MovieMonday.com - Final Approach with James B. Sikking, Madolyn Smith, Hector Elizondo, Kevin McCarthy

Techno Films

Final Approach (C-)

STARS...
James B. Sikking, Madolyn Smith, Hector Elizondo, and Kevin McCarthy.

PLOT SUMMARY...
Following the crash of his SR-71, an Air Force pilot experiences flashbacks to the crash, as well as earlier periods in his life.

QUICK SCAN...
The scenes depicting the SR-71, flying and crashing, are very well done. The film builds to a trick, not very satisfying, ending. James B. Sikking (Hill Street Blues) gives an excessive, unsubtle performance. Director of Photography, Eric Goldstein, delivers some interesting visuals, particularly in the flashback sequences.

DIRECTOR: Eric Steven Stahl
YEAR & RATING: 1991 (R)

BEST BETS:

Outland

Flatliners
SYNOPSIS...
A pilot, flying an experimental SR-71, equipped with Stealth capability, comes in for a landing. It crashes.

Later, the pilot meets with a doctor. He responds to ink blot tests, and word association. He has periodic flashbacks to the crash, as well as other times in his life.

The doctor makes an amazing revelation. The pilot is stunned.

Review:

Producer/Director/ Co-Writer Eric Steven Stahl's, FINAL APPROACH, is a slow moving, pretentious, Sci-Fi yarn.

James B. Sikking ("Outland") is an Air Force pilot on a super secret SR-71, (Black Bird), flight. His apparent mission is to test out radar-defeating Stealth equipment, that the SR-71 has been equipped with.

The opening sequences of the film, depicting the SR-71's upper atmosphere flight, as well as it's crash landing in a desert canyon, are exciting. In an early sequence, the camera rushes through blue lightning toward points of light. These are visually intriguing images, reminiscent of the light trip scene toward the end of "2001". Filmquest Visual Effects Group, Visual Effects Producer, Denny Kelly, and Special Photography Supervisor, Mike Minkow, appear to be the responsible parties. These are my favorite scenes in the film.

Before long, Sikking is in the spacious office of a doctor, apparently a psychiatrist, played by Hector Elizondo ("Pretty Woman"). Sikking and Elizondo, normally strong performers, gets lost under Stahl's muddled Direction.

The Screenplay's dialogue, Written by Stahl, and Co-Writer, Gerald Laurence, is heavy handed. Pointing out two abstract paintings on the wall, one red, the other blue, Elizondo explains, "I call them 'Heaven and Hell'. Kind of see them as the ultimate rorsach test. Know what I mean? "

Later on Sikking thinks, "This is ludicrous," and says, "This is bullshit." I couldn't agree more.

Like the much acclaimed film, "My Dinner With Andre", FINAL APPROACH is mostly a conversation between two people, in this case a doctor and an identity confused pilot. Unlike "Andre", however, the conversation and the characters involved, aren't very interesting.

Director of Photography, Eric Goldstein, delivers some interesting visuals, mostly in the film's numerous, brief, flashback scenes/shots. Particularly good is a recurring shot of a helmeted pilot in a silvery flight suit, standing next to a tree, with has a swinging tire attached to it by a rope.

The Music, by Kirk Hunter, is dreamy and strange. It's frequently slow rhythm doesn't help the pacing of the film any.

The film builds to a surprise ending. In case we don't "get it", we're shown brief flashbacks, giving us the "clues" we're supposed to have picked up on, during the film, which would have allowed us to guess the "surprise" ending.

FINAL APPROACH will not be very watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. SR-71/Black Bird fans may be entertained. For most viewers, however, FINAL APPROACH will not be worth approaching at your local video store.

MovieMonday.com * Super Star Index * Award Winners * CelebrityFrame.com

Final Approach (C-)
	STARS... James B. Sikking, Madolyn Smith, Hector Elizondo, and Kevin McCarthy. PLOT SUMMARY... Following the crash of his SR-71, an Air Force pilot experiences flashbacks to the crash, as well as earlier periods in his life. QUICK SCAN... The scenes depicting the SR-71, flying and crashing, are very well done. The film builds to a trick, not very satisfying, ending. James B. Sikking (Hill Street Blues) gives an excessive, unsubtle performance. Director of Photography, Eric Goldstein, delivers some interesting visuals, particularly in the flashback sequences.
DIRECTOR: Eric Steven Stahl YEAR & RATING: 1991 (R) BEST BETS: Outland Flatliners	SYNOPSIS... A pilot, flying an experimental SR-71, equipped with Stealth capability, comes in for a landing. It crashes. Later, the pilot meets with a doctor. He responds to ink blot tests, and word association. He has periodic flashbacks to the crash, as well as other times in his life. The doctor makes an amazing revelation. The pilot is stunned.
Review: Producer/Director/ Co-Writer Eric Steven Stahl's, FINAL APPROACH, is a slow moving, pretentious, Sci-Fi yarn. James B. Sikking ("Outland") is an Air Force pilot on a super secret SR-71, (Black Bird), flight. His apparent mission is to test out radar-defeating Stealth equipment, that the SR-71 has been equipped with. The opening sequences of the film, depicting the SR-71's upper atmosphere flight, as well as it's crash landing in a desert canyon, are exciting. In an early sequence, the camera rushes through blue lightning toward points of light. These are visually intriguing images, reminiscent of the light trip scene toward the end of "2001". Filmquest Visual Effects Group, Visual Effects Producer, Denny Kelly, and Special Photography Supervisor, Mike Minkow, appear to be the responsible parties. These are my favorite scenes in the film. Before long, Sikking is in the spacious office of a doctor, apparently a psychiatrist, played by Hector Elizondo ("Pretty Woman"). Sikking and Elizondo, normally strong performers, gets lost under Stahl's muddled Direction. The Screenplay's dialogue, Written by Stahl, and Co-Writer, Gerald Laurence, is heavy handed. Pointing out two abstract paintings on the wall, one red, the other blue, Elizondo explains, "I call them 'Heaven and Hell'. Kind of see them as the ultimate rorsach test. Know what I mean? " Later on Sikking thinks, "This is ludicrous," and says, "This is bullshit." I couldn't agree more. Like the much acclaimed film, "My Dinner With Andre", FINAL APPROACH is mostly a conversation between two people, in this case a doctor and an identity confused pilot. Unlike "Andre", however, the conversation and the characters involved, aren't very interesting. Director of Photography, Eric Goldstein, delivers some interesting visuals, mostly in the film's numerous, brief, flashback scenes/shots. Particularly good is a recurring shot of a helmeted pilot in a silvery flight suit, standing next to a tree, with has a swinging tire attached to it by a rope. The Music, by Kirk Hunter, is dreamy and strange. It's frequently slow rhythm doesn't help the pacing of the film any. The film builds to a surprise ending. In case we don't "get it", we're shown brief flashbacks, giving us the "clues" we're supposed to have picked up on, during the film, which would have allowed us to guess the "surprise" ending. FINAL APPROACH will not be very watchable for most Sci-Fi viewers. SR-71/Black Bird fans may be entertained. For most viewers, however, FINAL APPROACH will not be worth approaching at your local video store.