Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786305475699 Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC ISBN: 6305475695 Label: 20th Century Fox Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: 20th Century Fox Release Date: February 06, 2001 Running Time: 100 minutes Sales Rank: 46106 Studio: 20th Century Fox Theatrical Release Date: March 12, 1999
Amazon.com: Video games are interesting because they're interactive, and movies because they aren't. In a video game, you're the actor; moviegoing depends on your connecting with those people up on the screen;. There's really no easy crossover.
That's the problem with Wing Commander, based on the bestselling computer game series created by Chris Roberts. Roberts helms the film, too, having previously directed 'cinematic' sequences for the game, starring Mark Hamill from Star Wars, no less. But a feature-length story is something else again. Maybe gamers will find something to enjoy here, but that sets the rest of us adrift.
There's war between the Terran Confederation and the evil Kilrathi, who are so evil they want to destroy the whole universe. (They probably aren't thinking that through very clearly. But then they're evil.) They've stolen the Pegasus Navicom A.I. device that enables them to 'jump' behind enemy lines and destroy the Earth part of the universe. Freddie Prinze Jr. stars as Blair, a Pilgrim, which means he's hated by everybody for having this film's answer to the Force. His pal Matthew Lillard plays Maniac (his usual role). So you've got two guys with a Top Gun complex, bent on preventing the Kilrathi from destroying Earth. You'd expect lots of action from these combat-ready flyboys. But there's scant little of that, and lots of static dialogue scenes, including one cinematic quote of Howard Hawks's classic Only Angels Have Wings to explain how pilots handle the death of one of their own. Presumptuous. All it would have taken to make this film a success is a series of action set pieces and a thin plot to hang them from. What director Roberts needed was a Navicom device to help him 'jump' behind Hollywood lines. That and a decent script. --Jim Gay
Digital Life Reviews
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - I am impressed!
Yes, I am impressed! I remember playing the video games of the same name back in the day, and this movie stuck to the plot of the games as best it could. Decent sci-fi action, and decent acting make for an enjoyable movie.
Rating: - Not like the video game, but still worth a look
For those of you who are familiar with the Chris Roberts space flight simulator game series, be fairly warned: this movie is not much of an accurate adaptation to the game. Actually it's so different they didn't even need to call it Wing Commander. The setting is there and the character names are there too, but not much else. The ships resemble nothing like those in the game. The characters only show a hint of their game roots. They even mess with the story by adding a different sub-culture of humans. That said Wing Commander does take the whole space fighter genre to a whole new level by incorporating elements of history into the future.
Imagine World War II in space and you will get the look and feel of Wing Commander. The fighters resemble prop fighters without the propellers and the capitol ships resemble a cross between a submarine and an aircraft carrier. You can even hear what sounds like piston ... Read More
Rating: - If You Avoid Taking This Movie Seriously, It Is a Lot of Fun
SPACE PIRATES! THE SCOURGE OF THE UNIVERSE!!! Ok, maybe not. As some people say, close but no cigar. Actually, "Wing Commander" is based on a plot that has existed since man has been remembering stories. We have the advancing enemy, we have warriors who have information about where the enemy will attack that can save the homeland if the information gets through. We have the self-sacrifice of the warriors who stall the enemy long enough for the valuable information to get back to the good guys, who will use the information to advantage to defeat the enemy. Does this sound a lot like the plot of "300," and dozens of war, science fiction and fantasy stories? Of course it does, because the story is far from being original. However, even a story that is a plot retread can still be a lot of fun.
I have already given you the fundamental plot, so here are a few details. We have the evil Kilrathi out to ... Read More
Rating: - Spectacularly descent
What a pleasant surprise! One shouldn't expect much from a movie based on a video game space war. Nonetheless, Wing Commander is a very decent movie. The plot is rather generic, but the actors work with it very well. The special effects are very good overall - the ugly costume design is easily forgiven. The combat is never thrilling, but is never boring. Much closer to Starship Troopers than Star Wars, Wing Commander is sure to satisfy fans of sci-fi movies. Those without such a fancy for the genre may wish to pass.
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- I am impressed!
- Not like the video game, but still worth a look
