Flight of the Phoenix 2-Pack

One of the newfound treasures of my DVD collection is this new two-pack of "The Flight of the Phoenix," featuring the original 1965 edition film, and then the re-issued version from 2004.

The Story: A group of miners/oil riggers who are on a flight to an oasis in the desert crash-land. With little hope of survival or rescue, the decision is made to reconstruct a new plane from the remnants of the old one.

The Classic 1965 Edition: In what could possibly be one of the original "disaster movie" movies, Jimmy Stewart, Richard Attenborough and Ernest Borgnine are all a piece of creating a new craft after a desert crash they then dub "The Phoenix". There is a grit of old school actors that is almost completely absent in today's cinema, and this movie is a great sample of what old school movies were. There is implied tension from the acting that comes thru without screaming, dramatic music, and is something that few films today take the time to use. The movie is a long one but one that is able to hold your attention throughout the run. I also like the dash of the German model plane engineer and the buddy storyline that the pilot and copilot had. While he's had a very long and distinguished career, seeing Richard Attenborough as something other than the misguided grandfatherly creator of Jurassic Park is something to see. It is a piece of cinema history that while simple, provides you with what is the old-school classic plan drama.

The Features: This DVD has no features to speak of, other than the original trailer of the film way back in 65.

The New 2004 Edition: The new edition (from late last year) with Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, Mirana Otto and Tyrese offers a little something different in that it is laced with a new more inclusive crew (there is what is basically the gangsta' rapper, a latino chef and a woman, all of which were nowhere to be seen in the original). The story follows pretty faithfully until the crash in which there are some interesting departures. The special effects and the "crash" are very much today's cinema, where in the original there was some jostling and then they were down more or less. Gone also are the military officers from the first rendition that I do miss. I like Giovanni Ribisi's portrayal of Elliott, who in the origianl was a German model airplane designer, but there is an edge that is missing with the lack of accent and the determination and eventual realization of needing teamwork - I'm not sure that Ribisi ever gets there. I was also struck by the intervention of the nomads in this edition, that are apparently "gun runners or smugglers" who end up killing the only scottish member of the crew. Also gone in this edition early is the doctor, and there is no reciprocal Ernest Borgnine character which is sad. I would have like to have seen someone put into place for him in this edition.

While this movie was panned originally when it came out, I'm not certain that it deserves that. While nowhere near the ramp for Quaid as it was for Stewart, clearly they are two completely different actors in different eras. I am also very satisfied that they didn't take the easy route of endsuring that each member of a particular race or social circle isn't given the trademark pigeon-holing or stereotypes. Samples: The latin chef doesn't end every sentence with "eh, ese?" The clearly gangsta' member doesn't fall terribly into the stereotypical swearing disrespected rebel. The woman isn't screaming in every direction and contributes. I do appreciate more the explanation of the actual building of the plane in this edition, but strangely the orginal provides you with a much better set up and construction process.

Features: There are a variety of extras on this DVD including Deleted Scenes (one of which includes the "nomad gun runners/smuggers with MOTORCYCLES!" Thank GAWD that was cut. Terrible.), a bunch of trailers for the film, and then a Phoenix Diaries section that features the actors the director (who looked like he was a lot of fun to work with) for an extended 25 minute or so review of the making of the film.

Conclusion: Together, they provide my collection a nice sample of old-school/new-school flavor and I recommend both of them. It also serves as my first Jimmy Stewart film in my collection.