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The Final Countdown 4K Review

“The Final Countdown” doesn’t do enough with the premise.

After meeting up with the U.S.S. Nimitz, systems analyst Warren Lasky and the rest of the Captain Yelland led crew soon find themselves traveling back in time through a strange portal. It soon becomes apparent that they are in the same place in the vicinity of Pearl Harbor but not the same time as they are now in a period right before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. To further complicate matters, the Nimitz encounters a Japanese fighter pilot and a U.S. Senator who had gone missing in the past. What will the U.S.S. Nimitz do? Will they intervene and change history? WIll they have to let things play out as they did?

1980’s “The Final Countdown” has a very “The Twilight Zone” esque vibe to it and indeed borrows a bit from the episode “The Odyssey Of Flight 33.” The notion of an aircraft carrier entering the past is certainly a sci-fi concept that is ripe for exploration, but alas, the script which had a whopping 4 writers involved never takes off. Not only is the story itself rather uneventful, but it ends just as things start moving. It feels underdeveloped conceptually and there’s a severe lack of characterization to boot.

On the plus side, director Don Taylor has certainly created a real cinematic spectacle. Say what you will about the script, but the movie does have a scope to it with location shooting, production values, an aircraft carrier, fighter planes, grand shots, special effects, action scenes, and so on. 

The movie also boasts an impressive cast with Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, Charles Durning, and Katharine Ross, but again, no one has much to do here. They’re all fine in their roles but the characters are entirely one-dimensional.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.40:1 2160p. How does it look? Fans will no doubt be impressed by this transfer which offers up crisp colors.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? A dynamic track through and through. Viewers also have the option of playing 5.1 and 2.0 tracks.

Extras:
* CD soundtrack for John Scott’s score
* Blu-ray copy
* A booklet with photos, credits, and a Zero Pilot Journal.
* A teaser, 2 trailers, and 3 TV spots
* Posters, advertising materials, Japanese souvenir program, lobby cards, stills, behind-the-scenes, video and miscellaneous still galleries.
* Commentary by cinematographer Victor J. Kemper.
* Separate interviews with Lloyd Kaufman and Jolly Rogers F-14 Fighter Squadron.

May 26, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, The Final Countdown 4K Review, The Final Countdown Soundtrack