I finally got around to watching the 2004 version of Flight of the Phoenix tonight. I watched the original version a couple months back, and the comparisons are interesting.
The new matches the old in just about all of the major plot points. The nomads are handled a little differently, but really only to add in a couple of action scenes that the original did just fine without.
My sole major criticism is really about the addition of a female cast member. Miranda Otto’s character seems to be present only to give a half-realized romantic interest for Dennis Quaid. The original FOTP was not a romance. Modern movies try to toss in a random romantic element far too often.
Good solid entertainment, with some capable human drama. I would have given the movie three stars. However, the random desert Chinese motorcycle gang seen in the trailer does not appear in the film. That editing choice alone deserves an extra star.