Thoughts on Clint Eastwood's 1982 flick 'Firefox' by chrisisall

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Thoughts on Clint Eastwood's 1982 flick 'Firefox'

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Monday, December 6, 2010 15:32
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 3:24 PM

Engaging cold war thriller? Slow moving unintentional farce?

Personally, I could have TOTALLY done without the Russians-speaking-English-in-a-Russian-accent-thing. Subtitles would have worked so much better. But, whatever. It was a cool flick IMO, made MUCH more interesting because of John Dykstra's Special FX.

And the plane, oh, THAT PLANE!!! Such an amazing design! Halfway between a Viper & an F-18!

And, here's the shameless model moment-

I am working on perfecting that crappy model I made so many years ago... like Lucas, I am changing what I made, hopefully, into something better (but here I can offend only myself

).
Pix will ensue.

In the mean time, movie reviews, discussions of Eastwood's political views of the era, FX Dykstra talk...
All are welcome, all are welcome...
(Whoah, just had a Poltergeist moment there...)

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 6:32 PM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
Engaging cold war thriller? Slow moving unintentional farce?

Personally, I could have TOTALLY done without the Russians-speaking-English-in-a-Russian-accent-thing. Subtitles would have worked so much better. But, whatever. It was a cool flick IMO, made MUCH more interesting because of John Dykstra's Special FX.

And the plane, oh, THAT PLANE!!! Such an amazing design! Halfway between a Viper & an F-18!

And, here's the shameless model moment-

Hmm...the homage from Monogram kinda loses something by having it's angles rounded off, IMO. Especially the nasal canards, since they ended up looking a lot more fragile and decorative

Quote:

I am working on perfecting that crappy model I made so many years ago... like Lucas, I am changing what I made, hopefully, into something better (but here I can offend only myself ).
Pix will ensue.

In the mean time, movie reviews, discussions of Eastwood's political views of the era, FX Dykstra talk...
All are welcome, all are welcome...
(Whoah, just had a Poltergeist moment there...)

The laughing Chrisisall

It's been a while since I've seen the film, and I need to actually finish reading the sequel novel to Craig Thomas' original story...but I think the film had a bit of Multiple Personality Disorder/Syndrome, since I remember a semi-taunt thriller that turned into a Star Wars wannabe with the Firefox-to-Firefox dogfight.

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 7:23 PM

"Firefox Down"
I have to read it too.

The thinking in Russian Chrisisall

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 8:48 PM

America loves a winner!

I never understood the premise. I mean, why go to all the trouble to steal Soviet technology ( laugh ) when we had far more advanced ALIEN technology , right in our own back yard ?

I know, I know.... it's ONLY a movie....

Sheesh.

" I do not love the bright sword for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor the warrior for his glory. I love only that which they defend. "

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 10:32 PM

Firefox Down is kind of unimpressive, as a novel, really it came across more as just plain milking the franchise than actually adding anything to it - so don't feel too bad about never getting around to reading it, honestly you won't miss much.

Thinking on it however, this is one movie where a remake might actually improve it, so long as they keep Michael Bay really, really far away from it.

-Frem

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Wednesday, November 24, 2010 11:15 PM

Landing on an iceberg was the shit. Stealth cool too. At that time the F14A Tomcat was the Navy's top gun fighter relegating the F4J Phantom IIs to the Coral Sea and Midway carriers because of size. The airforce's F4E Phantoms where still the bulk of the airforce's fighter inventory. The F15C Eagle would soon be the No 1 interceptor. Stealth was very scifi at that time. No one really knew what it was. Now looking back it looks like the F23 Blackwidow built by Northrop who lost the contract to the F22 Raptor by Lockheed. During this time this movie was a wake up call to what the Soviet Air Power strength could be. Remember the F-15 was built in response to the MiG 25 Foxbat that flew over Iran in 1969 leaving the Phantoms in it's sonic wakes. Now the 80s was a time of military rebuilding but also consolidation of roles of aircraft and other armament. Good example the F/A 18A Hornet. It was to be fighter for the Marine Corp and help the Navy's fighter umbrella over carriers. It failed in that role but worked as a light attack jet to replace the A4 skyhawk and the A7 Corsair. First landing gear issues with the flight deck then vertical wings cracking. The Superhornet has addressed these issues along with extended fuel range. Ole Clint served in the military during the cold war and understood the need for a movie to move votes towards allocation of military contracts.

Well if I do recall Jesus had John the Beloved, So why can't chili have fritos. That's all I'm saying.

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Thursday, November 25, 2010 4:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:

Firefox Down is kind of unimpressive, as a novel, really it came across more as just plain milking the franchise than actually adding anything to it - so don't feel too bad about never getting around to reading it, honestly you won't miss much.

