My review was written in March 1989 after watching the film on Vidmark video cassette.
German helmer Ulli Lommel displays scant affinity for the "Top Gun"/"Iron Eagle" genre with "War Birds", a low-budget exercise headed direct to video stores.
A rather bland cast goes through the motions in a tired tale of Middle Eastern derring-do. U. S. Government has Lt. Col. Ronson organize a squad of mercenaries to fly into El Alahaim, a U. S. ally, and aid the pro-American sheik against some feisty rebels.
Among the mercenaries are two graduates from the "Top Gun" school, one of whom is killed when the mission goes awry due to treachery. Several missions later, the Yanks have wupped some rather stereotyped Arab bad guys.
Problem is that the aerial dogfights here are unexciting, relying on stock footage and minimal action. Otherwise, tech credits are okay.
Pic is dedicated to "Charlie Varrick, last of the independents", evidently Lommel's homage to ace action film director Don Siegel.
German helmer Ulli Lommel displays scant affinity for the "Top Gun"/"Iron Eagle" genre with "War Birds", a low-budget exercise headed direct to video stores.
A rather bland cast goes through the motions in a tired tale of Middle Eastern derring-do. U. S. Government has Lt. Col. Ronson organize a squad of mercenaries to fly into El Alahaim, a U. S. ally, and aid the pro-American sheik against some feisty rebels.
Among the mercenaries are two graduates from the "Top Gun" school, one of whom is killed when the mission goes awry due to treachery. Several missions later, the Yanks have wupped some rather stereotyped Arab bad guys.
Problem is that the aerial dogfights here are unexciting, relying on stock footage and minimal action. Otherwise, tech credits are okay.
Pic is dedicated to "Charlie Varrick, last of the independents", evidently Lommel's homage to ace action film director Don Siegel.