Absolutely Brilliant!

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Don't listen to the pooh pooh brigade who read the front cover and think this was going to be top gun for the digital age. It is in fact a psychologically taut study of the human condition when stripped to the bones. Yes this could very easily be transported to the stage but this is not a detracting factor (resevoir dogs anyone). James Sikking is superb as Hal in a role that fits him as well as his great hill street blues days (he infuriates you but you still care for him). As the nightmarish scenario unfolds the claustrophobia rises and your choices of possible endgame's runs out of control. Then bang you make the final approach towards the undeniable conclusion. Shiver tingle damn that was the answer all along "i knew it, i think". Press rewind watch again with hindsight and clear vision this piece will unfurl like a flag before you. So lights off volume up and eyes peeled lets try and crack this confrontation before times up.

I actually rented this film just one lunchtime, to watch later that night, but when I put the film on to check it's quality, I ended up watching it all the way through to the end! In fact, I ended up with quite a shock when the ending came, because I thought I'd figured the plot out but was, in fact, way off line. Great acting by two fine actors, (Sikking & Elizondo, who is one of my favourite actors). OK, as far as sets go it could have been a stage play, but how would you show the events leading up to the air crash, and also Halsey's (Sikking) past life. The digital sound is superb and can give you quite a jolt at times as the sound FX are a good deal more dynamic than the dialogue. Some great low thumps from a good sub-woofer all the way through the film. The twist at the end is beautifully handled, and those people who got bored with this film really should watch it for the consciousness that it awakens in you. Maybe that's the way it really is, know one knows, but if it's someone like Hector Elizondo doing the 'remembering' bit, then I for one would be quite happy, as his 'shrink' technique was superb. Don't knock this little film, after all, everybody knocked Blade Runner and now it's a cult classic.

Maybe I'm a masochist but I felt compelled to post a comment on this movie as 10 years on it's still one of the five worst movies I've ever been mad enough to watch all the way through. It has an interesting premise but this is totally wasted by a very confusing script. Messrs Sikking & Elizondo are talented actors but even they can't save this one. The only remotely interesting point is the bizarre moment when Hector Elizondo's character impersonates someone having a grand mal seizure - I'm no expert & I don't wish to belittle epilepsy but it seemed extraordinarily well done. This aside, I'd have to say - don't get suckered in by the video cover like I was - it just ain't worth it.

I'm writing this "spoiler" only because there were many negative comments about this film and I can see that many people would simply wait for actions shots that never appear - and be disappointed. This film is about a pilot who has gone to the afterlife, following a plane crash in an experimental plane. This "afterlife" is in the form of a psychiatrists consulting room - The psychiatrist is assisting the "newcomer" to adjust to the life hereafter. Personally, I thought the film works extremely well and the dialog was superb. Yes - if you're after a "Top Gun" or "M.I 2" type film, then I can see why this film would greatly disappoint. People who have drawn parallels between this film and Jacob's Ladder are justified, of course but Final Approach is more polished, in terms of dialog and subtlety. I suspect all references to the SR71 Blackbird could have been removed and the whole film would have been just as (or more) effective. I gave it 7 out of 10 but I'm a very hard marker. Probably if I not had such a hard day at the office, I'd have given it 9 out of 10. Ian Rivlin Queensland, Australia