Exploding Helicopter

“Most human problems can be solved with an appropriate charge of high explosive” During the 1980s, it seemed as if Hollywood sent every one of its action stars on unsanctioned missions to Vietnam to rescue American POWs. But before Chuck Norris and Sylvester Stallone got in on the MIA rescuing act, it was the more unlikely figure of Gene Hackman who first went in to get ‘our boys’ back. So, on this show, we’re looking at the film that kicked off an entire sub-genre of the Eighties Namsploitation movie boom, UNCOMMON VALOR (1983). We’re joined by Todd Liebenow from the Forgotten Filmcast to discuss Nam movie tropes, the film’s wildly eclectic cast, and whether America got to win this time. Show notes Director: Ted Kotcheff Cast: Gene Hackan, Patrick Swayze, Randall ‘Tex’ Cobb, Fred Ward, Reb Brown, Robert Stack, Tim Thomerson, Harold Sylvester Plot: Ten years after his son went M.I.A. in Vietnam, U.S. Marine retired Colonel Jason Rhodes assembles a private rescue team to find Americans held in P.O.W. camps in Laos. Episode 146. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter

“Strange... I seem to remember... that the cathedral was on the other side of the square.” On this episode of Exploding Cable Car we take a look at the classic war epic WHERE EAGLES DARE (1968). We discuss inept interrogation tactics, Richard Burton’s bad mood, and all the explosive cable transportation action. Episode 145.

“It’s time to befriend the devil.” On this episode we return to the world of Bollywood to look at Shah Rukh Khan’s action blockbuster PATHAAN (2023). We fire up the wind machine so Asim Burney from the Khandaan podcast can make a suitably dramatic return to the show. We discuss screen bromances, scandalous bikinis, and whether it’s not too late for us to get a sculpted six pack. Episode 144. Show notes Director: Siddharth Anand Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Salman Khan, Dimple Kapadia Plot: An Indian agent races against a doomsday clock as a ruthless mercenary, with a bitter vendetta, mounts an apocalyptic attack against the country. Follow Asim Burney Asim Burney Twitter/X Khandaan – A Bollywood Podcast Twitter/X Khandaan – A Bollywood Podcast YouTube Khandaan - A Bollywood Podcast iTunes

“Gentlemen – cancel your turkey orders.” On this show we rig for silent running and plunge below crush depth to review the French submarine thriller The Wolf’s Call (2019). Show notes The Wolf’s Call (2019) Director: Antonin Baudry Cast: Francois Civil, Omar Sy, Reda Kateb Plot: In the near future, a French submarine finds itself in a crisis situation.

“You wouldn’t hit a lady would ya?” Over a near 20-year period Clint Eastwood was one of the most popular box office stars in American cinema. On this episode we take a look at a film from Old Squint’s commercial pomp, THE GAUNTLET (1977). We take a look at a film that appears to be just another run of the mill cop thriller from the Man With No Name, but under the surface turns out to be peculiarly odd. Episode 142.

“She was as easy to crack as a raw egg.” On this episode we take a look at one of the most important exploding helicopter scenes in film history. But before we do that, we discuss Narrow Margin (1990), Peter Hyams’ remake of a film noir classic. Film notes Narrow Margin (1990) Director: Peter Hyams Cast: Gene Hackman, Anne Archer, M Emmet Walsh, JT Walsh Plot: A Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney is sent to protect a woman who accidentally witnessed a Mafia murder. Episode 141. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter

“Wow – that tongue thing is amazing.” On this episode we take a look at Michael Bay’s The Island (2005). We discuss how well the inventor of ‘Bayhem’ handles a film which attempts an exploration of philosophical and ethical questions whilst trying to figure out why we keep wanting to buy expensive consumer goods. Oh, and of course we take a look at the exploding helicopter action. Episode 140.

“Have you received adequate training for your profession?” On this show we’re taking a look at the Michael Douglas noughties comeback THE SENTINEL (2006). After a three year absence from acting everyone’s favourite recovering sex addict returned to the big screen with presidential assassination conspiracy thriller. Did we suffer a fatal attraction for The Sentinel? Or did fail to satisfy our basic instinct? After that we take some time to consider the musical career Kiefer Sutherland. Lucky us… Episode 139. Show notes The Sentinel (2006) Director: Clark Johnson Cast: Michael Douglas, Kim Basinger, Kiefer Sutherland, Eva Longoria Plot: A Secret Service agent is framed as the mole in an assassination attempt on the President. He must clear his name and foil another assassination attempt while on the run from a Secret Service Protective Intelligence Division agent.