Thanks.
I disagree about a remake however. The movie is of its time, and a CGI-ed remake would just be another "Stealth", which kinda sucked IMO.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, November 25, 2010 10:46 AM

BLUEEYEDBRIGADIER

Oddly enough, I was gonna note that the Monogram model shown in the first pic also reminded me of the super-jet fighters flown in Stealth.

Also, I think that an update COULD be done, but like with Red Dawn, I would expect the govt. the plane's being stolen from would be something like China or North Korea instead of former Soviet Union. If I had control of greenlighting decisions for a major network or movie studio, I would personally put money on something like an Airwolf remake first, but a Firefox one would be certainly on a list to choose from

"The revenge of the beaten comes in refusing to fall." -- Mal, in "The Losing Side - Chapter 45" by jetflair

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Thursday, November 25, 2010 12:32 PM

Wow, fixing up my Firefox model is proving more of a challenge than I imagined...

Before:

Now (Thanksgiving):

I have a lot of gorram sanding & putty-ing & painting to do...

Luckily it's costing me nothing since I had/have all the stuff on hand anyway. AND, it'll keep me busy until my Viper gets here, that'll be the REAL challenge, Zack!

The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, November 25, 2010 4:31 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:

I never understood the premise. I mean, why go to all the trouble to steal Soviet technology ( laugh ) when we had far more advanced ALIEN technology , right in our own back yard ?

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Thursday, November 25, 2010 8:58 PM

Okay , this thread is officially making me feel rather , erm , mature.

I read the novel while I was in high school.

It was rather more interesting than English class...

It was also one of the few books that I've read that had movies that turned out pretty much like I'd imagined the novel.

The other one that comes straight to mind is The Hunt for Red October. Excepting Alec Baldwin !

Good job on the model , Chris. Very imaginative...There was always something familiar about its planform , but I couldn't quite decide just what it was...

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Friday, November 26, 2010 11:19 AM

There. Done. Except for one last coat of paint, but there it is.

The obsessive Chrisisall

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Friday, November 26, 2010 1:52 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:

There. Done. Except for one last coat of paint, but there it is.

The obsessive Chrisisall

That's better, the neck, body and intakes look more like the original now.

I've read both books in the past and like them both but I agree that Firefox Down isn't a great sequel. Maybe he should have combined the two?

As for the movie I really like it - although my main attraction to it is Firefox itself. It is such a beautiful looking aircraft and I used to obsess about it myself in my younger days. I would draw it out and redesign it and add all types of hi-tech gadgets to it.
The Russians speaking English thing never really bothered me. I would have preferred subtitles but there are so many other movies that do this (especially war movies) that I go with it. If every character spoke in their native language within their country the subtitles would put a lot of viewers off, which means studios make less money - so it's never gonna happen in Hollywood.
At least they had the part where Gant has to think Russian.

Anyone remember the arcade game based on the film?
It was a very basic shooter with you flying through video footage from the film and occasionally you had to move in the right direction. It wasn't very good but it was Firefox and I played it a lot over one summer holiday.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Friday, November 26, 2010 2:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:

That's better, the neck, body and intakes look more like the original now.

Thanks, you have no idea how involved that was *feels sorry for self*.
BUT- a nice outcome!

And, as politically incorrect as it may seem, I love the movie. Yet, not as much as the plane, heh heh.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Sunday, November 28, 2010 1:58 PM

Final paint job :

Yeah, I'm obsessed. I re-did the wings too. And the windows.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010 2:34 AM

Wait a sec... you're saying that model began life as the Monogram F-19 kit?
Awesome conversion, Dude!
(Hehe, I remember when Testors came out with their F-19 concept, and Congress launched an investigation into who "leaked" Top Secret data!

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/mod/previews/leef19p.htm )

I remember when the movie came out, and the only seats left at that showing were in the front row!

Then there was the cropped-for-TV version on cable.
So glad when I finally got to see it letterboxed on DVD!

I'm still most impressed by the in-cockpit shots: the reflections on the helmet visors, the shifting shadows, etc.

(BTW, those helmets were the same type Space Shuttle crews wore during Launch/Reentry prior to the Challenger disaster.)

Some cool linkage...

MiG-31 Firefox Online Resource
http://www.thinkinrussian.org/

A couple of MiG-31 Firefox models for SketchUp...
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=d2a60c047a253670a4d
24d0a7a76d519&prevstart=0
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=3265b621ca222d29d00
d52e62bf14ee9&prevstart=0

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010 4:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
Wait a sec... you're saying that model began life as the Monogram F-19 kit?
Awesome conversion, Dude!

Thanks!

I went to Thinkinrussian & noticed some errors on my model & I fixed them, pictures after I get off work....

