Airwolf (1984 TV Movie) User Reviews (20)

Quick Reviews!!

[malkane316 · 8/10 · 13 April 2005]

Probably the most serious and darkest of all the classic 'man and machine' TV shows of the eighties, Airwolf follows the exploits of Strinfellow Hawke and co. as he fights evil with his lethal and supercool chopper which is armed to the teeth and incredibly fast. The pilot introduces us to the main themes and characters of the series- Hawke, a Vietnam vet, and awesome pilot whose past has been full of tragedy, losing his parents at an early age, and his brother in 'Nam. However, his brother's body was never found and he never gives up looking. His only surviving friend is Dominic Santini, a friend of his parents and together they run Santini Air a pilot school. Often String is called in for dull jobs like being a stunt man for movies, but when they hear from the Firm, a mysterious government group that Airwolf has been stolen, they try to get Hawke involved-he is the only man to have flown it, aside from Moffet, the sociopath who has stolen it. Moffet, creator of the helicopter plans to reign terror on the World from Libya. He is psychotic with a penchant for murderous games. Hawke will only agree to the mission if the Firm agree to locate his brother. Archangel, the Firm's spokesperson accepts and Hawke begins his search. Undercover agent Gabrielle has also been sent in, though against his wishes Hawke has fallen for her. As everyone he loves dies, he begins a race to save her and Airwolf, after she had promised she would not die on him.

The dark tones of the film and the series by the master Bellisario are largely covered by the intense action and bursts of humour. Jan-Michael Vincent, the world at his knees shows his considerable acting abilities here before crumbling into himself in later days. His portrayal of Hawke is strong, a man eternally haunted by the past, but who will always do the right thing. Veteran Borginine adds much of the humour and s the perfect co-worker for Vincent. The late Hemmings is clearly evil as Moffet, giving one of his best performances and we are genuinely pleased when he gets what he deserves. Cord has a small role here which would grow over the series, and he fits the role perfectly. Bauer as Gabrielle is both sultry and strong, but vulnerable, and she gives a strong performance. The film has a few exciting moments, but it is mainly just a pilot setting up the main elements of the series. The music is god throughout, not only the main theme, heightening the emotional scenes, and the action is well crafted. Of course Airwolf itself looks cool and all kids watching would want one of their own, firing sunbursts and missiles all over the place. One of the best shows of the eighties, and a strong movie to start it off.

8 out of 10

Very Unique Hero

[AshenGrey · 8/10 · 1 March 2006]

The great thing about the Airwolf series is the super-cool hero, Stringfellow Hawk. He's an ace helicopter pilot who is a cello player, art collector, and an environmentalist. He doesn't eat red meat. He's genuinely cool without any fake macho bull-crap.

I also like the way he blows away villains who really need killing, but generally spares the lives of low-end flunkies. The fact that Stringfellow does not own a television is a big bonus.

Stringfellow is proud without being arrogant. He is a thinking man's hero. Airwolf is a must-see.

It is a shame that the actor (Jan Michael Vincent) fell short of the heroic ideal of the character he played. I recall that they re-launched the show without him after he cracked up. I saw one episode, but it wasn't the same.

Good, but felt like a prolonged episode of the TV series...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 12 May 2022]

Being a child in the 1980s, of course I watched the "Airwolf" TV series, and I loved it back then. I got nothing but fond memories of the series. And when I stumbled upon the 1984 movie "Airwolf" by random chance here in 2022, there was just no doubt about it that I had to watch it. If for nothing else, then for sentimental reasons.

Oddly enough, then I didn't even knew that they had made a TV movie about "Airwolf". So I was rather surprised when I stumbled upon this movie.

Writer and director Donald P. Bellisario definitely managed to put together something that felt like the TV series. And while there was a familiarity in that sense, then it was also what restricted the 1984 movie, I feel. While this is a TV movie, it actually just felt like a prolonged episode of the TV series, for better or worse. In a sense, of course it was good, because you feel right at home here, but on the other hand, I feel like a TV movie could have offered more.

It was nice to see the original cast in the movie, that being Jan-Michael Vincent, Ernest Borgnine and Alex Cord. It was also nice to see the likes of David Hemmings and Eugene Roche in the movie as well.

If you enjoyed "Airwolf" as a TV series back in the 1980s, then you will also enjoy this 1984 TV movie.