“You may be bulletproof – but you’re not love proof.” On this show we take a look at the cult Eighties action film BULLETPROOF (1987). We’re joined by Matt Poirier from the DTV Connoisseur to discuss the action movie credentials of Gary Busey, why you should take a nap around this film’s third innings, and whether it provided inspiration to the writers of The Simpsons. We also review the exploding helicopter action and discuss a method of chopper destruction that’s only been seen 8 times in the entirety of film history! Show notes Bulletproof (1987) Director: Steve Carver Cast: Gary Busey, Henry Silva, Danny Trejo, William Smith, LQ Jones, RG Armstrong. Plot: McBain - a former CIA agent turned renegade – loose cannon cop is called back to action by The Agency when an experimental, super tank is stolen. Our hero is sent to Mexico to recover the super weapon from the rag tag collection of Arab terrorists and Latin American commies who are behind the heist. Episode 138. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow DTV Connoisseur Twitter: @dtvconnoisseur Website: dtvconnoisseur.blogspot.com

“Now – just blink for yes – or die for no.” Over a 40-year career John Frankenheimer earned himself a reputation as one of Hollywood’s foremost directors of action and suspense films. Here we're joined by Nick Rehak to take a look at one of his less heralded films, Black Sunday (1977). While it may not have the prestige and plaudits of The Manchurian Candidate, Seven Days In May or Ronin, it does have an exploding helicopter (which elevates its status in our eyes). Show notes Black Sunday (1977) Director: John Frankenheimer Cast: Robert Shaw, Steven Keats, Bruce Dern, Marthe Keller Plot: Terrorists attempt to blow up a Goodyear blimp hovering over the Super Bowl stadium in an attempt to kill the American president and 80,000 spectators.

“The rich must pay or the rich will die.” On the new Exploding Helicopter we’re joined by Doug Tilley from Cinema Smorgasbord to look at a very strange film: ASSAULT IN PARADISE (1977). We try to decide if the film was trying to make a sophisticated exploration of the exploitation of Native Americans, or if it was just a confused mess of a movie with nothing to say. We discuss seduction at gunpoint, comedic car chases, wildly inappropriate cultural appropriation, and, of course, the exploding helicopter action! Listen now, listen later, but just make sure you listen Show notes Assault In Paradise (1977) Director: Richard Compton Cast: Oliver Reed, John Ireland, Stuart Whitman, Paul Koslo, Deborah Raffin Plot: An Arizona resort town is rocked when local cops are struck down by a crossbow-wielding assassin dressed as a Native American. The perpetrator of these murders is demanding a million-dollar payoff from the town’s wealthiest citizens – lest they become his next victims. Fearing for their lives – and no doubt hoping to save themselves a few quid – the town’s gentry call in a hard-drinking mercenary to stop the reign of terror before the killer notches up more victims. Episode 136. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow Cinema Smorgasbord Twitter: @CinemaSmorg Twitter: @Doug_Tilley Website: Cinema Smorgasbord

“Mother goose, mother goose, the quails are in the nest.” We take a look at the maritime-themed spin on Die Hard that briefly turned Steven Seagal into an A-list action movie star: UNDER SIEGE (1992). Was this film really a Steven Seagal vehicle though? Why did Tommy Lee Jones never record a blues rock album? And was the action in this film really no better than the Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman ‘Oirish’ drama Far And Away? All these points and the exploding helicopter action are discussed in our new show. Episode 135. Show notes Under Siege (1992) Director: Andrew Davis Cast: Steven Seagal, Tommy Lee Jones, Gary Busey, Erika Eleniak Plot: An ex-Navy Seal turned cook is the only person who can stop a group of terrorists when they seize control of a U.S. battleship. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter

“What are you worried about? They’re only toys.” On this episode we’re reviewing Joe Dante’s SMALL SOLDEIRS (1998). We discuss this surprisingly dark kids flick, subversive messaging and, of course, the exploding helicopter action. Show notes Small Soldiers (1998) Director: Joe Dante Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Kevin Dunn, Dennis Leary, Phil Hartman, Robert Picardo, Dick Miller, Tommy Lee Jones, Ernest Borgnine, Frank Langella, Bruce Dern, George Kennedy, Christina Ricci and Sarah Michelle Geller. Plot: When missile technology is used to enhance toy action figures, the toys soon begin to take their battle programming too seriously. Episode 134. Find Exploding Helicopter online Twitter Exploding Helicopter website Instagram

“Some of the men say it’s one of those abdominal snowmen.” On this episode of Exploding Air Boat we take a look at one of the classics of the propeller assisted water transport genre, SWAMP THING (1982). We’re joined by Nick Rehak to discuss the film’s strange cult status, monster costumes and the spectacular air boat action. Episode 133.

