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The Final Countdown

6.3

4,896

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Original title

The Final Countdown

Year

1980

Running time

105 min.

Country

United States

Director

Don Taylor

Screenwriter

David Ambrose, Gerry Davis, Thomas Hunter, Peter Powell

Cast

Music

John Scott

Cinematography

Victor J. Kemper

Producer

United Artists

Genre

Sci-Fi. Fantasy | Time Travel. Pearl Harbor. II World War. 1940s

Synopsis

The US aircraft carrier Nimitz under Captain Matthew Yelland departs from Pearl Harbor on manoeuvres. But then the Nimitz is caught in a mysterious storm that appears out of nowhere and then equally mysteriously disappears again. Afterwards the crew find that all naval communications have vanished – all they are able to pick up is old-time radio broadcasts and low-band transmissions in Wartime Naval code. A reconnaissance flight over Pearl Harbor shows ships that were destroyed in the Japanese bombing still in existence and they realize that the storm has transported them back in time to December 5th, 1941, on the eve of the Japanese attack. The question that now arises is should they intervene and use the Nimitz’s superior firepower to obliterate the Japanese fleet and alter the course of history?

Critics' reviews

"An idea worthy of Harlan Ellison, but disappointingly fumbled. Taylor handles most of the aircraft carrier material like a recruiting film"

Time Out
"It's a fun film that presents an interesting scenario and raises a unique possibility. What it lacks in depth and acting skills it more than makes up for as a thoroughly enjoyable popcorn film."

Andy Patrizio: IGN
"As a documentary on the USS Nimitz, 'The Final Countdown' is wonderful. As entertainment, however, it has the feeling of a telepic that strayed onto the big screen."

Variety Staff: Variety
"'The Final Countdown' is clunky, square filmmaking, but it's rarely boring, and the screenwriters come up with a final mysterious twist that saves the movie at the last moment from a disastrously anti-climactic turn of events"

David Ansen: Newsweek
"This is the kind of movie that some kids would probably enjoy - it's filled with technology, special effects and action. But it just doesn't make any sense (...) Rating: ★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"'The Final Countdown' emerges from a round trip through this time-bending exercise flattened into a two-dimensional letdown."

Gary Arnold: The Washington Post

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User history

The Final Countdown

1980

Don Taylor

6.3

(4,896)