe movie goers were pretty much saturated with Viet Nam War flicks. After seeing Platoon, Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now, I had had my full. Not to mention many others.

"He killed sixteen Czechoslovakians. Guy was an interior decorator."

[–] Philo89 10 years ago

>There weren't too many people interested in going to see a movie about Navy Bomber pilots during the Viet-Nam War

...except for those of us stationed on aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf. We LOVED this movie. I think it was on 24/7 rotation for a month...

[–] Hendry_William_French 10 years ago

It probably bombed because it was a movie about an unfashionable plane (the A-6) with an unfashionable cast based on an unfashionable subject (bombing vietnam). It was basically the working man's Top Gun and audiences of that time probably just wanted to go see Tom Cruise/Val Kilmer in movies of this type and not Brad Johnson and Willem Defoe.

If you're a plane/war fan this movie is a god send (fantastic, convincing special fx and aerial action scenes) but if you're not into that type of thing, I could imagine this movie being brutal to sit through (especially with the lead character mourning his co-pilot for what seems like most of the movie - it can drag and get dreary). The end sequence when all the modern jet fighters get shot down instantly and have to be bailed out by ancient propeller planes is a bit stupid if you think about it, too.

I've always been a huge fan of this movie but it's not popular enough to be seen in same light as something like Top Gun or even Iron Eagle since overall it's not really all that fun and takes itself too seriously. It's a cult classic, though, 100%. I love it. John Milius gave us this, Conan and Red Dawn and for that the man's a film legend. As a jet fan this movie is the $hit.

I am Djour Djilios. Could you spell that please? I don't think so. Try it with a "D".

[–] CGSailor 10 years ago

Ah Lonestar. still showing your ignorance?

A BN is not a Co-pilot.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] pr8hd 9 years ago

"The end sequence when all the modern jet fighters get shot down instantly and have to be bailed out by ancient propeller planes is a bit stupid if you think about it, too."

Actual knowledge of SAR operations in VN would be useful. Those ancient Skyraiders (Sandy) were the Warthog of their day. Massive ordnance loadout and the ability to take substantial punishment and still fly made them invaluable in providing close-air support to ground troops and in SAR operation.

The Liver is Evil and Must Be Punished!

[–] Hendry_William_French 9 years ago

Actual knowledge of SAR operations in VN would be useful

Yes, I do know about the skyraiders and Linebacker II and all that stuff. I read the books. I was talking about from the perspective of the average movie viewer who doesn't care about stuff like that. The original guy is asking why this movie bombed, and I'm letting him know why that might be. They see jets shot down with ease and prop planes saving the day. To them that would might seem lame or ridiculous.

Buckle up back there, we're going into... hyperactive

[–] CGSailor 9 years ago

I read the books.

Maybe if you had any comprehension of what you read you would not have stated such bullsh!t.

I was talking about from the perspective of the average movie viewer who doesn't care about stuff like that.

Nice attempt at trying to save your rep... but you have shown time and time again, your ignorance of what you discuss. this isn't the first time, nor even the first thread. You were giving YOUR opinion. not putting forth some other opinion. You got called on it and then you pretend you knew right all along and was just stating someone else's opinion.

BS alert in overdrive.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] herman-kilk 8 years ago

Lonestar, did you steal CGSailors girfiend, pee in his cereal or something - there must be some reason why he is so bitchy with you???

[–] CGSailor 8 years ago

I have known Lonestar across several boards... He is always putting forth ignorance.
I call him on it.

I am not bitchy towards him. I just don't let his false BS stand.

I joined the Navy to see the world, only to discover the world is 2/3 water!

[–] dubyahsrobotminion 9 years ago

It was supposed to come out prior to Desert Shield the previous summer. The problem was the competition which that year was steep. In the Summer during July you had Die Hard 2 and more prominently Ghost. Once Aug hit and Iraq invaded Kuwait it was a bad time for movies so they pushed it out. They pushed it out to try to exploit the Desert Storm situation which was logical. It didn't work out though. I remember the only movie I went to during all of Desert Storm was to see Home Alone for the 2nd time. No body went to the movies, they were home to watch CNN. And everyone else was watching Home Alone....over and over. A week after Intruder came out, you guessed....here came Silence of the Lambs.

You're taking a dump and they call GQ do you pinch it off or finish your business?

[–] Hendry_William_French 9 years ago

Releasing it before Desert Storm would probably have made it more successful. Why would people watch a movie about fighter jets and bombing when they could watch the real thing live on their TVs like a sports game?!

I remember watching this when it first aired on a cable tv movie channel, and it's a great movie. It's a shame it wasn't so successful.

Buckle up back there, we're going into... hyperactive

[–] bishop-69757 8 years ago

I agree with the one post about people were tired of Vietnam movies by 1991. it was flawed but still a good movie.