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Airwolf - Series 1 [1984]


RRP: £28.99
Our Price: £11.98 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

Hip spy shows with covert agencies within agencies--like Alias and 24--are missing only one thing: A super-duper armor-plated helicopter with "nuclear-tipped shrike missiles." In the action series Airwolf, a mysterious national security agency called the Firm constructs a "Mach-one-plus chopper that can kick butt," only to have it stolen by the nefarious scientist who designed it (David Hemmings, Blowup, Barbarella). Desperate, the Firm turns to Stringfellow Hawke (Jan Michael Vincent), a soulful, cello-playing, art-loving, eagle-watching, guilt-ridden master pilot. Hawke refuses to help unless the Firm searches for his brother, who went MIA in 'Nam. Of course, he succeeds in his mission, but until the Firm fulfills its side of the bargain, he keeps the chopper--but also agrees to fly covert missions in exchange for tips about government efforts to retrieve Airwolf.

This elaborate setup proves surprisingly durable. The combat scenes in Airwolf are clumsily edited, but the scripts--though firmly in the cheesy techno-thriller vein of Robert Ludlum and Tom Clancy--are pleasantly zippy. While Vincent may have gone on to a straight-to-video career (appearing in such sterling titles as Hidden Obsession, Indecent Behavior, and Animal Instincts), he’s a persuasive and sexy pilot; he's got the same kind of rangy, athletic physicality that makes Kevin Costner convincing as an athlete. Add to this mix the ever-zesty Ernest Borgnine (Marty, The Wild Bunch) and it's clear why Airwolf outlived the similar series Blue Thunder. Most episodes feature international skullduggery with foreign agents trying to steal Airwolf and sell it to the Soviets or Libya, but there are enough clever details to keep you from objecting to the larger absurdity of the all-powerful helicopter. Guest stars include Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210) and David Carradine (Kill Bill). It's too bad Hemmings didn't become a regular; his sadistic, lecherous traitor gave the two-hour pilot some real juice. --Bret Fetzer

Editorial
Synopsis

Created by Donald Bellisario (JAG, Magnum P.I.), Airwolf was among the many action-adventure shows of the 1980s that garnered a cult following. Jan-Michael Vincent stars as the improbably named Stringfellow Hawke, a Vietnam veteran still troubled by the disappearance of his brother during the war. Secret government agent Archangel (Alex Cord) approaches Hawke with a unique offer: to help him recover and then become the de facto pilot of the powerful, top-secret helicopter known as Airwolf. With that proposal the series begins chronicling Hawke's adventures, along with his sidekick Dominic (Ernest Borgnine) as pilot of the advanced aircraft.

What a Machine!!!
Review date: 2007-08-07 Rating: 10 out of 10


This was a truly superb series, featuring a great cast, iconic music and a great premise. This is the first season, and starts off with the 2 part pilot episode (It should be noted that this 2 part pilot is avaialable seperately edited into a shorter Airwolf: the Movie film. That verson contains more violence, sexual references and swearing which are all absent in the more family friendly pilot).

The core cast are as follows:

Jan-Michael Vincent: Stringfellow Hawk
Ernest Borgnine: Dominic Santini
Alex Cord: Michael Goldsmith Briggs III, codename: Archangel
Deborah Pratt: Mariella

The premise is that the government have spent 1 Billion Dollars on a hightech Helicopter (Airwolf) which is promptly stolen in a massacre by its psychotic creator and pilot Dr Moffatt (a great turn by Oscar Winner David Hemmings). The government then turn to reclusive vietnam veteran Stringefellow Hawke who reluctantly agrees. Que the love interest, heartbreak, and climatic recaputure of the helicopter in Libya. Theres a twist though, the government renay on there agreement with hawke who subsequently hides Airlwolf and refsues to return it unless his brother , an MIA in Vietnam is recovered.

Its all very engaging though and Jan Michael Vincent really does engage you.

The subsequent episodes are:

Daddy's gone a hunt'n
Bite of the Jackal
Proof through the night
One way express
Echoes from the past
Fight like a dove
Mad over Miami
And they are us
Mind of the machine
To snare a wolf

All the episodes are self contained and the DVD and usually centre around either the government or Foreign body trying to reclaim Airwolf or Airwolf undergoing secret missions for a secret government organisation called THE FIRM.

Unfortunately the DVD lacks any extras, however it does have a nice layout screen (complete with Airwolf theme tune) and stands up well even today.




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Reviews


A Warning for DVD Rental customers
Review date: 2007-07-20 Rating: 2 out of 10

Ignore the rating I've given as this series is awesome, but I just wanted to draw people's attention to this. I feel it is my duty to warn those of you who are thinking about just renting this Season not to bother as for some reason Amazon have made a mistake and instead of sending you the DVDs out of the Season 1 Box Set they are sending out the DVDs from the 4 single volumes that were released a long time before they did the season sets - that means you end up getting a couple of episodes from the middle of season 1 mixed up with the first few episodes of Season 2 and few more episodes randomly from the rest of the seasons. I've e-mailed Amazon about this problem and pointed out their mistake but it would seem that they've done nothing to actually replace them with the discs from the Season 1 box set as when u select the se for rent they still come up with the individual volumes titles. I suggest that anyone considering renting these DVDs e-mails amazon and asks them to correct this situation as to me its a case of false advertising.

A SUPER HELECOPTER FROM THE 1980'S.
Review date: 2006-12-02 Rating: 6 out of 10

Airwolf is a Armoured helecopter Gunship that can fly at Mach 1 + and out manouver most fast Jet aircraft. Piloted by Stringfellow Hawk and helped by his only Friend Dom Santini who has his own charter business. Jan Michael Vincent plays headstrong 'Hawk' who has borrowed Airwolf to find his lost brother Sinjin. He has to work covert operations for Archangel who runs a secret 'Black ops' government dept. The series is quite predictable as there are always planes or other Helecopters involved in the series. But this is a fun show much in the vain of an airbourn Knight Rider with similar stories. I am giving this a low score as it's a good show but there were better super vehicle series from the 80's. And for the trivia fan the Airwolf chopper was based on a 'Bell 228 Twin' executive Helicopter.

One of the great 80s adventure TV shows
Review date: 2006-10-14 Rating: 10 out of 10

Airwolf was one of the greatest of the American TV adventure shows that made their inevitable way over to dear old Blighty. Along with shows such as Knight Rider (also available on DVD), The A-Team (also available on DVD), Street Hawk, Miami Vice (also available on DVD), and Magnum P.I. (also available on DVD), they formed a cannon of extremely exciting Tv shows for older and younger alike, the likes of which havn't really been seen since those halcyon days. This is the complete first season, and comes highly recommended.

Airwolf Fans Rejoice!
Review date: 2006-03-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

Finally, the complete first season... Well, after having our appetites whet by the four season 'threebies' that Playback released, we finally get the full first season. The 2 disc set is a much welcome release for all Airwolf fans, as we finally get the pilot episode. The full season comes on two double sided discs and is an absolute joy to own. This is a well thought out and produced DVD set which I would recommend for any Airwolf fan. Hopefully all four seasons will be released by the company, as I'm sure there's enough of a demand. Seriously, don't delay, get it today!

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Ernest Borgnine
Jan-Michael Vincent
Alex Cord
David Hemmings

Creators:
Ernest Borgnine (Primary Contributor)
David Hemmings (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Universal Pictures UK
Manufacturer: Universal Pictures UK
EAN: 5050582383041
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2006-04-03
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Theatrical release date: 1984
Language: English (Original Language)

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