 "great action movie" | 2009-09-12 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1M6MNV097HNP9 |
| Great transfer onto BD. Harrison Ford great job and how can you go wrong with gary oldman as the bad guy. |
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| "Popcorn Action/Adventure Flies High in Air Force One!" | 2009-08-15 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1C58YXM2A30CY |
Back in the summer of 1997 there was a hit movie called Air Force One, with Harrison Ford Clear and Present Danger (Special Collector's Edition) as the President who formulated a plan to stop a terrorist dictator in Kazakhstan. Praised by the Russians, the President declares he will not back down or negotiate with terrorists.
Those words would haunt him.
A group of Russian reporters (a.k.a. the terrorists from Kazakhstan) get on board and with the help of a mole get into a gunfight on Air Force One.
Now I don't know how realistic any of this really is: bullets flying all over the plane and the plane apparently puncture-proof. Or people jumping from a plane at 15000 feet without too much fear like they grew up jumping out of planes.
Even so, with its faults, it was exciting entertainment. Ford did get beat up a bit and as the body count rose and the hostages were getting eliminated, you began to wonder if he would ever prevail.
The movie slowed considerably after the last terrorist got strangled by the President. Yuk. The whole "plane is falling apart" and "I'll go instead of you" got kinda old fast. And Dean Stockwell Quantum Leap - The Complete First Season as the overacting, hyperventilating Secretary of Defense who tried to get the President's orders cancelled, I think was a distraction to the excitement on the plane. Glenn Close Fatal Attraction (Special Collector's Edition) played her role as vice-president well, though a bit of a shallow character.
Gary Oldman Bram Stoker's Dracula (Collector's Edition) played a pretty psychotic terrorist, foreshadowing later interesting roles as in Dracula or in that Batman flick!
From a 9/11 perspective, it's like we saw September 2001 coming -- it was clear in this and other similar terrorist films of the 90s -- life imitates art it seems.
Great popcorn entertainment for sure, if a bit slow and predictable.
Other Ford Adventures:
The Fugitive
Clear and Present Danger (Special Collector's Edition)
Indiana Jones - The Complete Adventure Collection (Raiders of the Lost Ark/ Temple of Doom/ Last Crusade/ Kingdom of the Crystal Skull)
Star Wars Trilogy DVD with Exclusive Best Buy Tin (original theatrical releases) - Widescreen
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| "Air Force One revisited" | 2009-07-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1L3967DK3ZD1B |
I couldn't wait until this came out in Blu-Ray. A real upgrade that is well worth the purchase. Color and lossless sound are excellent, considering the age of the movie. A 12 year old movie can't be upgraded to compare with the movies of today, but a great improvement for this movie.
If you love this action movie and have lossless audio, owning this is a must. |
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| "Movie: 4/5 Picture Quality: 3.5~4.25/5 Sound Quality: 4.5/5 Extras: 1.5/5" | 2009-06-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: AHABFECTNE15I |
Version: U.S.A / Sony / Region Free
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / AACS
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Running time: 2:04:36
Movie size: 34,065,205,248 bytes
Disc size: 37,986,570,643 bytes
Total bit rate: 36.45 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 27.76 Mbps
Dolby TrueHD Audio English 1876 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1876 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby TrueHD Audio French 1581 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1581 kbps / 16-bit (AC3 Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps)
Dolby Digital Audio English 192 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps / Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English (SDH), English, French
Number of chapters: 16
#Audio commentary with director
#BD-Live enabled
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Version: UK-EU / BVHE-Touchstone / Region Free
MPEG-4 AVC BD-50 / AACS
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Running time: 2:04:35
Movie size: 33,864,486,912 bytes
Disc size: 35,455,409,746 bytes
Total bit rate: 36.24 Mbps
Average video bit rate: 23.92 Mbps
Dolby Digital 5.1 - French, English, Spanish
DTS 5.1 - French, Spanish
PCM 5.1 16-bit - English
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, Spanish, Netherlands, Svenska, Norsk, Danish, Suomi, Islenka
Number of chapters: 35
#Movie showcase
#Theatrical Trailer
#Making Of
#Trivia track |
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 "Blu-ray: "AIR FORCE ONE" is an audiophile's dream! Incredible lossless audio! Worth the double dip!" | 2009-06-03 |
| - Reviewed By kndy |
In the Summer of 1997, audiences were treated with another action film from Harrison Ford. During the 1990's, Ford has made quite a number of successful action films but his performance in "AIR FORCE ONE" was truly an example that this Hollywood veteran still had what it takes to be an action star.
The film was directed by well-known action director Wolfgang Petersen ("The Perfect Storm", "Troy", "Outbreak", "Das Boot"), music by well-known composer Jerry Goldsmith ("Rambo", "Star Trek: First Contact", "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Basic Instinct") and Director of Photography by Michael Ballhaus ("Gangs of New York", "The Departed", "Wild Wild West").