My rating of "Airwolf" lands on a six out of ten stars.

Cool Film

[HORROR_FAN_1 · 13 February 2002]

Although I'm more of a horror fan than action/adventure, the film and classic T.V. series "Airwolf" was more than enough to keep me entertained. The acting was excellent by David Hemmings, Ernest Borgnine and Jan-Michael Vincent, who happens to be one of my favourite actors.

Considering it was made in 1984, the effects are impressive. Watching it, you actually believe that this super chopper can fly faster than mach 1. My favourite section has to be at the end, in the showdown between Moffat and Hawke, seeing though Moffat has just killed Hawke's girlfriend, you can understand why he unloads 6-7 hellfires that blows Moffat sky high!.

This is a must see movie and T.V. series, in my opinion it is simply irreplacable. Outclasses "Knight Rider" not because of more action, better effects and a better and more believable storyline (although these are factors), but because David Hasselhoff is probably one of the worst actors I have ever seen. If you haven't seen the episode in "Knight Rider" titled "Goliath" or "Goliath Returns" then these are a must see. Michael Knight's twin brother which is just Hasselhoff with a fake stuck on beard, simply comic genius!!.

Movie rating of "Airwolf", 8/10.

Really packs quite an emotional wallop for a TV pilot episode.

[heisenberg83 · 7/10 · 22 April 2011]

Ironic plot line to this pilot considering what's happening in Libya right now!

Must say this opening pilot episode packs quite an emotional wallop and it's actually much more of a character film and romance than helicopter action that the series would become. Stringfellow is a real man's man.

*spoilers*

I think the ease with which Santini and Stringfellow steal Airwolf from the Libyans is a bit silly. When String is playing his cello at the end following his tragic loss I couldn't help but shed a small tear with him, especially when the eagle appears. Really quite emotional for a TV pilot about a super powered helicopter. Did make me wonder though why String spent so long shooting the Libyans when he first got hold of Airwolf. Those few extra minutes might've meant saving his lady's life...

High-flying aerial action with movie-quality production values

[Mark-192 · 10/10 · 21 July 1999]

Hollywood enjoyed a period of unprecedented interest in technology during the mid-1980s with super vehicle shows such as AIRWOLF, BLUE THUNDER, THE HIGHWAYMAN, KNIGHT RIDER and the underated STREET HAWK.

Borne from the mind of one of US Television's most creative writers of quality entertainment - Donald P. Bellisario who brought us TALES OF THE GOLDEN MONKEY, MAGNUM P.I., QUANTUM LEAP and currently with the military drama series, J.A.G., it had everything with action, adventure, espionage, adult scripts, international intrigue, coupled with real-world politics (which is rare in Hollywood) even pushing some right-wing, hawkish politics into the middle of the action.

With grim-as-granite Jan-Michael Vincent in the main role as loner pilot, Stringfellow Hawke, aided by Oscar-winning movie veteran, Ernest Borgnine and a support cast including movie actor, Alex Cord (and C.I.A. Deputy Director - Michael Archangel) and TV regular Jean Bruce Scott, it was a show on the edge, that, with the exciting aerial climax at the end of most episodes pushed the boundaries of television with its movie quality action sequences, technology and locations (including the beautiful Monument Valley in Utah).

It now has a sizeable following of loyal fans worldwide (the Wolf Pack), including many people who became pilots (military and commercial) through their love of the show - many fans of which have been following the commercially successful shows of Donald Bellisario (Belisarius Productions) from its humble beginnings in the early 1980s, including the current success of J.A.G. on CBS.

A show which deserved a bigger following at the time, it's a rare gem of television history.

What a Superb film!

[stuarthall70 · 10/10 · 30 August 2000]

I would most certainly recommend this film to anybody who has yet to see an episode of Airwolf, the best acting in the film is by Jan-Michael Vincent- who plays moody loner Stringfellow Hawke, and David Hemmings- The choppers insane creator Charles Moffat. The ending of the film includes a great battle scene, and i love the film that much that the tape is worn out. My favourite film of all time and made me a solid fan of the series. This was the pilot episode, and its a shame that Jan-Michael Vincent ended up the way he did. It would have been nice to see the Hawke brothers work together in the chopper, instead of how the 4th series turned out (a load of rubbish and a slap in the face to hardcore fans of the show). Thumbs way up for this one!

