there be a few problem with the final countdown and the main one be that it too real . let me explain . the film be shoot almost entirely on the aircraft carrier u. s. s. nimitz with the navy full cooperation . now one might think that be quite a coup for the filmmaker and but on view the finish product and it seem very constrictive . sure and there be plenty of footage of navy jet take off and land that fun to watch and in and of itself . but too often such footage seem to be at the expense of the movie itself and and it plot and and have anything really interesting happen . for instance and early on and one of the jet return to the carrier report trouble with it landing hook and which be suppose to grab a tether when it land on deck . so the order be give to raise the emergency barrier to prevent the plane from go off the other end of the deck into the ocean . this be do and the jet land safely . that it . it have nothing to do with any part of the plot . in fact and it like watch a training film for navy recruit . far too much of the final countdown be like watch a navy training film and unfortunately . the actor and the film story seem like intruder aboard the nimitz . many scene be unambitiously cut short . the reality of the ship sink the believability of the story . we never for one minute believe kirk douglas be really the captain of the nimitz . it obvious too and that many of the ship crew be use a extra . here the problem be just the opposite . they have zero screen presence . one of the reason you hire professional actor for movie be they be professional and have spend a great deal of time learn their skill at project a character and speak line of dialogue effectively . whoever it be that say and captain on bridge and and captain off bridge about thirty time have obviously never act in his life . a shame too and since the story idea be a good one and albeit one straight out of time travel 101. what if a modern day aircraft carrier be somehow transport back in time to the day before the pearl harbor attack . even though it not a terribly original premise and there be so many way one can have fun with the idea and so many possibility . but all the final countdown can do be nibble around the edge . the requisite question be ask represent what if i meet my own grandfather and he die . or and what if someone who be mean to die and survive . what if the captain warn washington . what if the nimitz attack and defeat the japanese fleet . unfortunately and again and the question a phrase above be about as far a the final countdown get in play with any of the tantalizing might have beens . one begin wish for even a long and draw out conversation between two of the character about those various possibility . but the screenwriter can not so much a bring themselves to do that and and such scene be cut short as well . the brutal truth be that nothing much of anything happen in this movie and at the end and one be leave with a huge o what . kind of feeling . the final countdown should have be title the final letdown .