The Film
Harrison Ford made a very believable POTUS in this Wolfgang Petersen film - possibly evoking where the "Jack Ryan" novels might have gone had the films continued with Ford (yes, that's a spoiler, in the books Ryan does reach the Oval Office). This action film is also one of those films that kept the premise simple enough and the plot engaging, so that even after a dozen years this one seems just as relevant today. After terrorists seize Air Force One it is an airborne joyride up to the very end, with just enough action, intrigue and even political maneuvering that this film shows no signs of serious aging.
The Picture
This is not a film with vast sweeping vistas or highly scenic settings, but the tight confines of jetliner, as well the briefing rooms look quite good and very believable, and the Blu-ray's 1080p 2.40:1 presentation really brings out the attention to detail. This is one of those films that looks resoundingly better on Blu-ray, but alas doesn't completely push the boundaries of the technology either. This is very good, but not quite in the excellent column, but it is a noticeable step up from the DVD.
The Sound
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 soundtrack flies straight and level from practically beginning to end. This is one of those discs that doesn't overwhelm with bombastic sounds, but rather provides just the right surround sound immersion. This is true of the film's action sequences, where the bullets sound as if they are dashing about the room, as well as the more "stealthy" scenes where the ambient noises, and even subtle hum of the airplane, can be heard quite clearly. The musical score by Jerry Goldsmith also gets solid treatment in this presentation, never overwhelming the dialog or visuals, but solidly providing accompaniment.
The Extras
About the only significant complaint with the Blu-ray is the extras - or lack thereof. While this is a BD Live enabled disc, which means Sony Pictures could do something for the disc, the only bonus feature that is clear and present is the director's commentary; and with respect to Petersen, a dated commentary about the movie - with no mention of how real world events played out in the past dozen years - is hardly worth hearing again, especially if you've owned the DVD version.
Final Thoughts
This is one of those films that is really worth getting if you enjoyed the story and wanted a slightly improved version on Blu-ray. The visuals and audio have gotten a bit of a makeover that will be noticeable to those with large TVs and surround sound systems, but the lack of extras really keeps this one from taking flight.
Where to Buy
Product Details
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
