In many ways, Air Force One is an effective actioner. In a few other ways, it is not (a lot of the action sequences aren't convincing). What can be asserted though, is that it's a rare action film that is actually worth two hours of your time to watch. The acting is convincing, the direction is expierenced, and the so-so script won't bother you that much.
Harrison Ford is the President of the United States, James Marshall, who has just announced that the US will not negotiate with terrorists and will fight them to the bitter end. As Marshall flies back to the US from Russia in Air Force One, Russian terrorists led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman) hijack the plane, kill the Secret Service Agents on board, and turn the plane around back to Russia. They contact the American Government, demanding that they release a Russian general just recently captured. Meanwhile, Marshall hides downstairs, and after killing a terrorist and getting hold of his gun, launches a war of his own against Korshunov to protect his country and his family.
Don't get me wrong. Air Force One, to me at the very least, felt like a mixed rehash of Die Hard and Executive Decision. Out of these three films, I can't say which one is the best or the worst. All are strongly entertaining, though not great movies.
Out of the three though, the acting is probably the best in Air Force One. Ford is quite an accomplished actor in Hollywood, and his performance never dwindles here. He looks into the camera with a sense of determination. Possibly even better is Oldman as Korshunov, the sinister Russian, who's character has influenced many characters in today's video games (Call of Duty especially). Oldman nearly throws himself into the role while yet not taking it all that seriously. The result is a well-done but not memorable performance, and executes his character with style, and with a believable Russian accent. Glenn Close is quite well as the Vice President.
The film gets bogged down in heroics all to often. Ford all too often charges and punches a guy in a fist fight rather then just pick up the gun and shoot him. At times, I forgot that Ford was playing the President. The film becomes much more special effects driven towards the end, particularly when the plane crashes into the Caspian Sea (I suppose it becomes inevitable that the plane would crash in the end. Ah, I just gave away a spoiler).
This is a Wolfgang Petersen film. He operates quite well behind the camera, having had expierence with this kind of genre in his better 1993 pic, in the Line of Fire. He adds in a nearly perfect movie score that alone keeps the film going. The action scenes are for the most part well-shot if not all that believable.
I suppose I should add that Air Force One is very entertaining and engages it's audience. It makes for an improved action flick, one which nevertheless demonstrates how Hollywood is perfectly adept at making any action film unconvincing enough.
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