TOP ACTION THRILLER OF THE 80'S

[Big Movie Fan · 6 May 2002]

The 1980's were the best time for action fans. During that decade we had The A-Team, Knight Rider, Street Hawk, The Fall Guy and my personal favourite Airwolf.

In this movie Stringfellow Hawke is asked by some government agency to retrieve a billion dollar helicopter stolen by a Dr. Moffett who is working with the Libyans. And we get action and suspense throughout.

Airwolf was quite a dark show. It aired during the mid 80's when the cold war was still very hot and paranoia was at an all time high. Jan Michael Vincent and Ernest Borgnine did a great job as the duo sent to retrieve Airwolf. Vincent played Hawke who was a moody and pessimistic Vietnam veteran whose brother became missing in action. He was perfect for this role.

Alex Cord played Archangel who worked for the government agency (it was referred to as The Firm throughout the series but that was all we knew) and he seemed innocuous enough although you could never be sure what his real motives were.

The best things about Airwolf was the music and the action. The music was so cool and the action scenes were fantastic. At the end Airwolf is in Libya evading missiles and battling helicopters and Moffett himself and the action doesn't let up for a minute.

Damn good series!

An excellent beginning!

[night_wolf873 · 9/10 · 26 May 2005]

Airwolf is one of the most enjoyable series from the 80's. There is not much to say about it rather than it's got terrific story line, music and it's fully action packed. The Pilot starts of the series by the helicopter being stolen by its creator Dr. Charles Henry Moffett, who sells it to Libyan mercenaries. One of the deputy director of the agency which developed Airwolf, calls for the help of a reclusive pilot who agrees to help them only if they locate his brother Sinjin who is MIA in Nam. Hawke successfully recovers Airwolf, but keeps it for himself because the agency, known as the FIRM, wasn't able to locate his brother. As long as Hawke is keeping Airwolf, the FIRM will keep looking for his brother but also Hawke has to fly Airwolf for the FIRM missions in return.

The pilot episode is mostly talk and less action, but you will find the story to be quite entertaining. Well that's all folks, see it for yourself and you'll start to like it.

The best tv movie ever

[bondilifesaver · 10/10 · 16 November 2003]

This is my all time favorite. Borgnine and Vincent gives a really good acting in this tv show. Bellisario has created this master piece. The best tv show ever. Jan-Michael vincent rules.Also check out Nightrider and A-team.

Pilot lacks the action and fun of the series

[Wizard-8 · 9 November 2003]

What will probably surprise viewers who find the video of this pilot in video stores is the amount of foul language in something that was made for TV. Well, that's explained by the fact that what's on video is the edit that was released to theaters overseas, with the language a silly way to try and hide the made-for-TV origins.

I can see why this was released to theaters overseas; some of the production values are pretty high, and would fit pretty comfortably on a movie screen at the time. Still, I am sure that the people who did see this in a theater were pretty disappointed. Now, the opening sequence is great, flashy and action-filled. However, after that point there is hardly any action until the very end, and filled with talk talk talk. Strange thing is that despite all that talk, a number of plot points remain unclear, like why the two pilots decided to defect to Libya with Airwolf's designer. And while some production values are high, there are also some surprisingly shoddy moments. The island assault sequence, for example, is incompetently directed and edited. And some cost-saving measures like stock footage or reused footage come across like contempt for the viewer. Still, I must admit these cost-saving measures are nowhere as blatant and lazy as what was done for the ill-advised fourth season of the show!

Why I will always cherish the series featuring The Lady.

[auroaraedward · 10/10 · 20 May 2004]

My love of the Airwolf Television series is based on what great TV is all about: meaningful writing, strong characters, justice and a beautiful helicopter. I loved the music and the drama. I found my- self drawn to the TV set every Saturday night when Airwolf was on CBS. Some episodes were better than others but none of them disappointed me. I wanted the show to go on forever. Of course that is unrealistic. Still, when I met the helicopter in Van Nuys, CA in 1986 I was so honored and overwhelmed. "The Lady" will live in my heart forever.

Edward Eugene Smith The Lion of Yelm Washington State, USA

What can I say? Awesome, Totally Awesome!

