In 1997, former American NINJA Michael Dudikoff and director Rick Jacobson so thoroughly ripped off the previous year's EXECUTIVE DECISION that it's hard to imagine how they avoided a lawsuit. A decade later, Steven Seagal returned the favor by blatantly remaking Dudikoff's BLACK THUNDER as FLIGHT OF FURY. Whatever the dynamics behind this odd reciprocation between stars, Dudikoff/Jacobson's offering is actually the sincerer form of flattery, for despite its knockoff status, it's a pretty serviceable adventure – a little too light on the action for my taste, but excelling in most other important areas.The story: When a terrorist unit hijacks an airliner and threatens to detonate a devastating chemical weapon over America unless their demands are met, the designer of the weapon (Dudikoff) joins a Special Forces team to board the plane mid-flight and neutralize the threat.I never thought I'd see the day when Michael Dudikoff becomes a cooler guy than Kurt Russell, but it happens in this film: Dudikoff and Russell play virtually the same role in their respective films, and the former's infinitely more active and able take on the part is the one way that COMMAND decisively outshines DECISION. Rick Jacobson's lively direction and maximization of resources helps a lot, making for a movie that's smaller-scaled than its original but no less professional-looking and, arguably, more fun. A great cast that includes Amanda Wyss, Paul Winfield, and Jsu Garcia keeps the plot energized and upbeat, thereby creating a tone that's fairly breezy for an action-thriller.The always-welcome Richard Norton plays the terrorist leader, and in addition to being a fun menace, he helps supplies the movie's action highlights via three hand-to-hand fights with Dudikoff (one of them is even good). Other than that, the adrenaline scenes are limited to a handful of gunfights, including several ill-advised ones on the plane. The film leans disproportionately on the latter aspect of its action-thriller label, and I consider this a bad idea given that it's not nearly as serviceable of a nail-bitter as the movie it's aping. The fun characters help keep viewers involved, but there's nothing here in terms of excitement that you won't find anywhere else.The movie teeters on a higher rating from me. I have a feeling that fans of Dudikoff will consider this one a favorite, but I could have used a bit more substantial action. Nevertheless, I can't speak too strongly against this one, and thus I'll give it an unenthusiastic recommendation: catch it on TV or lift it from the bargain bin.

*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS*SPOILERS A movie that rips off "Executive decision" , but also "Air force one" , "Die hard" , "Passenger 57" , "The Rock" and "Broken arrow" . To add an insult to the injury shots of the SR-71 leaving the airfield hanger and taking off where also used in Michael Dudikoff's "Black thunder ". Portions of the musical score were used in Dudikoff's "Counter Measures ".The shots of the F-16 were actually stock footage from the movie "Iron eagle".How the makers of this crap got away without being sued for every penny they had beats me.There is also a lot of stupidity here. Few examples : - A vice president traveling in a standard 747 passenger plane ? The vice president always travels in a US government plane Air Force 2.Why would the kidnappers hijack the Vice Presidents plane ? With all that potential chemical death on board any plane would have done.Why use a plane at all ? Just use a bomb in a warehouse with the chemical.How come everyone in the plane did not die horribly poisoned with the "biological weapon"? - Explosive decompression does not last 10 minutes like shown in the movie - How is it possible that Dudikoff, who did not know how to fly a plane, manages to land a 747 so smoothly and smack in the middle of the runway without any kind of coaching? This is a terrible movie. Avoid it. I give it 1/10.

Dudikoff has done a few Die Hard variations. I just saw another dud recently of his called "Crash Dive" , this one isn't as bad as that film, but that isn't exactly complimentary. Dudikoff can be fun to watch when he has at least an average script to work with. This was another one of his cheapies he made around this juncture. It doesn't have a whole lot of action. If you count unexciting shootouts that are uninvolving, along with a few uninspired scraps, this will be right up your alley. This movie takes itself incredibly seriously, failing to inject much humor into the proceedings. Dudikoff can do this type of thing in his sleep and does at times. He looks bored half the time and I don't blame him. Amanda Wyss is known for her role is Tina in Nightmare on Elm Street. She's gorgeous to look at, wooden as a board performance wise. Bryan Cranston (Yes, Breaking Bad) is so far and above the performances, it's ridiculous. He is a hoot. Overall, go watch the first two American Ninhas or Dudikoff's sadly short lived show Cobra. That is Dudikoff at his best 3/10

This movie is excellent if you want to see a Stealth Fighter take off from different angles, and if you get a kick out of watching F-16's rear. Otherwise, stay away. The script is bad, the acting is bad, the directing is bad, and the improbability level is soaring. Only plus in the margin is to Bok Yun Chon for being beautiful and to Marcus Aurelius (i think...) for being partially funny.