Nighthawks

Rating:
Summary: WARNING: Soundtrack altered for Universal DVD release!
Review: This happens to be one of my favorite films/guilty pleasures (the flick on its own easily rates 5 stars), but just wanted to make sure that fans knew that this new Universal DVD release has a *severely* altered soundtrack from the theatrical and earlier home video/DVD releases. This is so unfortunate, as I was excited about finally (for the first time ever) being able to see 'Nighthawks' in widescreen. While the picture hasn't been remastered for this edition, it is a noticeable improvement over the 2001 GoodTimes DVD full-screen release. However, in one of the truly key scenes of the film - where DaSilva (Stallone) discovers Wulfgar (Hauer) in the club - the songs 'Brown Sugar' by the Rolling Stones and Keith Emerson's amazing cover of the Spencer Davis Group's 'I'm a Man' are completely removed and replaced with the lamest possible generic, 70's-era stock music. Words cannot describe how this soundtrack change alters the entire mood of the scene ... it's simply not pretty to watch and is a painful bastardization of the original release. Just wanted everyone to be aware of this change on the new DVD release - I had no idea until it was too late. For those looking for the intact original, theatrical release on DVD, I would sadly still have to recommend seeking out a copy of the (now out-of-print) GoodTimes release. The picture may not be quite as clear as the new Universal DVD, but at least you're getting the Director's complete version of the film. Apparently, the world STILL awaits a definititve DVD version of this minor masterpiece ...

Rating:
Summary: Low-key Stallone in a good film
Review: This is one of Sylvester Stallone's best films. Unfortunately, it is not well-known and only occasionally plays on television. It's a simple "cop chases terrorist" story line, but it is extremely well done with terrific performances from a lower-key Stallone, Billy Dee Williams as his partner, and Rutger Hauer as the terrorist "Wulfgar." Good support is provided by Lindsey Wagner and genre-vet Joe Spinell. The bulk of the film takes places in New York City and the use of real locations is great, particularly the Roosevelt Island tram. The only negative is Keith Emerson's dated and sometimes overbearing score.

The Goodtimes DVD is just fair, with a full screen presentation of the film that, frankly, should have been presented in widescreen format. The trailer and some brief production notes are the only extras. Some other reviewers have suggested that you pass on this DVD. I disagree; this is one of those older films that Universal licensed to Goodtimes and it's questionable as to whether this film will ever get some other DVD treatment in the future. If you want to see to Stallone at his best, put this film in your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Low-key Stallone in a good film
Review: This is one of Sylvester Stallone's best films. Unfortunately, it is not well-known and only occasionally plays on television. It's a simple "cop chases terrorist" story line, but it is extremely well done with terrific performances from a lower-key Stallone, Billy Dee Williams as his partner, and Rutger Hauer as the terrorist "Wulfgar." Good support is provided by Lindsey Wagner and genre-vet Joe Spinell. The bulk of the film takes places in New York City and the use of real locations is great, particularly the Roosevelt Island tram. The only negative is Keith Emerson's dated and sometimes overbearing score.

The Goodtimes DVD is just fair, with a full screen presentation of the film that, frankly, should have been presented in widescreen format. The trailer and some brief production notes are the only extras. Some other reviewers have suggested that you pass on this DVD. I disagree; this is one of those older films that Universal licensed to Goodtimes and it's questionable as to whether this film will ever get some other DVD treatment in the future. If you want to see to Stallone at his best, put this film in your collection.

Rating:
Summary: Sly has an attitude and likes to wear women's clothing.
Review: This movie has great representation of life in the late seventies and early eighties. From the dark and "dirty feeling" of the streets to the flashy lights and heavy beats of the nightclubs.

Sylvester Stallone and Rutger Hauer clash in this game of cat and mouse. Sly being the good guy and Hauer is the terrorist. The chase scenes are great with just enough action. Billie Dee Williams provides excellent supporting cast. While Lindsey Wagner's character was somewhat disappointing.

The soundtrack did get a little annoying at times, but it was pretty cliche for the time that this movie came out. Although in the best scene of the move (the stare-down between Sly and Hauer in the nightclub) the background music was quite powerful and seemed to fit nicely.

I highly recommend this film. Although not necessarily an action flick, it is a gripping thriller. The ending will really get you, very unexpected, but yet I suppose it could have been expected.

Rating:
Summary: Another excellent Stallone movie !!
Review: This movie is absolutely fantastic; Sylvester Stallone is doing really great and the story is wonderful, with lots of action, great dialogues etc. I really liked the whole movie from start to finish. Basically,, it is all about fighting the logic of terror, which means that this movie has also elevated morals.
Even the tiny details are correct. The only flaw is that some parts of the movie are a bit too long, even though never boring to death. The movie starts in Europe; the sequences in London are very realistic, and suddenly a terrorist fires a bomb in a department store.
Right before that, there was another interesting scene in New York, in which Sly was perfectly disguised as a shy, modest, seemingly frustrated middle-aged lady, in order to trap a terrorist. Because of that original costume of Eastern European origin, things happen as expected. Then there is the interesting meeting between Deke and Irene, his unlikely love-interest.
A bit later on, we can hear the click of arms as terrorist-in-chief Wulfgar kills three policemen sent to arrest him during a rock party in London (in which a certain Kenna is involved to get some money). From this point on, Wulfgar knows that even a legend can go too far, and that he has to worry as much about his enemies as about his friends. Then there is a scene in Paris; it has to be Paris because this is where you can see a taxi driver eat raw oysters. There, Deke kicks a police car whose driber wanted to prevent his meeting with Willis from happening. Thinking better, Sly goes to the headquarters on foot with Willis. In the meantime, Wulfgar gets a face lift from an expert surgeon, and kills him to leave no trace.. With his new face and lips, he now has got the feeling that nobody will be able to recognize him; he actually looks like a slightly different man.... He disappears from Paris, and his now regarded as an even greater danger, so DaSilva and Fox get a special top-notch anti-terrorsit training. The objective is clear : reduce the number of opponents wherever they are, even if that means crossing borderlines, and prevent the terrorists cells from cloning. In a clever move, and using a network of informants, Stallone manages to find Wulfgar's track. Wulfgar new plans go bust when Sly, using his intuition, manages to recognize him. However he manages to escape for the second time. He reappears in the perfect flat of a girlfriend while she was taking a shower; but he needs to silence her when she discovers his case containing dope and weapons, for fear of leaks.. It's then high time for Wulfgar to launch his next terrorist attack. With the help pf Shakkah, he takes the assistant french ambassador hostage in the Roosevelt Island cable car. The best part of the movie is when Wulfgar forcefully pulls the ambassador from his wife's arms, kills her without remorse and dumps her into the water. Deke manages to save all the other hostages and to kill Shakkah ; however Wulfgar manages to escape and tries to hide in a house whose address Sly found on Shakkah's body. When Wulfgar enters the french window, he realizes his msitake, as DaSilva is here waiting for him; Deke finally kills Wulfgar. So now both terrorists are dead, and all is well that ends well !!