Backdraft

Rating:
Summary: Great fire scenes, great actors, poor story
Review: Despite the hokey storyline of two brothers locked in enmity working for the same firehouse company, this movie is worth watching for the excellent fire scenes. But cadet firefighters beware: this movie is NOT NFPA APPROVED. The firefighters in this movie scorn protective gear, spurn self-contained breathing apparatus, and breach 100 other firefighting regs all in the name of maverick machismo. And the hero plies the heroine with his, er, hose atop the hoses on an Engine. Definitely not usage as per regulations and would earn a severe reprimand. After all, it results in a life threatening delay in deploying the 2-1/2 inch while a brassiere is untangled from it. A funny part to watch for is the catchphrase 'It's in the walls!' as smoke gets mysteriously sucked back I suppose into the walls leaving the structure unblackened and unscorched, just as if the video had been reversed. Oh yeah, duh. Anyway, great cameos by grouchy investigator De Niro and twisted arsonist Sutherland. Watch it, enjoy it, suspend disbelief during it. The first rescue scene for example. Even wearing bunker gloves a firefighter should take that pronounced a degree of rigor mortis as clear evidence of what is technically referred to in the trade as "dead".

Rating:
Summary: Weep for the possibilities.
Review: There are several good things about Ron Howard's "Backdraft"--namely, the truly incredible fire sequences and solid performances by the great veteran actors Kurt Russell, Robert De Niro and Donald Sutherland. Unfortunately, the movie's flaws weigh far more heavily: the mawkish, cliche-ridden script; the almost total waste of the fine actors Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Glenn and Rebecca De Mornay (De Mornay at least has one good, if very short, emotional scene with Russell); and, worst of all, the completely inadequate lead performance of William Baldwin. Almost any reasonably good-looking, well-built actor of Baldwin's age group would have done a better job. (Baldwin's role was originally written for Tom Cruise, who would have given the movie some much-needed star power.) Ron Howard grew up in TV, and his is predominantly a TV sensibility. This works fine in comedy, such as Splash and Parenthood, or in dramas with a well-defined beginning, middle and end, such as Apollo 13. In films which call for the director's shaping hand, however, Howard's limitations become glaring; just whose idea was it, anyway, to have Baldwin and Leigh make love on top of a speeding fire truck? This movie should have been an action- and character-driven pop masterpiece, but instead is barely adequate.

Rating:
Summary: Essential viewing for fans of "IRON CHEF"
Review: My partner Greg & I would NEVER have bothered to rent this DVD were it not for the fact that the soundtrack is used for most of the incidental music in the Japanese cooking competition "Iron Chef" (which airs Friday & Saturday nights on Food Network). "Iron Chef" is the one show we've come to watch most religiously over the past year. Think of it as professional wrestling for gourmet cooks. The show has been garnering a somewhat rabid cult following in the U.S. over the past couple of years, and it was on one of the many fan sites that I learned that the producers of the program had utilized the "Backdraft" soundtrack for most of the music. And now it seems oddly appropriate, what with all the flames licking at sumptuous slabs of Kobe beef, octopus, and foie gras.

And HEY, the movie isn't so bad either. Although I have a lot of respect for Ron Howard as a director, a drama about Chicago firefighters didn't really seem to be my cup of tea. I'm definitely NOT a fan of Kurt Russell's testosterone-laden style of acting. But overall this is a pretty compelling film with some notable pluses, in particular Donald Sutherland as the Hannibal Lecter of pyromaniacs, Robert De Niro as the tough arson investigator, and some really cool visual and sound effects that are particularly impressive on a good home theater system.

Of course, if you are a fan of "Iron Chef," you'll be hard-pressed not to lapse into some color commentary whenever the camera lingers on a smoking corpse. "Morimoto has incorporated a shattered windshield into a particularly stunning and profound presentation!"

Rating:
Summary: Watch out for the backdrafts
Review: "Backdraft" is a movie about two brothers (Kurt Russell & William Baldwin) who's father got killed trying to fight a fire a few years earlier. They end up being on the same firefighting team and they don't have the best relationship in the world. They must try to quit fighting over who's in charge or something bad might happen.

After I watched "Backdraft," I thought it was a good movie, but it wasn't quite as good as I was expecting it to be. It has good special effects with the fires and especially the backdrafts. Kurt Russell and the rest of the actors also do a good job in the movie.

If you like movies about being a hero with a little bit of conflict between family in it, you'll probably like "Backdraft." It'll keep you interested while you watch it.

