for the comedy by showing how crazy people become in war and what irony arises. It is about taking life as it comes. It is about life's odd ironies in weird places, and finding those for your own well-being. It is about having fun and flying which is probably one reason i have always been fascinated by flight . It is about war. It is hilarious. It has an excellent soundtrack, a perfect one in fact. Watch it if your in a mood for having fun. Peace.

can derive from film both enjoyment and significant result, or just fill out forms with everybody expected to follow in the set pattern that agrees with your interpretation rather than the content and intent of the film as was set by the producers, relevant to the time and date and life of people who knew about events ? Mike Stagg

Time". And Charles Gross's score is a perfect fit for this film. The second thing that makes film so great is the cinematography. The flying stunts still hold up to today's CGI effects and they were all pulled off by real pilots. But cinematographer Roger Deakins makes it all so much better with some of the most beautiful shots I've seen. The way this film was photographed reminds me of the beautiful cinematography from David Lean and Jack Hildyard in "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Air American was filmed mostly on location in Thailand and the lush vegetation and rolling hills and mountains are stunning. Air America is the story of a couple of pilots who fly cargo and heroin for Air America, the CIA's wartime civilian airline during the war in Vietnam. Mel Gibson plays a seasoned veteran pilot and Robert Downy Jr. is the young, idealistic newcomer who stirs it all up. When it was released it drew harsh reviews from the big publications, mostly because according to the reviews it tried to poke fun at, and perhaps dishonor the real life pilots of Air America. Putting politics aside I never thought this film dishonored the Air America pilots. The film's main weakness is the thin plot based on real events . The acting is great. Downey and Gibson have great chemistry, and the supporting actors/actresses are also spot on. It cost over $35 million to make this film and every penny is seen on the screen. Unfortunately it never caught on at the box office and only grossed $32 million worldwide . The acting, stunt flying, music and cinematography make it worth multiple viewings, even if you don't understand the plot or find it hard to relate to the characters. If you can watch it in this context, you might love it too.

this movie, please pay attention to the "were are they now" type section just before the closing credits, and see just how scary and prophetic it was the movie was made in 1989 for goodness sake and think about someone like Colonel Oliver North and his contribution to the American war effort.

years, and realize that he has accomplished more *with* his personal issues in tow than some of us accomplish while living within conventional bounds of correctness.And... Why does Downey always get these parts where he's the voice of down-home morality in a sea of squalor? Anyway: Check it out.

going on.I found this a refreshing take on the other Vietnam war stories of the period. Both the leads are immensely likeable anti-heroes, with their own reasons for being caught up in the conflict. Mel Gibson can make any script watchable such is his screen charm and acting talent. Same goes for Robert Downey Jr, and these two talented but troubled souls work well as a team. Mel Gibson was at his peak as a film actor in the late 80s, turning any film he was in into a watchable one. Downey shows great talent as well although his star was still rising. That he was able to bounce back so brilliantly from the troubles that followed him in the years after this film is testimony to his ability. So you can see why they had such chemistry between them here.On another note, Roger Spotiswoode is a competent if unflashy director anyway and this film doesn't do him any harm. But it's the cast who keep this film bubbling along, even the supporting actors are well cast.

American.As usual the lunatic fringe made the most noises,stormed the embassy,threw marbles at police horses and generally alienated the very people they should have been trying to get onside. All of this is perhaps a rather long - winded way of demonstrating that Post - Vietnam guilt is not part of our culture,although heaven knows we understand post - colonial guilt well enough. Therefore we can watch movies about the Vietnam war with far more detachment than the Americans who appear to feel the need to apologise for the miscalculations of long - gone presidents and ignore the traumas of the veterans who were conscripted - many against their will,most against their better judgement - to fight in a desperately hostile and alien environment.These men I salute,the apologists I disdain. "Air America" is a very fine movie showing how men involved in conflict take what comfort they can,when they can,in any way they can.From the safety of our cinemas and living rooms we can scorn them and the way they live and think ourselves terribly liberal and morally perhaps even intellectually superior to these grunts,but perhaps we should remember that a liberal is just a fascist who hasn't been mugged. There are no starry - eyed idealists in modern war.The last ones perished in the Trenches - the pilots employed by the CIA were pragmatic skilled professionals who took risks only when no other option was open to them.They flew what they were told to fly and carried what they were told to carry.They didn't spend a lot of time agonising over what they were doing.It is this aspect of their lives that the movie concentrates on.Mr M.Gibson as the vet and Mr R.Downey jr. as the FNG are both excellent,particularly the former,who,along with Mr A.LaFleur acts as though he actually knows how to fly a plane. Sometimes strange and ostensibly undesirable alliances are made in war and I have no doubt the CIA dealt with Vietnamese Army officers and other officials using the most viable currency available - and if that turned out to be drugs,well,so be it.No amount of post - conflict hand wringing is going to make an iota of difference. "Air America" tells it's story straightforwardly and doesn't back away from historical facts,if you want to see history re-written with the benefit of hindsight watch Michael Moore. The soundtrack is entirely aposite and the movie contains the campest version of "A horse with no name" you could hope for. This is a very under -rated movie and one that future generations freed from tunnel vision will see and recognise accordingly.