The Final Countdown Movie Review

On December 7, 1980, the nuclear carrier USS Nimitz is caught in a time warp and transported back in time to Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, just hours before the Japanese bombing attack that crippled the U.S. and propelled the country into WWII. The commanders are faced with the ultimate decision – leave history intact or stop the incident and maybe the war itself. Making the decision are the captain (Kirk Douglas), his first mate (James Farentino), and a civilian observer (Martin Sheen). The real star of the movie is the Nimitz itself ; the footage taken aboard it offered a look at the magnitude of power available and adds to the realistic feel of the film. Excellent cinematography and a surprise ending wrap things up nicely.

1980 (PG) 92m/C Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, Katharine Ross, James Farentino, Charles Durning, Ron O'Neal; D: Don Taylor; W: Thomas Hunter, David Ambrose, Gerry Davis, Peter Powell; C: Victor Kemper. VHS, Beta, LV VES