Rating:
Summary: A Fair Ron Howard film
Review: I like this film. It has good points and low points. I like the special effects and the research of the gases and also how the fire department works. However towards the middle and end the special effects weaken some of the acting. Althought it had a great director and a great cast. Dir:Ron Howard. Cast:William Baldwin Robert DeNiro Donald Sutherland Scott Glen Jennifer Jason Lee Clint Howard and Kurt Russel. Ron Howard directs this tale about two brothers in the same unit of the fire department as their dad was. Kurt Russel does a perfect job as The older Brother. William Baldwin does a good job as Ryan Mcaffy(The younger Brother). Robert DeNiro brings once again is best to the story as the arson investigator. Donald Sutherland springs his crazy philosophy of fire as a former arsonist. Scott Glenn who I think was the best in this movie,does a great job. Also Clint Howard Rons younger brother appears in the intruiging film. Check out the ride at Universal studios

Rating:
Summary: Simply Excellent!
Review: Backdraft is a great one great film. Outstanding visual effects make this one a must watch. Kurt Russel, and William Baldwim play the McCaffery brothers, Robert DeNiro, and Donald Sutherland support, a great cast. Ronnie Howard's best film ever right next to Apollo 13. The sound on the dvd is excellent as all the explosions surround you with bass. However on the picture quality is where it lacks. Lots of grain, dark scenes look horundous. It's all good, great movie!

Rating:
Summary: The film for the most part was pretty good
Review: This film was good. As a firefighter I can relate to much of the non-fire scenes. I don't know many Captains like Steven McCaffrey but I liked his character. The gung ho firefighter image that Kurt Russell portrays is perfect for the big screen. I found myself on the edge of my seat just waiting for the next scene where he does something that I would never even concider. Some parts of the movie are very realistic. The marriage troubles are very common among firefighters. The unity that firefighters have was seen very well in Backdraft. The actual fires were very real (just without the smoke).But if somebody was to make a film that is 100% realistic it would be like closing your eyes for 20 minutes at a time. Fire does behave, for the most part, like the movie portrays. It creeps up walls and rolls over ceilings and gets into walls and makes the funny noises that are heard numerous times in Backdraft. I liked the movie for the most part with only a few exceptions. I'd recommend this movie but don't take it to heart what you see the firefighters doing.

Rating:
Summary: Great supporting performance by Sutherland
Review: I also enjoyed this film, despite the occasional innacuracy, both for the fantastic effects but also for what I found to be a wonderful and surprisingly creepy performance by Donald Sutherland. He is truly one of the great character actors from the last 30 years, and this small role proves that no matter where you stick him, Sutherland delivers. I've still got the chills from watching the grin on his face as De Niro shows him the melted doll. This film also sees excellent performances from Baldwin and Russell, both of whom have spent way too much time in lousy movies for their own good--this one proves they have the talent to do better. De Niro of course does well, although I would have liked to have seen even more of him, especially toward the end, when his character seems to take a little vacation from the script. But overall, an extremely enjoyable and unique film.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best films of all time.
Review: I first saw Backdraft back when it was released in 1991. I was around 14 years old at the time and it made a profound impact on me. It made me appreciate the role Firefighters make and the risks they take. Even though the actions of the characters may not be perform exactly like real Firefighters do (go into a burning building with no oxygen masks on) but that is why it is called a movie. I have watched this film many of times (I mean really watched the film) and saw the pure genius of it. The way Ron Howard directs this film, shows you why he is consider by some, one of the most inspired Directors of are time. Ron took control and made the scenes of the movie come alive. With simple things like the placement of the camera and making sure that the each scene is done with the fullest potential. Even though the cast was not all Superstars, Ron Howard seem to some how make actors like Kurt Russell and William Baldwin (which I believe are these actors greatest performances to date) to perform above and beyond their norm. And the terrific performances by Robert De Niro (as usual), and Donald Sutherland as Ronald the "Insane Fire Bug" in which acts frightfully well. Also the very beautiful and talented Jennifer Jason Leigh makes supporting role in the film. Her role is disappointedly too short in the film but she does an excellent job with her character "Jennifer Vaitkus". As everyone knows the Special Effects in the film are awesome, even to this day. But if you look underneath the movie magic you find and most interesting story line and a great hero story for all. I know some people do not like this movie at all and I will never understand why. I just suggest that they should go back and really watch the film again and maybe the could see why I find it one of the GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME. This is one of the few movies that made me cry (at the end). If you never seen Backdraft, it is DEFINITELY worth checking out. This movie has it all.

TexMax

Rating:
Summary: Great movie! Highly realistic.
Review: i have heard many people say that alot of it was fake and most of it could not happen but I have talked to firefighters including my father who have said that it is all true up until the end in the chemical building. It is a great movie i recomend it to everyone. It deserves 10 stars!