“Only a lunatic would build a world class resort on a ticking time bomb of molten earth.” On this show we do the deep dive on the shallowest volcano movie ever made, SKYFIRE (2019). We’re joined by disaster movie aficionado Fred Andersson to discuss spectacular set-pieces, one dimensional characters, and a classic exploding helicopter. Show notes Skyfire (2019) Director: Simon West Cast: Hannah Quinlivan, Wang Xue-Qi, Jason Isaacs Plot: Geologist Wentao Li (Xueqi Wang) vowed he would never return to Tianhuo Island after a catastrophic volcano eruption tragically killed his wife. But 20 years later, his daughter Meng works on the island that took her mother's life, developing an eruption forecasting system. The island has now been transformed into a theme park by greedy businessman Jack Harris (Jason Isaacs) despite Meng's warnings. As the volcano begins to erupt, it's a race against the clock to save the tourists and villagers from the apocalyptic chaos. Episode 132. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow Fred Andersson Twitter: @homosatanis Instagram: Schmollywood Babylon

”Somebody - for some reason - wants us to believe that we’re back in 1941.” On this show we spiral backwards through the time tunnel to review THE FINAL COUNTDOWN (1980). We discuss time paradoxes, marvel at the art of background acting, and admire the film’s military hardware. Oh, and we of course discuss an exploding helicopter which may secure the outcome of WWII. Show notes The Final Countdown (1980) Director: Don Sharp Cast: Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, Charles Durning, Ron O’Neal, Katharine Ross Plot: A modern aircraft carrier is thrown back in time to 1941 near Hawaii, just hours before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Episode 131. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow Nick Rehak Twitter: @TheRehak Website: Rehak Radio

“Where’s the Sixties music dude?” On this show we take a look at the insane genre mash-up SOLDIER BOYZ (1995) – a film that attempts to fuse a prison movie, a teen drama with a ‘back to Vietnam rescue mission’ action film. Matt Poirier from the DTV Connoisseur returns to the show to discuss young offender rehabilitation, the film’s computer game spin-off and the only collaboration to date between Michael Dudikoff and Darren Aronofsky. Show notes Soldier Boyz (1995) Director: Louis Morneau Cast: Micahel Dudikoff, Cary Tagawa, Don Stroud, Jacqueline Obradors Plot: After the daughter of a wealthy American businessman is captured by a Vietnamese guerrilla group – an ex-Marine turned juvenile prison counsellor - is hired to lead a rescue mission alongside six young offenders. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow DTV Connoisseur Twitter: @dtvconnoisseur Website: DTVConnoisseur.blogspot.com Novel: Holtman Arms by Matt Poirier

“You wait – my travel agent is going to hear about this.” On this episode we take a look at EVASIVE ACTION (1998) a film which tries to recreate the magic of Con Air, but this time on a train. Jay Cluitt from the Con Air: The Podcast joins us to look at the uncanny and shameless similarity to the Nicholas Cage classic. We also examine the little known musical career of one of the film’s stars and, of course, the exploding helicopter action. Show notes Evasive Action (1998) Director: Jerry P Jacobs Cast: Dorian Harewood, Roy Scheider, Ray Wise, Sam Jones, Clint Howard Plot: A group of dangerous prisoners need to be transported to a new, maximum security, prison. Having witnessed the disastrous events of Con Air – when the authorities tried to transfer prisoners by plane – the criminals here are to be transported in a special rail carriage attached to a regular passenger train. But it soon becomes apparent that some of the prisoners have an escape plan. Episode 129. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow Jay Cluitt Twitter: @ConAirPod Twitter: @LifeVsFilm Website: LifeVsFilm

“Did your date lose the handcuff key?” On this episode we don our tin foil hats to review the conspiracy thriller SHADOW CONSPIRACY (1997). We’re joined by Nick Rehak to discuss conspicuous hitmen, the cinematic significance of basketball, and Stephen Lang’s hair through the ages. Oh, and we also talk about an exploding helicopter that one of our hosts declares the best they’ve even seen! Show notes Director: George P Cosmatos Cast: Charlie Sheen, Linda Hamilton, Donald Sutherland, Sam Waterston, Ben Gazarra, Gore Vidal, Stephen Lang Plot: Bishop, trusted advisor to the president, has shots fired at him when Pachenko comes to him about a traitor in highest level of government. He gets away from the cold blooded assassin twice. Will he find the traitor before getting killed? Episode 128. Follow Exploding Helicopter Twitter: @chopperfireball Website: explodinghelicopter.com Instagram: explodinghelicopter Follow Nick Rehak Twitter: @TheRehak Website: Rehak Radio

“They call him GORR-Z-YAH!” After punishing ourselves by reviewing Roland Emmerich’s 1998 version, we turn our attentions to the Gareth Edwards helmed reboot, remake, re-quel GODZILLA (2014). Big G superfan joins us to discuss how this version honours/besmirches (delete as appropriate) the monster series traditions. And we of course look at the exploding helicopter action. Or, in this case, the exploding helicopter chain reaction. Show notes Director Gareth Edwards Cast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Elizabeth Olsen, Bryan Cranston, Juliette Binoche, Ken Watanabe Plot: Ford Brody - a Navy bomb expert - has just reunited with his family in San Francisco when he is forced to go to Japan to help his estranged father, Joe. Soon - both men are swept up in an escalating crisis when Godzilla - rises from the sea to combat malevolent adversaries that threaten the survival of humanity. Episode 127.