Aiden Melton
The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.
Bumpy Chip
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Isbel
A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.
calvinnme
Friends since their WWII days as part of the Flying Tigers, Meeker's character is now a Lt. (I think) on the Salt Lake City police force while Janssen, whose character misses the good old days and feels somewhat disconnected with things as they are in the present day of 1973, is a radio station helicopter traffic announcer. During the course of his work one day, he spots a bank robbery in progress and, seeing the thieves take a young lady hostage and being aware that they will likely escape if he doesn't intervene, decides to follow them in his copter. Before long, he becomes much more involved with this scenario than he imagined he would be. The interchanges between Janssen and Meeker during the pursuit, as well as the final encounter between the forces of law & order and the criminals, are indeed memorable and worth a look.
nexusstudio
I'll add to the many comments here on this movie. It came at the tail-end of the "t.v. movie" phenomenon of the late 60's and early 70's which along with several other films from this period, elevated television from the droll tired formulas of the past to exciting "theatrical quality" (at least by early 70's standards!) films which featured intelligent scripting and veteran actors who were mostly underrated even when they weren't 'veteran'. David Janssen never escaped his "fugitive" typecasting but "Birds of Prey" was the finest film he made. To my buddy and I from those days this was the most incredible and exciting film on a small screen with the sudden interest in Heli's or "choppers" as they came to be called was directly the result of films like this one. Everybody was watching all those 'bitchin' assault helicopters from the Vietnam war era on the 6 o'clock news and this movie came at the end of the Vietnam conflict and is a period piece for that with a 'bad guy' who is an ex-Vietnam chopper pilot assisting in a robbery with a spectacular escape (for those days).As someone mentioned the score was 'replaced' from the swing-era big band stuff Harry listens to which is like the music running through his mind as he pursues these guys r e l e n t l e s s l y. It is integral to the story and somebody should have tried to get the music cleared for re-use in this classic movie. This happens all to often nowadays with these types of films from this era.The remake of this film is crap---it does not capture the flavor of the original. If this story intrigues you, check out this one which had incredible chopper stunts for those days and even today in some scenes.My buddy and I would watch this movie anytime they showed it--day or night. Then it sadly disappeared from syndication about 15 years ago.To all the 'youngins' out there it might seem like a bit of a yawn in light of all those Hollywood spectaculars but this movie is widely studied by budding film students for it's pacing and stunt work. It makes an old doddering grey-beard like myself forget his physical infirmities and remember the excitement of the post-nam era.This movie is a nostalgia trip for me but my wife is non-plussed. It's not a "chick-flick" then or now! Phil
Jerry Foisel
This is THE BEST helicopter action movie ever made! When two helicopters (Harry's Hughes 500 and the Vet's Aerospatiale Gazelle) fly into the hangar Harry's hiding in (co-incidentally at Wendover Field in Nevada: where the Enola Gay and her crew practiced delivering the atomic bomb) they orbit around each other like giant mechanical dragonfly's.They did a truly amazing job making this movie.I don't think they could remake a better movie than this.The piloting and potentially deadly maneuvers in addition to a heart rending story about "remembering the best times of your lives" make this a great movie. There's also a subplot of a May/December, unfulfilled romance between the very sexy Harry and the very cute "22" (played by Elayne Heilveil). I'm convinced that in the scene where she asks Harry (David Janssen) if SHE CAN KISS HIM: the young Ms. Heilveil nearly passed-out and probably got just a little bit wet! She first says the kiss definitely doesn't feel like her dorky fiancé's. It definitely doesn't feel like kissing her father. Then shortly before she practically mounts ol Harry with EYES AS BIG AS SAUCERS, well: YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE.
brinner
This was one of my favorite movies as a kid. I just loved the flying-scene and the cool hardened look of Jansen. I think it´s too little helicopters in movies now a days. Helicopters are probably the coolest and most impressive vehicle ever invented. Maybe, the morrow-accident recalls too much bad memories to the directors? Nevermind this is a good film (especially because it´s TV-film from the 70´s) recommended especially for teenagers and war-veterans..
