Note: Publicity stills are NOT screenshots from the 4K restoration
When The Final Countdown from director Don Taylor (Escape From Planet of the Apes) was released in 1980, it was promoted as a big summer blockbuster that would deliver high-stakes thrills. While the film ultimately delivered on this promise in some respects, it may have been received a little better than it was if it was marketed more so like an expanded head-trippy episode of The Twilight Zone. That seminal series provided some of the greatest entertainment to come out of the 20th century so it would certainly be in good company. The film was not a complete disaster at the box office, but it is one that has relied on time to gain a larger audience that appreciates it for everything it does so well. With the support of the United States Navy’s naval aviation branch and the United States Department of Defense, the film provided an authenticity to its action that few films have been afforded over the years. While not without some narrative shortcomings, The Final Countdown is a great piece of “what if” sci-fi cinema worthy of your attention.
There are some notable stars that helped get this project the greenlight, but the true “star” of the film is the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (appearing as itself). In “present day” 1980 we have this aircraft carrier departing the Naval Station Pearl Harbor to conduct some naval exercises in the Pacific. As captured by director of photography Victor J. Kemper, this vessel is a gargantuan beauty that has a depth of field that modern visual effects just wish they could replicate. Captain Yelland (Kirk Douglas, The Last Train From Gun Hill) is the commander of this aircraft carrier who keeps operations moving with a cool efficiency. It is understandable that he bristles when he learns that civilian “efficiency expert” Warren Lasky (Martin Sheen, The Dead Zone) has been ordered to accompany the nuclear-powered ship to conduct an evaluation. What appears to be a normal day becomes anything but as the ship happens upon a storm-like vortex that they will eventually discover has transported them back to December of 1941 right before the attack on Pearl Harbor.
For as much spectacle as this film has, the real joy of this narrative is delving into the scenario right alongside the befuddled characters. The realization of their situation does not come easily or swiftly as the crew start putting together the different pieces until it cannot be denied any longer. The situation in front of them is this aircraft carrier full of jets that could easily dismantle the Japanese forces that bombed Pearl Harbor are now in a position to stop one of the most pivotal moments in our nation’s history. Your gut instinct is to save those lives and prevent our entry into World War II, but what would the repercussions be in the present? To make matter more personal, the USS Nimitz comes to the rescue of prominent U.S. Senator Samuel Chapman (Charles Durning, The Sting), his aide Laurel Scott (Katherine Ross, The Graduate) and her dog Charlie. The Senator was primed to be a future President before disappearing the morning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, so how would history change if he suddenly did not die?
The debates that are had between Yelland, Lasky, Commander Owens (James Farentino, Dead & Buried), and various other members of the inner-circle keep you riveted, but you cannot help feeling that the film is lacking a proper resolution at the end of the day. There is at least one visceral action sequence that plays out some “wish fulfillment” moments, but otherwise the movie ends on a bit of an anticlimactic note. The resolution itself did not need to be more grandiose, but the execution feels rushed. Thankfully, this does not sour the movie as a whole as it still offers up an enthralling narrative for the lion’s share of the runtime. All of the performers are grounding this heightened premise in reality with convincing performances from the whole lot of them. There have been some criticisms of the film that it plays like an ad for the navy, but the movie never feels like it is trying to recruit you and the presence of a functional aircraft carrier assists in grounding the story as much as the performances. The Final Countdown is an incredibly entertaining film that deserves to be spotlighted more than it ever has been.
Video Quality
Blue Underground presents The Final Countdown with a stunning 2160p transfer in its original 2.39:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 16-bit 4K scan of the 35mm original camera negative with Dolby Vision HDR. One of the most impressive aspects of the disc is the application of Dolby Vision for increased color output that deserves to be admired far and wide for its lustrous beauty. This presentation shoots near to the top of best that I have seen on the format. The new restoration features some colors in the natural open water setting and effects such as a fiery explosion that pop off the screen with a vibrant intensity. This disc handles every environmental change from the metallic interior of the ship to the wide open sky and deep ocean with ease. The black levels are outstanding with nothing in the way of crush present, and white levels are solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming. Nearly every single moment is a visual treat.