The film was received positively by critics and a success in the box office as it brought in over $315 million worldwide. "AIR FORCE ONE" even received attention from President Bill Clinton who enjoyed the film and watched it twice. The film would go on to receive two Academy Award nominations for "Best Film Editing" and "Best Sound".
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"AIR FORCE ONE" features a pretty solid transfer on Blu-ray. Video is presented in 1080p High Definition (aspect ration of 2:40:1) and one thing that I will make clear is that while many films featured in the 90's tend to have a DNR, clean, waxy or soft effect in terms of picture quality, the good news is that "AIR FORCE ONE" does not.
In fact, there are scenes where the detail comes out quite nicely. But if there was one thing that the Blu-ray High Definition transfer does happen to bring out is the amount of grain. But I would rather take a transfer full of grain than the soft, waxy DNR look any day. And I am so happy that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment decided to feature "AIR FORCE ONE" with a good HD transfer of the film.
As for the audio, I have one word and that is "magnificent".
"AIR FORCE ONE" has one of the most impressive soundtracks that I have heard from a 1990's film. The soundtrack just sounds absolutely wonderful on English Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (the film is also featured in French Dolby TrueHD 5.1).
The film features a high number of action scenes and gunfire, music, mechanical sounds from the vehicles, jet engines flying, helicopter rotors spinning, it would seem that so much was put into the emphasis of having a wonderful soundtrack that "AIR FORCE ONE" truly delivers. And these are not short bursts of audio, there are plenty of scenes that utilize this explosive audio throughout the film.
I was absolutely in awe of how all the speakers were being utilized, especially my surround channels and I also noticed a few times where my subwoofer would utilize low frequency sounds. "AIR FORCE ONE" is an action thriller that truly delivers with its audio that I can say that this is one of the better sounding action thrillers from the 1990's that just shines on Blu-ray. And just to think that this film is 12 years old. I was absolutely thrilled by the audio quality of the film.
As for subtitles, the film is presented in English, English SDH and French.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"AIR FORCE ONE" features a commentary track by Director Wolfgang Petersen and Michael Coleman. This is the same commentary from the DVD release but there is good information from Petersen on scenes that were actual aerial shots and not CG and which parts were shot on a set and were CG'd. Also, learning about his feelings towards his cast members, Harrison Ford especially and how Ford did his own stunt work.
BD Live is also enabled and there are commercials in 1080p for upcoming releases from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
JUDGMENT CALL:
I am a big Harrison Ford fan and I watched this film immediately when it came out on theaters. My first impression was that Harrison Ford should definitely be President because it was like a combination of a President meets DIE HARD's John McClane. Well, not really but Harrison Ford's role as a President who fights back was definitely a highlight throughout the film.
One thing that I know is when a film is being directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the viewer is definitely going to be treated with an exceptional, action-packed film and "AIR FORCE ONE" is just that. Even 12 years later and this film still holds up quite well. Petersen and everyone involved in this film did a wonderful job and I have to say that this is my favorite Harrison Ford action thriller to come out in the 1990's. He manages to have the suave, charisma and that look and feel of an action star but in this case, he's the President of the United States.
But for those who own the DVD of "AIR FORCE ONE", you may be wondering if its worth the double dip? I have to answer with an extreme "YES!!!". The soundtrack of "AIR FORCE ONE" is top notch and I will say that its one of the most immersive soundtracks I have heard on Blu-ray. Also, bare in mind, this is not a new action film, this was a film released in the Summer of 1997 and it can compete with some of the recent, bigger releases on Blu-ray. That is how magnificent this film sounds on Blu-ray.
If there were faults in the Blu-ray transfer, its the fact that there are not many special features included. Just the audio commentary but no HD trailer and no making of featurette. The other thing is that although the film looks better than many 1990's film on Blu-ray and avoids the waxy, DNR look but with its HD transfer, grain is elevated. Though not too bad, it is noticeable and this may be a slight issue for some viewers but I tend to be on side of grain is part of film and high definition elevates the look of grain. And personally, I would rather take the grain than a transfer with a lot of DNR or edge enhancement.
Overall, "AIR FORCE ONE" is a magnificent action-packed thriller and a film that Harrison Ford truly shines in. And as for the Blu-ray, this is the definitive version of "AIR FORCE ONE" to own! |
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| "The president fights back!" | 2009-04-03 |
| - Reviewed By bananaslug_al |
Harrison Ford plays a US President that has traveled to Russia to make a deal with the Russians to fight terrorism, and to seal the fate of a rogue ultranationalist, former Soviet general. When terrorists supporting that general slip aboard and then take over Airforce One, the president and his family are in danger.
The action is good, and the bravado of Ford as the US president is exciting. I have to admit, however, that the believability of the entire story is pretty sketchy. There are quite a few holes in the plot, the largest being the lack of an explanation about why a top secret service agent, the one over the President's security detail, would ever help terrorists.
Even so, the drama and action are good.
Those things together make for a good, but not completely outstanding show.
4-stars...that's it...and perhaps a rather weak 4 stars at that. |
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