Air Force One (1997)

It’s a quite nice action flick. Some people on Rotten Tomatoes and other sites have been moaning that it was too much American patriotism. Well, that’s a load of bullshit! Sure it was very American but given the name and the cast, what the hell did these morons expect? If one cannot enjoy a good American action movie because of some patriotism in it, well then do not watch them! Incidentally there are some countries in Europe, no names mentioned cough cough, that could do with some more patriotism in the first place. Anyway, for us it was two enjoyable hours and hey, it's Harrison Ford after all! It is a decent enough transfer to Blu-ray although the choice of sound codecs is a bit unusual in that it has a Linear PCM 5.1 English track on it.

Harrison Ford for President!

Is this a typical action flick with the only significant differentiation being the hero's name is led by the word President? Yes indeed. But with the great Harrison Ford playing the hero and the always brilliant Gary Oldman as the antagonist, this impressive cast raises this movie from an action rehash to a classic. If you love 80s/90s action, then Air Force One is for you.

Ok, this is a pretty ridiculous movie, but aren't all action movies? It's Harrison Ford doing what Harrison Ford does but in the confines of a plane in midair against a bunch of gun-toting terrorists. So just switch off your brain and enjoy.

When the President’s plane is seized by Communist radicals

After a Russian terrorist (Gary Oldman) hijacks Air Force One with his cronies, the President (Harrison Ford) is intent on saving his wife & daughter and the other hostages (e.g. William H. Macy). Glenn Close plays the Vice President while Dean Stockwell is on hand as the Defense Secretary.

“Air Force One” (1997) is a political suspense/thriller that combines “Under Siege” (1992) with “Executive Decision” (1996). While I prefer those two, this one’s in the same league.

The Russian prison sequences were shot at Mansfield Reformatory, Ohio, which is where “The Shawshank Redemption” was shot.

The movie runs 2 hours, 4 minutes, and was shot at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland (Presidential palace, Kazakhstan), Rickenbacker Airport, Columbus (Ramstein AFB in Germany), Mansfield Reformatory and Los Angeles International Airport (Moscow airport scenes).

GRADE: B-

This is all about Harrison Ford and his ability to almost single-handedly carry over 2 hours of cinema. The plot is ridiculous - Air Force One is hijacked by a group of highly trained terrorists led by Gary Oldman, who quite easily commandeer the plane and hold the President hostage - except, that is, that he too is an extremely highly trained man who dupes them into thinking he has been ejected in a life pod. Soon we have a cunning Mexican stand-off at 35,000 feet with just about everyone else being a casualty. Thank heavens for the sanity of VP Glenn Close holding things together on the ground while our airborne adversaries battle it out. It's probably fair to say that the CGI has been at the drink, too - it is all over the place at times. All told, it's an OK action movie, just don't think too hard whilst you watch it.

Air Force One is a well-crafted action thriller that keeps the stakes high from start to finish. The plot is straightforward but effective, delivering a tense and engaging story without unnecessary complications. It establishes the characters and conflict efficiently, setting up a strong foundation before diving into the action. The pacing is well-handled, keeping things moving while allowing room for character moments. While some parts require suspension of disbelief, the movie never drags or loses momentum.

The directing by Wolfgang Petersen is sharp, maintaining a balance between intense action sequences and character-driven moments. The cinematography is dynamic, making excellent use of tight spaces inside the plane to heighten tension. The action sequences are shot cleanly, making every moment easy to follow without relying on excessive cuts or shaky cam. The visual storytelling helps reinforce the high-stakes nature of the plot, keeping the audience engaged throughout. The special effects hold up well for the time, though some sequences, particularly involving the plane, push realism a bit too far.

The acting is one of the strongest aspects of the movie. Harrison Ford delivers a commanding performance, bringing both toughness and sincerity to his role. Gary Oldman, as expected, is a standout, making for a memorable antagonist with just the right amount of menace. The supporting cast does a solid job, with Glenn Close and others adding weight to the political side of the story. The script is functional, not overly complex, but with enough strong dialogue to keep things engaging. The score by Jerry Goldsmith enhances the experience, delivering a powerful and heroic theme that fits the tone of the film perfectly. While the movie has its implausible moments, it remains a well-directed and exciting action thriller that holds up as a classic in its genre.