Far better than I recall, cold war tension very well done

I just rewatched it for maybe the 5'th time, but it's been nearly a decade.

The writing is surprisingly good, funny, clever - most of the technical references are actually correct or close enough.
The tension is great, I'm nearly 38 and I only saw the very tail end of cold war / nuclear doom stuff as a young kid but it's done so well in this and captures that "this is it, no going back" thing quite well.

Acting was very good overall, very few standout groanworthy scenes (perhaps the infirmary guard but he's meant to be a doofus)

Also interesting and took a 5'th viewing to notice is the humour.
The urination sign at the start.
The "backdoor" comment around a girl - but delivered TOTALLY deadpan and no innuendo is implied in the movie.
The prophylactic recycling plant

Really fantastic movie and surprisingly chilling, sad when Falken has clearly lost hope just before he turns around. That extinction speech is pretty rough.

Grade A stuff, loved it.