[Hawke-2 · 10/10 · 6 November 2002]

This can be compared to Guns N' Roses back in the hair band days, when that album (Appetite for Destruction) came out, it kicked all the other hair bands butts! Why, because they brought raw and real life like music back into the mainstream, resembling 70's metal, but much more powerful and much much more fun! How is Airwolf compared to that? That's easy! The 80s were not only filled with cheezy hairbands, but it was also filled with very cheezy T.V. shows that starred vehicles as the stars of the shows. Knightrider, The Dukes of Hazard, Streethawk, The A-Team. When Airwolf came out in 1984, it might have starred a vehicle, but a very good one. The show was much more dramatic and realistic like feeling than the other shows at that time that starred a vehicle. Airwolf is also the only show from that era that should be made into a big budget Hollywood Production!

The World's most advanced military weapon!

[Axel-9 · 19 October 1998]

Donald Bellisario the man who created Battlestar Galactica and Magnum PI, and later Quantum Leap, thought of this great action TV movie, which spawned a mega-hit show. The story runs that Dr. Moffet (David Hemmings) has created a super helicopter which with the help of thrusters can fly faster than a jet fighter, is equipped with twin machine guns, multiple rocket launchers, and Sunbursts to evade heat seeking missiles. Unfortunately he is a bit evil, and defects to the Libyans, taking his creation with him. Michael 'Archangel' Briggs (Alex Cord) the chief of a highly secretive organisation, the Firm, needs someone to go into Libya and bring back Airwolf. He turns To Stringfellow Hawke (Jan-Michael Vincent in the role which made him tv's highest paid actor), a former Vietnam pilot, who agrees after much negotiating. A top piece of TV entertainment, and the preface to one of the most successful shows of the 1980s.

The speed-of-sound Helicopter

[martyn944 · 10/10 · 4 February 2000]

Airwolf is quite simply the greatest television series/movie ever made. I have over 20 episodes of Airwolf and I still can't get enough of it...

Airwolf is piloted by String-Fellow Hawke, an elite combat pilot, who would only return the awesome machine if the top-secret F.I.R.M can find his brother (MIA). Airwolf is full of incredible air-fights and has a good plot to go with it. But the amazing chopper is not the only factor that gave Airwolf it's popular title. String-Fellow Hawke is a lonely man who lives in a cabin, 40 miles from the nearest village. Along with his slick flying, he pilots Airwolf skillfully, taking out the opposition with nothing but class. Airwolf is portrayed as realistically as possible making the series a one-and-only, using advanced radar, weapon systems, and stealth capabililites along with superb footage with Airwolf flying below radar scan a few feet of the ground.

An irreplacable television series.

Sit back and enjoy the ride.

[JAH-5 · 10/10 · 24 October 1998]

Airwolf is a classic, action adventure with a great story, good actors and of course good effects. This is what I believe could be one of the best movies ever made for television. The idea of a supersonic helicopter with 14 firepower options and bulletproof body, just seem to go straight into people's hearts. The movie keeps us watching from start to end and that with great style. Airwolf is probably a drama as much as it's an action/adventure. The main character falls in love with a female CIA-agent that was working with the same global problem - recovering Airwolf from Libyan forces. The movie is full of good humor, thanks to Ernest Borgnine and the characters are strong and well simulated. The helicopter really is something, and the opening scene where they are introducing the chopper, is fantastic. Donald P. Bellisario is known for his creativity and he has created a lot of very good TV-series/TV-movies, but Airwolf is the best one of them - in my opinion. A highly recommended movie.

JAH

Bring this to DVD, please!

[David_Powell3006-1 · 11 December 2004]

Oh, my. When I was a kid I couldn't miss a week of this series, and this is the movie that started it all. It really has a decent plot, given the times it was made in. In 1984, the idea of a third world nation like Libya getting something nasty from a shadowy mercenary type was very real. In 1982, Israel had taken out an Iraqi nuclear reactor that Saddam Hussein had bought from contacts in Europe. In 1982, also, the Falklands war saw the British running into a lot of trouble with Exocet missiles hitting their destroyers.

In "Airwolf," one scene which took a lot of guts to do features an attack by the hijacked helicopter launched against a destroyer. The idea of nasty weapons getting to nations that might mean ill to people has only become more powerful. In 1987, three years after the television movie aired, a U.S. Frigate, the Stark, was "accidentally" hit for real by an Iraqi fighter in the Persian Gulf.

