4/4  Opie does it again!!
Backdraft is one of my all-time favorite movies, primarily for the spectacular visuals. Never before, and never since, have I seen fire given such a wonderful treatment. Horrifying, mystifying, entrancing, exciting, sensual, this film show... (read full)

4/4  Howard starts it off with Backdraft at #50
Currently #50 in my All-Time List........For whatever reason this movie still ranks this high for me. I love the cast with small and very rewarding performances from veterans Robert DeNiro and Donald Sutherland not to mention top notch act... (read full)

2.5/4  Backdraft Quick Review
I saw this movie a long time ago. So, I barely remember it. But, I remember liking it.

2.5/4  Backdraft Quick Review
The fire scenes were well done. The story between the brothers was a little hokey. Sutherland was good as the pyromaniac and De Niro was good as the fire inspector. The story about the arsonist was pretty good.

3/4  Backdraft Quick Review
There's plenty of fire here - special effects and in the story itself. This film shows respect for the men who fight fire, and fire itself. Before digital technology was born, they had to do it the hard way.

5/5 DVD
  by J. A. Clark (Cincy, Ouio)
DVD and case was in good shape.. Received it in a reasonable amount of time. Very happy with the purchase

3/5 Hollywood inferno.
  by Joseph M. Perorazio (Columbus, OH USA)
"Backdraft" is Hollywood's version of the firefighter's life. The men are blue collar, ordinary guys who are at times heroic and other times cowardly, men who fight fires because it's their job. Being a Hollywood movie, however, most of the men are in-shape, rugged masculine types who cruise to an alarm call with rock music blasting from the fire engine stereo system and who fight fires that contain surprisngly little smoke. Kurt Russell is not altogether likeable in this film, and yet he carries his two roles off successfully with his familiar macho persona. William Baldwin is the standout character, and shows a vulnerable side to the world of firemen that is usually not seen on film. Pyrotechnics are first rate, although there are many more explosions and a lot less smoke than in real-life fires. Another slick film from Opie Taylor.

2/5 Spectacular action scenes, insincere drama
  by Libretio

BACKDRAFT

(USA - 1991)

Aspect ratio: 2.39:1 (Super 35)
Theatrical soundtracks: 6-track Dolby Stereo / Q Sound

Two firefighting brothers (Kurt Russell and William Baldwin) are forced to confront the ghosts of their past whilst pursuing an arsonist who targets prominent members of Chicago's political elite.

Former TV actor Ron Howard ("Happy Days") directed this high-profile Hollywood blockbuster, in which a cast of solid B-list actors and A-list supporting players (Robert DeNiro, Donald Sutherland, et al) are upstaged by scenes of fiery devastation, wrought with frightening intensity by incredible stuntwork and state-of-the-art visual effects. Plot-wise, the film is an old-fashioned barnstormer, directed with gee-whizz efficiency by Howard, whose attempts to wring high emotion from Greg Widen's corny script rings entirely false from the outset. Hans Zimmer's generic music score is overbearing in places, particularly during the 'tragic' finale.


4/5 I like it!
  by Endora Aphrattos (KY, USA)
Backdraft: 2-Disc Set

This film is good. However i have noticed it's not for everyone. It seems that there's not much middle ground people either love it or hate it. It does have it's strong yawn moments. but the authenticity of the film and the firefighters they play makes it really well worth it. Me personnally? i enjoyed it and almost enjoyed the features as well as the film. Some of the features were really informative and interesting but at times they were repititous repeating in one feature what was said in another. Give it a try if you've not seen this one; I think it's worth the investment.

5/5 Amazing effects
  by Neal Erickson (Santa Barbara, CA)
This whole movie was done without the aid of CGI or green screens for the fire effects. Those guys were really that close to the flames. To get the fire to do those amazing things it did... I don't know how to describe how much in awe I am of this.

As far as story goes, eh, it's good. Not great, but good enough to keep me interested, and maybe watch it a 2nd time in 6 months or a year. Acting is decent, and all that, but really, you watch this movie for the interaction of people with fire, and to see just how amazing fire really is.