Rating: Summary: Don't miss seeing this one on the big screen! Review: This is probably THE BEST movie I've seen all summer ... but then with a cast full of such legendary talents as Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner, and Donald Sutherland, it would be hard to go wrong. Space Cowboys is funny, sad, suspensful, and smart -- all at the same time. The special effects are pretty cool, too. We've all seen picture of the moon and the Earth from out space, but seeing them on the big screen -- it's really beautiful. This one is definitely a must see!
Rating: Summary: Laugh Riot Review: Non-stop laughs provided by a good script and a veteran cast who knew how to deliver the lines. The film's one flaw is the completely pointless ending (which is quite reminiscent of ARMAGEDON). A venture well worth the cost of a ticket at the theatre.
Rating: Summary: The Man is Back! Review: I went into the theatre expecting a semi-cheesy, easy-going film that never takes itself too seriously. And with names like Eastwood and Tommy Lee Jones, it had to be at least reasonably entertaining!I got no more or less than what I expected. The special effects are average, the storyline is fairly predictable, and there's this one AWFUL scene of naked 70 year old butts that almost ruins the whole experience. Everything else is great though, from the superb acting by the old masters (especially Eastwood, being his usual Eastwood self) to the tense climactic scenes. The final camera shot is COOL. See it with your girlfriend when it comes out on video, and make out during the less entertaining portions.
Rating: Summary: the best yet Review: this movie is classic Clint Eastwood. Top notch lines, acting, actors, visual and sound effects. This film deserves more like 10 stars. it is a MUST SEE.
Rating: Summary: Tepid space drama. Review: This rather tepid version of the space drama has a good idea: 4 senior flight pilots get a last chance to go into space. But it wastes it's good premise on a rather too long 1st half on the training. Th last 1/4 of the movie is good athought i see the same story line in "Armageddon" and in "Deep impact". The cast of Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, James Gardener and Donald Sutherlund are fine. James Cronwell was a disspointing villian who's accent jumped from being southern to his native Irish accent. but generally a good flick.
Rating: Summary: Take a ride with the space cowboy baby! Review: Space Cowboys is a great film. If you like Tommy Lee Jones (who doesn't?) and Clint Eastwood you would like this movie. It's one of those rare action movies with a good story line and well developed plot. I defintly recomend this movie to anyone who likes action films staring Tommy Lee Jones and Clint Eastwood. And remember... First one to pass-out buys the beer!
Rating: Summary: Star Trek the Motion Picture all over agian Review: This movie reminds me of Star Trek the Motion Picture. The first half of the movie is great. Seeing old friends getting back togeather and preparing for the mission. However, once they get into space, the movie collapses. There was a lot of build up,but it didn't go anywhere. So when the movie ended, I was somewhat disapointed. I do recommend that you still see it though. (the scene in the examination room had us rolling on the floor) The actors have a definate chemistry that works well. Donald Sutherland is having way to much fun and steals the movie. The special effects are very good and for once not overdone. The movie uses the effects to help the plot, not to cover holes in it. Overall-worth a look
Rating: Summary: Funny look at the space program Review: Space Cowboys has a great cast which pulls this movie off great. The basic concept of this movie is about an old team of hot shot pilots who are sent on a mission to repair an old Soviet satellite. There is a twist thrown into that, but you'll have to see the movie for that. Overall I really enjoyed this movie, the story was excellent, I can't think of anything I didn't like about it. Well paced action unlike most action sequences. Also, the special effects in this movie are numerous, and all were just amazing, a great job was done on them. If you are looking for a movie to go see later this summer, definetly go check this one out.
Rating: Summary: Better with Age Review: Great story line, great gags, great characters, great visual effects. True. But a true gem to see 4 great actors of our time perform together quite possibly for the last time. Americans extend the hand of friendship to the Russians before the breakup of the USSR to repair the "only" communication satelite they have. But things dont go their way when truths begin to unfold some beginning on the ground but the most dramatic ones in orbit. Tommy Lee Jones and Donald Sutherland steal the movie with their trademark charismatic one liners. Enjoy it with a big bucket of buttered popcorn.