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010 8:39 AM

Yeah, it was based on this:

Then turned more or less into this years ago:

TODAY, it's this:

(Yesterday I noticed from studying some photos that the rear exhausts were too close together, lacked a partial 'housing', and the two small fins underneath were missing- so I corrected it.)

I recently ordered the movie on DVD, so I unearthed the old converted model to make it as good as I could. No doubt, when I watch the movie on my NICE tv on DVD I will notice more flaws...

I found a model in the UK:
http://www.frontiermodels.co.uk/FIREFOX-1-72-Resin-Kit-by-Planet-X-p-1
6800.html
But at 60 pounds (90 dollars) plus shipping, it's a little out of reach for me.

My model's far from perfect, but for my purposes (WHOOOSHING it around to my inner 11 year-old heart's content) it will suffice.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010 3:09 PM

Only 'cause it's Dykstra-related:

Sonisall built a viper in scale to my Galactica model!

My camera won't photograph stuff that small well!!!

The amazed Dadisall

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Thursday, December 2, 2010 4:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=d2a60c047a253670a4d
24d0a7a76d519&prevstart=0
http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=3265b621ca222d29d00
d52e62bf14ee9&prevstart=0

Those are sweet.
And of course I found more flaws in my model.
I'm going to have to start from scratch. No converting. This will be... involved.

Just got the DVD in the mail.
*rubs hands together in a maniacal fashion*

The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, December 2, 2010 8:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MGANT:
So, my question is: What are everyone's thoughts on the way ahead of its time technology used in the movie? -Considering that all of it is not only known to be real (today, some of which for many years.)

... how long has this technology actually been in existence?

It existed when the movie was made, just in the testing stages IMO. Thomas obviously researched it to write the book, and the movie just dramatized it to the hilt. It's my favourite Clint Eastwood film precisely because of its SF/real-tech aspects (not to mention the cool Star Wars-y chase).

Regarding my model: Like my new toy, Mr. Gant?

The laughing Chrisisall

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Thursday, December 2, 2010 3:44 PM

Just watched Firefox on DVD on my good TV...

The Movie:
Wow, so much fun. Looks great, and despite the generally slow pace, it still strikes me as well acted & nicely photographed. Some genuinely great dialogue too.

The Firefox:
Words cannot describe its coolness! The design is awesome, and with my new viewing of its greatness, my model is getting yet another refit.

"Perfection is a road, not a destination."

The Chiun Chrisisall

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Saturday, December 4, 2010 3:12 PM

I swear to Buddha it's finally done:

I re-did the nose, moved the anteriour stabilizers back a bit, and augmented the rear (adding on the two sets of triple thrusters or whatever they are- I intentionally made the white all impressionistic to simulate the engines working).
I don't know about Mr. Gant, but I LOVE my new toy!!!

My next project will be the Colonial Viper model, then...
a scratch-built 100% perfect Firefox about 15" long with a cockpit & everything. This will entail actual cashy money- the one above cost me $3 in sandpaper.

The other stuff was just lying around here.

The laughing Chrisisall

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 1:12 PM

[English toff's voice]
Well that's looking pretty gosh darn spiffing, old chap. A top notch effort there.
[/English toff's voice]
Take a well deserved rest, I'm sure after all that fiddling and seeing the movie your brain must have Firefox overload. Oh yeah and when I went downstairs tonight I glanced at the TV and guess what was playing?
Yep, caught the bit where he first walk into the hangar. Gorgeous scene. Beautiful bird.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Sunday, December 5, 2010 2:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves:
[English toff's voice]
Well that's looking pretty gosh darn spiffing, old chap. A top notch effort there.
[/English toff's voice]
Take a well deserved rest, I'm sure after all that fiddling and seeing the movie your brain must have Firefox overload.

You're so right. And I noticed that the little wings on the front were too small too. They just *look* smaller when not deployed perpendicular to the fuselage.
I fixed it just moments ago:

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, after further checking, I shortened them by about 2mm- new front end paint job ensued including slightly darker windows. Here it is finished (again). Being a perfectionist sucks sometimes.

Quote:
Oh yeah and when I went downstairs tonight I glanced at the TV and guess what was playing?
Yep, caught the bit where he first walks into the hangar.

That's almost kinda eerie...

The laughing Chrisisall

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Monday, December 6, 2010 4:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
...the little wings on the front...

Y'know, they've got a word for those...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canard_%28aeronautics%29

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Monday, December 6, 2010 9:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by cljohnston108:
Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:
...the little wings on the front...

Y'know, they've got a word for those...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canard_%28aeronautics%29]
I thought 'canard' was what right wing folks called 'the truth' from left wing folks....

The laughing Chrisisall

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Monday, December 6, 2010 3:32 PM

More perfected.... it might never end...

The ridiculous Chrisisall

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