Days of Thunder (1999, VHS)

1990 brought us a thrilling action film about NASCAR and the ins and out of racing. It also brought us our first glimpse of the unknown Nicole Kidman, as a doctor who ends up treating two of the drivers later on in the movie. She is a bright spot in the film, and it ended up kick-starting her career. Let's not overlook the star of the show though, Tom Cruise, who helps to carry the film as a young driver moving over from a different form of racing to be with the "big boys." When a racing team needs a new driver, the new owner wants to try out Cole Trickle, who has performed quite well on a...

Hollywood loves to ram its Star Vehicles into the concrete walls that bound our senses, repeatedly attempting to penetrate and violate the contents within. Hollywood also enjoys tapping into avenues that are increasing in popularity with the masses at the time, hoping to milk the fad for as much as possible. "Days Of Thunder" was a misguided attempt to capitalize on this shopworn strategy. Tom Cruise, fresh from his successes in Top Gun and a couple prior, forgettable Star Vehicles, is the foundation for the chassis of this movie. He plays Cole Trickle, a driver plucked out of the tough World.

For those who are not fans of NASCAR racing, this film could possibly get you interested in the sport. That was one of the main ideas back in 1990 when Days of Thunder was released. Combine Tom Cruise with Robert Duvall, some fast action with race cars, and you'll help spark an interest in the populace of America for NASCAR racing. The formula worked well for the Navy when Cruise starred in Top Gun, why not NASCAR? The film worked, just not to the extent of Top Gun. No sport draws bigger crowds than NASCAR races, and there is good reason for this. But that has little to do with the movie, so..

The late Don Simpson and his partner Jerry Bruckheimer understand Hollywood perfectly. They also understand movie audiences just about as well. They know how to take a story, add the elements that the movie public enjoys, then slap it up on the big screen to present a story that movie audiences will shell out the bucks to see. After Simpson's death, Bruckheimer has continued to offer top notch summer fare. But, this is definitely NOT the best movie that the producing duo has had to offer. Cashing in on the success of 1985's Top Gun, Don and Jerry re-hired Tom Cruise to play race car driver...