AuthorGreedo Where to watch:
Netflix; the cockpit of an out-of-control airplane Impression: Air Force One was released when I was the tender age of 12. I was already pretty cynical by then about the state of blockbuster movies. Now, I've reached the age where things that used to annoy me have become nostalgic. I long for the halcyon days when Harrison Ford made headlines for starring in movies where he crashed small aircraft on unrestricted runways. Now, he does it in his spare time for love of the game. My impression of the director: Wolfgang Petersen brings the world big budget, disaster flicks that don't really please anyone (Outbreak, Perfect Storm, Poseidon). But, he also directed the NeverEnding Story, so what do I know? Reaction: I'm sorry to report that a lot of my favorite action movies from the 90's are overt justifications for US military interventions. Fortunately, the bad guys in this movie are Russian! (Okay, technically, Kazakh but come on...) So, this movie has aged better than others (sorry, True Lies). The movie is well paced as a brief exposition quickly escalates to tense action sequences. Glenn Close delivers as the Vice President and William H. Macy says his few lines competently. Gary Oldman dons a passable Russian accent, while he tries to free his friend, the evil general. This movie is probably the best of the airplane thrillers in the 90's, including Executive Decision, Con Air and Passenger 57. Favorite Line/Scene: The President: "Peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice." I should probably be worried about a German born during 1941 directing an American president to deliver Orwellian language, but I'm not! Bang, bang! Other notables: I doubt anybody in 1997 would have predicted the setting sun of Harrison Ford would wax as the rising star of Gary Oldman waned. 40 years removed from starring in some of the most iconic movies of all time, Harrison Ford has to be coaxed into "acting" in the terrible sequels, while Gary Oldman acts his ass off in interesting and original content . Take that predictions! One gripe - the movie (the Netflix version) has terrible sound mixing: inaudible dialogue alternates with ricocheting machine gun fire and exploding airplanes without transition. I kept the sound remote in my hand at some point. It has been suggested to me that maybe this was due to my inadequate soundbar. Let me know in the comments if you didn't have this issue and I'll remove my gripe. Conclusion: In conclusion, Wolfgang Petersen is not Roland Emmerich. Or isn't he? I don't know, but I like them both. It doesn't seem like Hollywood has much appetite for original action movies anymore. Coincidentally, I don't think there are many, if any, male actors in the 2000's that have the charisma and star-power to carry these kinds of movies. Arbitrary rating: My highest rating: 5 meow meow beans. 1 turd soup for the sound editing.
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November 2020
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