Search - Blue Thunder: The Complete Series on DVD

From Out Of The Blue, Thunder Arrives On DVD!

Servo | Atlanta, GA USA | 07/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on the 1983 movie, ABC's "Blue Thunder" focused on the Blue Thunder Unit, a Los Angeles police unit which operated a high-tech helicopter (actually a modified French-made Aérospatiale Gazelle) with ground support. A few of its features included an electric cannon, night sensors, turbo-speed and a "whisper mode" that allowed it to run silently.



The series starred James Farentino (Police Story) as pilot Frank Chaney; Dana Carvey (Saturday Night Live) as his observer Clinton "JAFO" Wonderlove; Sandy McPeak as Cpt. Ed Braddock, the unit commander; Ann Cooper as Officer J.J. Douglas; and ex-NFL jocks Dick Butkus (Any Given Sunday) & Bubba Smith (Police Academy) as Officers Richard "Ski" Butowski & Lyman "Bubba" Kelsey, the ground support team.



ABC first launched Blue Thunder for a midseason run on January 6, 1984. Unfortunately, CBS's slightly more sophisticated helicopter drama "Airwolf" (which debuted 2 weeks later) from creator Donald P. Bellisario (Quantum Leap, JAG) countermanded Blue Thunder's intended run, thereby facilitating its cancellation after just 11 episodes.



While Airwolf was the more successful series with its grim and moody tone, Blue Thunder was just as watchable for its A-Team, Hunter-like tone: standard 80s blend of action and tongue-in-cheek humor. Regardless, the real star [in both shows] was, of course, the helicopter. Not to mention the catchy opening theme music. Again, in both shows.



Blue Thunder - The Complete Series is a 3-disc (529 min.) set featuring all 11 episodes from the 1983-1984 season. Special Features include: Digitally Remastered English Audio and High Definition Full Frame (1.33:1) Video, Bonus Previews, Closed Caption.



Episodes include:

1. Second Thunder

2. A Clear and Present Danger

3. Arms Race

4. Revenge in the Sky

5. Trojan Horse

6. Skydiver

7. Clipped Wings

8. Payload

9. The Long Flight

10. Godchild

11. The Island





First Knight Rider, then Airwolf, and now Blue Thunder.

Bring on "The Man...The Machine...Street Hawk!""

Quality Purchase for Series Fans

S. C. Kirby | San Jose, CA USA | 08/30/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a child I loved this show and I always kept a warm place for it in my heart. This show is action packed, each show with shootouts and explosions, not to mention the wonderful aerobatics. The remastering in superb, as it vividly brings out the blue tint in Dana Carvey's eyes and even shows the forehead lines on most of the actors. Colors are well-defined and there is a strong contrast and warm lights. However, when movie stock footage is used, it looks grainy compared to the series footage. Numerous footage is reused during this series, but it's expected with the budget for aviation shots. Explosion from time to time are corny cut outs, or just plain cheap, but the remastering makes some footage quite vivid. Writing could be better, but there is a generous amount of action that exceeds Airworf. If you're not a fan then rent it, but this is a must own for fans of this series."

A short lived series on DVD!

Wayne B. Hillbish | Brandon, FL | 09/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's nice to see Blue Thunder, the TV series, released on DVD, in spite of the fact it lasted only one season. It was one of the great action-packed shows to come out of the 1980s. You had James Farentino who piloted Blue Thunder. A very young Dana Carvey, who was the co-pilot, who was always referred to as "JAFO" (Just Another Frustrated Observator.) You also has Dick Butkus & Bubba Smith, two ex-football players, who appeared in the series as well. I like other reviewers here would love to have Street Hawk, another short lived series, come out on DVD as well."

Poor packaging and disc quality

B. Wong | SF, CA | 02/23/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The quality of the video and audio are good, as reviewed by the others. I enjoyed watching the episodes again that I had watched years ago; and there are the ones that I had missed because I was too busy working at the time. I am disappointed with the patches of cloudiness on the surfaces of discs 1 and 2. The discs are viewable, but the clouding should not be there; and I am not sure of the long term durability of the discs. The center hub holding disc 1 is loose and the disc keeps falling off. I returned the whole set to Amazon for replacement. The new set has the same problems. I decided to keep the second set because I do want to finish watching the episodes; and the price is right."