Sorry, True Believers. This iteration of T.H.O.R. is not about the Norse God. It stands for Tactical Helicopter Offensive Response as used in the movie Blue Thunder.
Roy Scheider stars as Frank Murphy. A police officer assigned to the ASTRO Division in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Police Department. He is also a former helicopter pilot that flew during the Viet Nam War. Frank suffers from PTSD and during his flying, it manifests during his flights and was the reason his last partner changed shifts. Unfortunately, in the early '80s, the term PTSD was not used to describe the reliving of trauma some of our soldiers experienced when returning home from Viet Nam. It was still a fairly misunderstood condition.
Blue Thunder is the codename for a prototype military helicopter that has it's debut in a demonstration in the Mojave Desert. Although Frank and his new partner are grounded from a "peeping tom" incident that had them leaving a possible mugging situation that led to the death of a Los Angeles Councilwoman the previous evening, they are requested to attend the demonstration. The reasoning is the plan to do some test runs over Los Angeles and Frank is the best candidate to fly it. Upon seeing Blue Thunder's firepower capabilities, Frank becomes very unsettled about it's true purpose. Besides the firepower, Blue Thunder is equipped with a microphone that can pick up conversations inside buildings and happening on street level, a whisper mode so it flies quietly to be unheard overhead, recording capabilities, and a direct link via computer to any information the government has on whomever.
During a test fight, Frank and his partner decide to follow Frank's previous military commander, who is the main designated pilot for Blue Thunder. They follow him to a building downtown where he meets with a group of military and government officials. Turning on the microphone, they hear the true purpose of Blue Thunder and record what they hear. Blue Thunder is planned to be used to stop urban disorder and to assassinate political rivals. Unfortunately, their prey looks out the window and sees them flying outside the window. The chase is on.
Frank's partner Lynwood, better known as J.A.F.O, changes the code on the recorders so the tapes can't be removed until they have the opportunity. The group believes Lynwood is in possession of the tapes and plans to torture him in his apartment until he gives up the location. Lynwood is able to create a distraction and makes a break for it. with his hands taped behind his back and mouth taped shut, he is unable to call for help and is rundown by an assailant. Frank is framed for Lynwood's murder.
Sneaking into the hangar where Blue Thunder is being housed, Frank listens to a recording from Lynwood and is given the code to release the tapes and decides to take the helicopter out for a flight. Thus, giving him a fighting chance against the odds stacked against him. Frank then calls his ex-wife from the phone in Blue Thunder and tells her to pick up a package he is leaving for her in a dumpster inside a drive in theater. She is to take the package to the news station and only give it to two specific people; a reporter and producer that he trusts.
While she is pursued through L.A. streets Frank is pursued in the air and ends up in a dog fight with his former commander. Frank is able to outmaneuver his opponent and shoot him down. His ex-wife is able to get the tape in the right hands and the recording is played on air. Feeling Blue Thunder is too dangerous, Frank lands it on a rail road and the helicopter is destroyed by an oncoming train.
Blue Thunder can be streamed currently on Tubi. For me, this is a definite must watch or revisit.
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