So, in that context, and with the height of the Cold War, the idea of powerful organizations like "The Firm" that Moffet was working for and which our two main pilot good guys get involved with, made for some powerful stuff. The performances only added to the power of it, especially for a kid like myself, with Jan-Michael Vincent doing a great job as the brooding, reluctant hero, and Ernest Borgnine (Who I had only seen doing comedy in reruns of "McHale's Navy" at the time) doing incredible work as well. This series really was a nice thing for him, and boy did he deserve the chance to do something like this. Finally, who could forget Alex Cord as Archangel, all in white except for the black lens in his glasses over his injured eye? White limousines, a white helicopter of his own, and beautiful female aides dressed in white, and the cane he walked with because of his injuries. Definitely a chilling figure in his own right. Man, this was an awesome show for a kid in 1984. Also, it makes points about the duties of people to what is right, the question of when the lines of the fight for good cross with the desire for power, and all the classic stuff. Bellisario came through with this and "Magnum, P.I." about the same time, I believe, which was quite good for him. Everyone associated with this project turned in good work - including the folks who designed the fold-out cannons on Airwolf's winglets, which were impressive in how they folded out and so forth. - Vincent was awesome in the melancholy and quiet scenes where he was just playing his cello by the lake or hanging out and thinking. The show topped this all off with one of the best scores of the 1980s. Definitely a winner. The toppings are all there, but underneath, with the writing, directing, and the performances, the substance is there in force. Great, great show.

Somebody help me!

[Jimmy-37 · 10/10 · 8 November 1998]

This is one of my all time favorite T.V. series. The only problem I have is that it is no longer on the air here. Is there a cable station that it airs on? How do I obtain copies of this great show? Give me a hollar at: [e-mail]

The first of Stringfellow, Archangel and Dominic's adventures

[HUAhmad · 6 August 2003]

Airwolf, the movie that launched the hit TV series, is a fast-paced political thriller, set in the mid-80s when the Americans were at odds with the Libyans. Unlike the pilots for shows such as The A-Team and Knight Rider, this is quite a dark affair. The inventor of Airwolf, Dr. Charles Moffatt, is a psychopath. Despite being a genius, he is clearly unbalanced - just watch the scene where he tests out Airwolf's devastating weaponry on the control tower. He originally built the hi-tech, hi-speed bulletproof chopper for the FIRM, a CIA-type organization who specialize in cases involving national security, but after the control tower massacre, defected to the Libyans and started performing aerial missions for them. Michael Coldsmith Briggs III, codename Archangel, is a head of the FIRM and one of the few survivors of Moffatt's slaughter. He tries to persuade Stringfellow Hawke, Vietnam veteran and ace pilot, to go to Libya to retrieve Airwolf, but he will not do it, unless the FIRM try and find his brother, an MIA in 'nam. Eventually, String goes to Libya with his best friend Dominic Santini and his girlfriend, a FIRM agent, is also on the same mission.

Airwolf is a character piece. We get to know Stringfellow Hawke as a bitter young loner who likes attracting eagles with his cello playing. He has a tragic history as both his parents died when he was 12, his fiancee was killed in a car crash and his brother went missing in action. His friend Dominic is a very cheerful father figure, ready to help String whenever he can, but he can be a bit talkative. Archangel, on the other hand, seems a bit shifty. Later on as the series progressed, he was seen as a true blue good guy, but in this film, he is another typically shady government operative, determined to get the job done and willing to sacrifice the lives of those under his command. It's good to see Hawke punch him in one sequence, because he ate his dog's steak!

British actor David Hemmings is suitably creepy and cold-eyed as Moffatt, but of course, the main highlights are the scenes with Airwolf. When that classic Sylvester Levay tune plays, you know you're gonna have some action. The beginning demo sequence, when Dom and String steal the Wolf from the air base and the explosive desert battle / confrontation are top notch. This was a show that put the likes of Knight Rider in the shade, thanks to solid characters, terrific action and engaging stories.

Delectably cheesy!

[strosstrup · 27 October 2002]

Ok, I love this series. It is classic 80's. Mr. Bellisario could not have cast it any better. Some of the plots are weak, but the battle scenes are riveting. The music and the opening theme score are great. This writer gives Bellisario kudos for maintaining action and excitement during the thrilling chase scenes. The cinematography is professionally executed. Obviously, when viewing this series, do not be surprised to witness a boatload of inconsistencies, and several "stock" scenes.

Great series!

*** out of ****