Saturday Night Fever and WarGames director Badham takes control of this slick and shiny action thriller.

Roy Scheider plays LAPD chopper pilot Frank Murphy, a loose cannon tasked with putting a new, ultra-sophisticated, gun-laden helicopter through its paces.

With the 1984 Olympics approaching, 'Blue Thunder' is conceived as a tool for riot control. But the brown stuff hits the rotors when Murphy learns that the brain behind the project is crazy Cochrane (Malcolm McDowell), the guy who gave him grief back in 'Nam.

Cue flashbacks and conspiracies, murky plotting and much scenery chewing.

Secondary characters don't fare too well but Badham piles up the bodies at popcorn-chugging pace, assisted by some flashy, Oscar-nominated editing.

McDowell is never knowingly underacted, yet the nonsense benefits no end from Scheider's ever-reliable blend of wry humour and gravitas.

It's something that was sadly lacking from the ensuing TV series and its Jan Michael Vincent-led knock-off Airwolf.