it eventually earned back almost four times its $85-million dollar budget. The sharply

paced R-rated story follows Harrison Ford as the President Of The United States, who

must single-handedly thwart a team of Russian terrorists after they hijack the most secure

aircraft in the world. To put it simply, this 124-minute story is "Die Hard On A Plane"...

but God damn does it deliver. Ford is his usual gruff and confident self, able to stare

down his adversaries without flinching, and he can coldcock them just as effortlessly.

His bravery and luck may be a bit hard to swallow, but he's easily the coolest fictional

president in movie history. During a high profile speech, he admonishes terrorism by

forcefully declaring, "We will no longer tolerate, and we will no longer be afraid. It's your

turn to be afraid." The incredibly versatile cast features Gary Oldman as a fierce and

uncompromising Russian extremist, Glenn Close as the headstrong VP, and Wendy Crewson as

the flustered First Lady. A multitude of other recognizable actors do great work in their

smaller roles as well, including Dean Stockwell, Paul Guilfoyle, Xander Berkeley, William H.

Macy, Tom Everett, Glenn Morshower, Philip Baker Hall, and Spencer Garrett. While it

does share cautionary virtues about giving into demands, and the roles our government

should play policing the world - it's the inventive twist on established formulas that

drives the narrative. "Air Force One" rarely lets off the throttle, opening with a harrowing

special forces kidnapping in the cold open, and culminating with an iconic fist fight

at the tail of the aircraft where Ford sternly demands Oldman to "Get off my plane." As fantastic

as that scene is though, there's still over 20 minutes of nail-biting action left to go.

The absolute centerpiece is the terrorist's initial takeover of the blue-and-white 747.

The film's Oscar-nominated sound mix absolutely deserves to be cranked here - the hectic fight

for control of the plane is matched only in its intensity by the infamous "D-Day" sequence

in "Saving Private Ryan". Utilizing a picturesque prison made famous in "Shawshank Redemption",

a borrowed Japanese jetliner with a $300,000 paint job, and plenty of high-quality model

work: the detail and environments really help sell this picture's authenticity. While the

President's real plane may not have an escape pod, the fictional one is still impressive;

as long steady-cam shots show off its large interior. Replacing Randy Newman at the last-minute,

composer Jerry Goldsmith had only 12 days to construct the score, but his patriotic

theme is some of his best work. Soft whistles and piano chords echo during the most suspenseful

moments, while the gunplay and fights are backed by loud trumpets and drums. Michael

Ballhaus's wider cinematography creates ample tension with rack-focused two-shots, which

clearly establish the geography of the players before each encounter. With its bombastic

American attitudes, one-liners, and some unconvincing CGI, the movie unfortunately feels a bit dated

today: but by that same token, it also perfectly encapsulates everything that might pre-9/11

action movies so fantastic. The shot of Ford clutching onto the parachute ramp as a massive

fueling tanker explodes behind him remains one of the most enduring images of 90s cinema.

The superb cast and crew creates an undeniably thrilling experience that leaves me breathless

on every viewing. It's also one of only two films I've bought on VHS, DVD, and Bluray.

"Air Force One" is an unapologetic adventure that boasts unforgettable action.