Gavin Jackson

14th Aug 2006

Blue Thunder (1983)

Plot hole: Apart from the impressive pyrotechnics, what is the point of destroying the Blue Thunder helicopter? By far the most expensive, time consuming and technically complex part of producing any aircraft is the design and development phase - once the prototype is in the air production is relatively straightforward. The bad guys can make new Blue Thunders any time they like, and Murphy has destroyed the only evidence he has that there was a criminal conspiracy behind the whole programme - the 'videotape' he has of blurry, false coloured characters will convince nobody. Without the helicopter to back him up that tape is of no value to him.

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Suggested correction: The Blue Thunder is caught on camera by a TV helicopter during the aquaduct chase which is evidence it existed.

A helicopter is filmed on CCTV, yes, which gives no detail at all to its use, where it came from, or anything about the conspiracy behind it. The helicopter is proof of the sinister plot and Murphy just destroyed it.

Suggested correction: What you are forgetting is Murphy is already a criminal with or without the helicopter. He stole blue thunder, destroyed two police helicopters, a jet and a police car, endangered civilians lives and finally killed Cochrane. Even if he could prove the conspiracy, there was no way he was avoiding jail. When he walks off at the end, he knows the future is bleak for him.

Gavin Jackson

In no way does that correct the posting. Murphy would have an open-and-shut defence against all "criminal" charges if he could show he was acting against a much larger criminal conspiracy, which he now cannot do. Not only has he scuppered his own chances of defending himself he has handed the real criminals a Get Out Of Jail Free card. The posting is absolutely correct.

13th May 2006

Blue Thunder (1983)

Corrected entry: At the end when Blue thunder is being destroyed, the distance that Murphy is from the helicopter is totally ludicrous. Even an Olympic sprinter would be hard pressed to get that far in such short time. And Murphy didn't look like he made any effort to run at all.

Gavin Jackson

Correction: It is not a continuous sequence. We don't see him get out of the helicopter, just walking away from it, and we have no idea how long it was between his exit and the first time we see him walking. Films don't show every second in real time - we'd have some long, boring films if they did.

Correction: You saw Murphy in the helicopter staring straight at the oncoming train. No way he could have made that distance so quick. The mistake is correct.

Gavin Jackson

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