Airwolf

TV Movie
1984
1h 25m

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

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Dark Comedy Action Adventure Sci-Fi Thriller

A scientist who created a super-helicopter has defected to Libya, taking the machine with him. A secretive government agency hires an ex-Vietnam War pilot to go to Libya, steal the chopper, ... Read allA scientist who created a super-helicopter has defected to Libya, taking the machine with him. A secretive government agency hires an ex-Vietnam War pilot to go to Libya, steal the chopper, and bring it back.A scientist who created a super-helicopter has defected to Libya, taking the machine with him. A secretive government agency hires an ex-Vietnam War pilot to go to Libya, steal the chopper, and bring it back.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.6/10

5.3K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 1 win total

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Clip 2:11

Airwolf: The Movie

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Storyline

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Trivia
The movie is a re-edited version of the TV series pilot. It also includes some action scenes from the first season.

Goofs
In Libya, when Moffet is chasing an enemy aircraft, the other pilots are stating that it is a Mirage. The enemy aircraft shown is in fact a Dassault Mystère IV, completely different from the profile shown on the computer-screen identifying the enemy aircraft.

Quotes
Major Mufta Ben-Kamal: [Major Ben-Mufta and Dr. Moffet are watching a scantily clad dancer in a nightclub] I don't understand what you Westerners see in women with such skinny bodies, in the desert a body like this would wither and die in a matter of hours.
Dr. Charles Henry Moffet: After a few hours with such a body, what would it matter?
Dr. Charles Henry Moffet: [watches the dancer intently] I want her...
Major Mufta Ben-Kamal: Ah... That will be difficult, we believe she is an American spy.
Dr. Charles Henry Moffet: Perhaps I can question her for you...
Major Mufta Ben-Kamal: I could do that... Of course, Brother Kadafi was most pleased with your exploits this afternoon against the French on behalf of our beleaguered freedom fighters in Chad. Your destruction of two French Mirage fighters will be told about in the camps of our people until the desert sand turns to water...
Dr. Charles Henry Moffet: But it's still not enough to pay for her?
Major Mufta Ben-Kamal: [laughs] There are many women here who are just...
Dr. Charles Henry Moffet: [snaps] What is?
Major Mufta Ben-Kamal: An American Destroyer...
Dr. Charles Henry Moffet: [slight laugh] Done!

Alternate versions
The home video release of this has a huge number of differences to the original TV version. Many of the scenes are shuffled in order and are much re-edited, and of most note is that much of the original dialogue is dubbed with especially recorded alternate versions, with much stronger swearing (including several instances of the "f" word) Some elements of the story (generally ones that would continue as threads in the TV series) are completely eliminated. Various differences include:
The opening credits captions are different, running slower.
A different version of the theme tune is played on the opening sequence.
Archangel discussing with the Senator the development of Airwolf (which gives much of the project's background) is much abridged.
Shots of Airwolf's on-board radar and maintanance screens are completely different.
Numerous scenes have different backing scores and sound effects.
A couple of close-ups of the photos in Hawke's cabin are of completely different photos to the original version.
For some reason, (most of) the story behind the paintings adorning the walls in Hawke's cabin is removed.
On the TV version, before Moffet and his crew head off to Libya in Airwolf, they destory a fighter jet over the desert. On the video version, there is a completely different version of the effectivley the same scene, with them destroying three figher jets over the ocean.
Asides from adding much stronger language, the video release also for some reason also changes numerous lines of dialogue. For pure example, when Hawke tells Dominic that he's got a tough mission for the pair of them, Dominic quips "What're we gonna do, kidnap Kadaffi?"; the TV version's "Nothing that simple" becomes "No, a helicopter". There's numerous other instances of lines of dialogue being changed.
The closing credits are (slightly) different.
The whole chunk of story of where Hawke and Dominic find a hiding place for Airwolf for after they retreive it (in a hollow mountain) and the whole last few minutes after Hawke's recovered & hidden Airwolf, and saying he'll only return it if the Firm find solid information on his missing brother, are completely gone.
The video version finishes (rather abruptly) with Hawke and Dominic having defeated Moffet, flying off over the ocean into the sun-set (in a piece of footage used on the TV episode 'Mad Over Miami') and the film finishing; as opposed to the TV version which has several more minutes with Hawke and Archangel discussing the return of Airwolf on condition that Hawke's brother is found, then Hawke going back out to the lake to play his cello.
Interestingly, there is a scene where twisted creator Dr. Moffet is torturing the kidnapped Gabrielle in the desert, that was in the original TV version but not on this release. This scene is quite strong and as a result is often edited out by many TV showings; considering the stronger nature of the video version, it's surprising it was not included. As this scene is not on the video release and is often cut out on TV, it could be considered to be quite rare

Connections
Edited from The Enemy Below (1957)

Soundtracks
Moonshadow
by Cat Stevens

User reviews20

Review

Featured review

TOP ACTION THRILLER OF THE 80'S

The 1980's were the best time for action fans. During that decade we had The A-Team, Knight Rider, Street Hawk, The Fall Guy and my personal favourite Airwolf.

In this movie Stringfellow Hawke is asked by some government agency to retrieve a billion dollar helicopter stolen by a Dr. Moffett who is working with the Libyans. And we get action and suspense throughout.

Airwolf was quite a dark show. It aired during the mid 80's when the cold war was still very hot and paranoia was at an all time high. Jan Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine did a great job as the duo sent to retrieve Airwolf. Vincent played Hawke who was a moody and pessimistic Vietnam veteran whose brother became missing in action. He was perfect for this role.

Alex Cord played Archangel who worked for the government agency (it was referred to as The Firm throughout the series but that was all we knew) and he seemed innocuous enough although you could never be sure what his real motives were.

The best things about Airwolf was the music and the action. The music was so cool and the action scenes were fantastic. At the end Airwolf is in Libya evading missiles and battling helicopters and Moffett himself and the action doesn't let up for a minute.

Damn good series!