20 Reasons Why You Rock: Iron Eagle

The Sidney J. Furie directed Iron Eagle first soared into theaters on January 17, 1986. And for the last 35 years, I have been in love with this movie… ridiculous premise and all. It is a piece of nostalgia that I can never get enough of because to put it simply, Iron Eagle rocks…

#1. Throughout this list I will call out Iron Eagle’s killer soundtrack, but Basil Poledouris’ score deserves some love too. The majestic music composed by Poledouris makes you feel like you are soaring in the great blue yonder one minute, and then brings you back down to earth the next as you realize the gravity of the situation our heroes find themselves in.

#2. When it comes to character actors, Tim Thomerson is an absolute treasure. Tim Thomerson plays Col. Ted Masters of the United States Air Force. After his plane is shot down, Col. Masters proves he is a man’s man and despite facing certain death, he never waivers… instead he calls out his captors on their bullshit and is willing to take whatever punishment they can dish out. Col. Masters also raised the kind of son that would risk his own life and break whatever rules were necessary to rescue his father… that’s quality parenting.

#3. Jason Gedrick plays Doug Masters. I am sure there were others considered for the role of Doug… rumor has it Emilio Estevez was among the possibilities, I think a special edition Blu-ray commentary with Director Sidney J. Furie, Jason Gedrick and Louis Gossett Jr could confirm or deny that… but I can’t imagine any other actor could have captured the rebellious drive and youthful optimism that Gedrick brought to Doug Masters, a young man determined to rescue his hero… Col. Ted Masters.

#4. Doug is facing some heavy shit in Iron Eagle and he probably would not have gotten through it without his best friends, Reggie (Larry B. Scott, Spacecamp) and Tony (Jerry Levine). Reggie and Tony are invaluable to Doug throughout the movie and they are there to lighten the mood at times, build up Doug’s confidence at others and bust his balls as needed.

#5. In a movie that features a hostile government wrongfully imprisoning a member of the United States Armed Forces, high school jackass Knotcher (Michael Bowen) may be the most vile character in the entire movie. Knotcher challenges Doug to a race and then Knotcher and his cronies attempt to murder Doug to ensure Knotcher’s victory. That is a blatant disregard for human life… but Knotcher’s assholery makes it all the sweeter when Doug wins the race and punches Knotcher right in his face.

#6. I should point out that the race between Doug and Knotcher isn’t just any race… it is a race between Doug in his Cessna and Knotcher on his motorcycle through a course known as The Snake… I love thinking about how this unique racing had to happen enough times that there were established rules for it.

#7. The Snake is highlighted by the jammin’ tune, “Old Enough to Rock-N-Roll” by Rainey Haynes.

#8. Chappy Sinclair… that is all I really need to say, but I am going to say more. The Chappy Sinclair character is one of my absolute favorite characters in motion picture history and all the credit goes to the man himself, Louis Gossett Jr. Chappy is the mentor we all wish we had in our lives. Also interesting to note that the character was inspired by General Daniel “Chappie” James… a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.

#9. One character that I believe deserves some kudos is Elizabeth Masters… here is a woman who shows incredible strength in the face of not knowing what is going to happen to her husband, Col. Ted Masters. She is a rock for her three children and gives Doug some sage advice just when he needs it.

#10. David Suchet plays Col Akir Nakesh… like any great villain, Nakesh does not see himself as the villain at all. In his world view, it is the “American pigs” that are the bad guys in this scenario and he’s going to teach them a lesson. Suchet does a great job of playing Nakesh as cold and calculating but a man who is seething just under the surface.

#11. No self respecting movie of the 1980’s geared to the young adult demographic would dare to not include a dance scene and in Iron Eagle, Larry B. Scott proves he can cut one helluva rug.

#12. I am shocked that the whole sleeveless hoodie look that Doug Masters rocked did not catch on.

#13. Queen’s “One Vision” was a song I once named as on of Iron Eagle’s Unsung Heroes. We first hear it when Doug gets some flight simulator time and first meets Chappy. But where the song really hits heroic status is when Doug plays “One Vision” on the way to Bilyad to rescue his father and it some how helps Doug and Chappy make up the lost time from their last refuel. I still haven’t figured out the physics behind it… but I do know the song ends with FRIED CHICKEN!

#14. A great montage needs a great song, and Iron Eagle delivers two great montages… the first one features Reggie, Tony and the rest of The Flying Eagles outsmarting everyone at the air force base in order to procure the items and intel needed for Doug and Chappy to fly to Bilyad. All of this is set to the rebellious tune “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister.

#15. The second montage is the planning montage as Chappy, Doug and The Flying Eagles map out the rescue mission all while Ike and Tin Turner’s “Proud Mary” is playing. This is also where we get to hear Doug’s impersonation of Chappy’s friend Slappy.

#16. Chappy’s speech to The Flying Eagles where he praises them as the best planning staff he has ever worked with and then salutes them always hits me in the feels.

#17. Earlier I mentioned Chappy’s friend Slappy… Slappy was played by the one and only Chino “Fats” Williams. His appearance is brief, but Chino lights up the screen when he appears and delivers a few lines with his distinctive voice.

#18. Things do not go exactly as planned when Chappy and Doug arrive in Bilyad to rescue Col. Masters… Chappy is shot down and Doug finds himself all on his own. This leads to the greatest musical dedication in motion picture history as Doug dedicates “Gimme Some Loving” by The Spencer Davis Group before proceeding to blow the shit out of Bilyad.

#19. When Doug lands on the runway to rescue his father, Col. Ted Masters’ reaction is a mix of absolute shock and pride. The reunion becomes a happy one when moments later the Masters boys finds themselves in a dogfight with Col. Nakesh… a dogfight Doug Masters wins!

#20. If Doug killing Col Nakesh wasn’t enough of a happy ending… we find out that Chappy survived and Doug, Chappy and Col. Masters all get the big hero’s welcome when they return home!