Rating: Summary: A Nice Change of Pace Review: Almost every child goes through a stage where they want nothing more than to be an astronaut when they grow up. For most that stage is short lived, but for some that stage never goes away. It is this idea that is at the heart of director Clint Eastwood's latest film, Space Cowboys, a tale of four aging Air Force pilots who get a second chance to do what they wanted to do most for over forty years, go into space.
Eastwood stars as Frank Corvin, the leader of a former group of test pilots know as Team Daedalus. After making it as close as can possibly be to space without actually being there, the program was disbanded in 1958 in favor of NASA. Upon this occurrence Frank and the other three members of the crew Hawk (Tommy Lee Jones), Jerry (Donald Sutherland) and Tank (James Garner) went their own separate ways. Frank went on to become a great early engineer for NASA by designing the guidance system for the Skylab project. The film then fast-forwards to the present, where a serious situation has occurred with a former USSR satellite that is loosing its orbit and will soon crash into earth. You're probably thinking what's the big deal about one Soviet satellite, but that big deal is eventually revealed in one of the film's bigger payoffs. Anyway, the Soviet satellite mysteriously runs on the same guidance system as Skylab, which is so old that no one at NASA can understand it and in one of the film's funnier ongoing jokes, everyone that could once understand it is now dead. Their ultimate solution is to get Frank to fix it.
Frank smells something fishy in all of this and as a result plays out the situation as best he can. So well in fact, that he is able to get NASA top dog Bob Gerson (James Cromwell), the same official who stopped Frank from making it to space in the first place, to allow him and the rest of Team Daedalus to go into space in exchange for his being able to fix the problem. Frank then goes out to gather up Tank, now a minister, Jerry, a roller coaster engineer with a heavy sex drive, and Hawk, a high-risk pilot who hasn't spoken to Frank for years. The crew then goes through the rigorous training that is needed for them to go into space, which provides the film's biggest laughs. The film provides a lot of them, and as you would expect, the vast majority of which surround their age. Unlike most of this summer's other comedies Space Cowboys is able to be funny without being downright cruel, as the film's humor is more of a case of us laughing with the members of the crew than our laughing at them. The members of the crew are old; they know it and are as willing to accept it just as the audience does.
After the training has been completed, a few plot twists here and there, and a few side stories such as the relationships between Frank and Hawk, Frank and Gerson, and Hawk and a NASA official played by Marcia Gay Harden, the launch date finally arrives. Its here were the film sheds its light-heartiness as it takes itself much more seriously while in space. The space scenes are toned down in comparison to those seen as of late in recent space films, but at the same time still amazing nonetheless. The film doesn't go special effects heavy, but instead uses just what is necessary to make it seem so real. This same relative simplicity was also quite noticeable in the film's opening air sequence, which like the space scenes is also very effective in making a big impact despite not going overboard. At the same time, I also had some problems understanding exactly what was going on during the space mission as parts went unexplained while the angles of certain shots also added to the confusion of the action at hand. Also hurting the scene was the situation back in Houston, which didn't help increase tension of the situation. All in all, the space scene was still pretty well done, and certainly a nice change of pace.
Most of the film's performances were all top notch, as one would expect from a cast of this caliber. It's easy to identify with the crew, and just as easy to dislike Cromwell's character. My only complaint in this regard is with Garner's character, who just wasn't given enough screen time to really develop when compared to the other three members of the crew.
After viewing the film I couldn't help but think of the similarities to 1998's Armageddon in terms of plot. I enjoyed parts of that film, but felt that it took itself way to seriously in addition to being much too over the top in multiple aspects throughout. Space Cowboys is almost the complete opposite in this regard as it is very toned down, and with a few exceptions, lacks any real seriousness throughout the first 2/3 of the film. While that was more enjoyable than the corniness of Armageddon, it also hurt the film to a certain extent, as it could have really used a few more serious moments here and there to balance itself a little more and to help build up the tension surrounding its final act. Other than that, and the fact that the film doesn't really bring anything new to the table, Space Cowboys provides a very enjoyable experience by succeeding in almost everything it tries to accomplish. And as many science fiction films before it have proven time and time again, Space Cowboys reiterates the fact that sometimes less is more, especially in space.
*** (7.5/10)
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