Review of Backdraft (1991) by Dan H — 11 Feb 2014

Superb performances from William Baldwin, Kurt Russel, and Robert De Niro isn't the only great thing about this film. It's also got a classic story, a classic main theme, some spectacular pyro effects and tense/thrilling firefighting scenes.

Sure, it may over-emphasize that fire is alive (Actually fire is NOT alive, however the film finds new and somewhat silly ways to say it is like "the fire looked at you", and "the fire wants to do this or that".

I'm sure at the time it sounded cool, but these phrases don't hold up as well today. Also, I don't hold the films assertion that fire is alive against it, the belief works to the film's advantage despite the somewhat silly phrases that come out of it), and the schmaltzy/sentimental elements may be a bit overbearing at times but I'll be damned if I didn't get serious chills at the end.

Backdraft is not only a cool film, it's also a damn classic and one of the best firefighter films you're likely to see.