The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves well with no fluctuations detected at any point. The texture on display in the uniforms and within the setting are a revelation. Even the visual effects work that brings the portal to life blends naturally with the environment. This transfer does not register anything in the way of print damage. This presentation is true to the original look of the film with the added resolution making elements seem more natural. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such nuisances. This presentation is a five-star effort from the crew at Blue Underground.
Audio Quality
The 4K UHD Blu-Ray disc comes with four outstanding tracks including a Dolby Atmos track, a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio track and a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in both English and French. These tracks provide an expansive soundscape that perfectly captures the artistic intent while harnessing the technology of the present. This track is an absolute powerhouse akin to the work that was done on the Top Gun 4K release in terms of effectiveness. This is sonically an extremely intricate film and the expanded Atmos track goes a long way towards making the world sound fuller. The score from John Scott has never sounded better and is used impeccably to elevate the mood of the story. There is never a moment where it threatens to overwhelm competing sounds, and it maintains a good balance so that dialogue comes through clearly. The environmental sounds such as the chatter of the crew members in the dining hall and roar of the planes are rendered well alongside everything else. There does not seem to be any noticeable instances of age-related wear and tear. Blue Underground has given this film a perfectly preserved audio presentation that brings the movie to life in a thrilling manner.
Special Features
The first-pressing of the Blue Underground 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Final Countdown includes a booklet featuring the article “Zero Pilot Journal” originally published in CAF DISPATCH. This provides a thrilling account of the process of assembling pilots willing to take on the Zero Fighter sequence and all of the issues involved with capturing it on film. This story is nearly as entertaining as the film itself and well worth reading if you get the chance. The Limited Edition 4K UHD set comes with a lenticular cover while it lasts that is pretty sweet in person. The on-disc special features are as follows:
- Audio Commentary: Director of Photography Victor J. Kemper provides a very entertaining and informative commentary track moderated by David Gregory from Blue Underground in which he discusses the dangers of trying to capture the opening shot of the plane taking off, how they had to work around safety protocols to capture certain material, the process of shooting at sea and on an active aircraft carrier, his memories of the performers, the visual effects in the film and more.
- Lloyd Kaufman Goes Hollywood: A 14-minute interview with Associate Producer Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Video in which he discusses trying to gain experience as a producer, how he got involved in what would become The Final Countdown, the initial meeting with Kirk Douglas, the personality of Don Taylor, figuring out how to shoot on the U.S.S. Nimitz, unprofessional crew members, the legacy of the film and more. Kaufman is never one to mince words which makes this piece a delight.
- Starring The Jolly Rogers: A 31-minute collection of interviews in which members of The Jolly Rogers F-14 Fighter Squadron recall their experiences shooting the film and serving in this squadron. The range of information provided by these individuals is fascinating and makes you appreciate the skill that goes into operating this machinery.
- Theatrical Trailers: This disc provides a Teaser Trailer (1:50), Trailer #1 (2:49) and Trailer #2 (3:13).
- TV Spots: This disc provides three 30-second TV spots.
- Poster & Still Galleries: This disc provides image galleries for Posters, Advertising Materials, a Japanese Souvenir Program, Lobby Cards, Stills, Behind-The-Scenes Photos, Video and Miscellaneous.
- Soundtrack: A separate CD is provided for the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack CD by John Scott.
Final Thoughts
The Final Countdown is a fantastic bit of science fiction filmmaking mixed with a traditional war picture. While more action-hungry audiences may want a bit more from this one, the themes within the narrative are what will make the film stick with you long after the credits have finished rolling. Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen and the rest of the ensemble do a really stellar job of bringing some gravitas to the narrative. Blue Underground has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray set that is an A+ effort in all respects. The A/V presentation is out of this world and the special features are very compelling. Fans of the film could not ask for a better release to do it justice. Highly Recommended
The Final Countdown is currently available to purchase on 4K UHD Blu-Ray, Blu-Ray and DVD.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Blue Underground has supplied a copy of this set free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
