Shootdown (1988)

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Contrary to the comment of rps-2, flight 007 DID indeed originate from JFK. I don't know where RPs-2 got the idea it was Toronto.I happen to have been on that flight both in-bound (to United States) and out-bound (to Soeul, then Hong Kong) many times. My last time was just 2 flights before that incident.I cannot yet comment on the overall factual accuracy of the movie, as I still am unable to obtain it in DVD. However, I am absolutely sure that it does not "...deliberately falsifies a key fact."The rest of this is just plain padding. This site would not allow comments less than "10 lines of text."

Having read several books on this subject (Shootdown of Korean Air Lines flight 007) I have to admit that the facts and points about this sad story extremely accurate. I was surprised to see some comments about this movie stating that the facts cannot be true. All those believing that should pick up a book on the topic from your local library, read it and then judge the facts. I have to admit that since the movie was made (1988) there were several key facts revealed that do not match the movie (example: the name of the Soviet pilot that shot it down), but keeping in mind that the movie is over 16 years old, I have to say that the facts presented in the movie are as close as you'd get back then (I will try and add some interesting facts about this to the "trivia" section).On the other hand, the movie acting-wise and script-wise is poor. It is on a level of a network movie (just as this movie actually is), so my expectations before watching it were set lower than usual. But the movie raises interesting points on whether the US intelligence agencies had anything to do with this plane straying off course. I suggest reading a book on this topic before watching the movie. It may be confusing to those exposed to the story for the first time.

The flight in question originated in Toronto, not New York. Why is that so difficult to handle. This is a movie that tries to present a logical argument to bolster a premise. Yet it deliberately falsifies a key fact. So how can you believe anything else in the film? Why could the principals not have taken a connecting flight to Toronto. Contrary to Hollywood myth, Toronto does have an airport into which most of the world's major airlines have flights. The airport even has indoor plumbing! Even after that outrageous and unnecessary "poetic licence" the film is weak with mediocre acting and mundane production values. Obviously a low budget piece of work. Angela Lansbury was a divinely inspired wrong choice for the female star.

I enjoy Angela Lansbury, and I think she did an excellent job. The other actors, although mostly unknown to me, also were fine.The movie is thoughtfully done. I found myself getting caught up in the characters' frustrations, so it was consequently somewhat frustrating to watch. Despite the title, this is definitely not an "action" movie. Low-key in tone, it plays more like a mystery. I am still a fan of "Murder, She Wrote", and watched the movie to see Angela Lansbury. I'm not sure if I would watch it again, because the tone and mood convey sadness. Definitely some "get your Kleenex out" moments, but it was good to see some range in her acting.