Nobody messes with the president. And for ford this time around it means saving airforce one from a hijacking. Gary oldman plays a great villian along with great performances by glenn close and the rest of the cast. Really great action and some intense scenes make this a solid action thriller.
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LetsReviewThat2627 February 2022
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Very entertaining action, once you get past the "believability" problems, i.e., terrorists getting on the plane at all, the plane having an on-board armory, Secret Service agents' inability to shoot accurately, etc.
Acting is good enough that you care about the characters.
As others have noted, the CGI aerial sequences sometimes have the aircraft moving in unnatural or impossible ways, and this is visually jarring. (After the touch-and-go, Air Force One turns a 180 almost like a helicopter) I gave it a 7 out of 10 - not brilliant, but makes for an entertaining evening. -
Alvsy0077 March 2005Nonstop action, thrilling suspense, dark humor, and a brilliant concept, this flag waving over the top action adventure was a good two hours in 1997.
The story: Enroute back to the States from Russia, Russian Nationals hijack the President's plane and hold him and his family (as well as most of his staff) hostage aboard Air Force One in order to release a Rouge General captured earlier.
Harrison Ford from his first minute to his last looks comfortable in his Presidential role. That's to say, Ford appears, acts and just plain feels like he should be President. (Come one who saw this movie and wanted him to run). Gary Oldman's performance as the main villain (Ivan) should be up there with the likes of Alan Rickman's Hans from Die Hard and John Malkovich's Leary-Booth-Carney from In the Line of Fire (coincidentally directed by Wolfgang Peterson as well). Glenn Close pulls of the Vice President role with smirks and spunk.
Stars aside I think the supporting cast should get an equal if not harder pat on the back. These guys and girls . really made the movie. They're the ones that brought the chuckles and caused gasps. Wendy Crewson (The Good Son) nailed her role with more grace than a first lady has actually shown in the last recallable years. Paul Guilfoyle ("CSI", The Negotiator), was the kind gentle, "best buddy", chief-of-staff, who brought a small smile to your face every time he is on-screen. Xander Berkeley ("24", Terminator 2), plays the chilling secret service agent Gibbs. The lovable William H. Macy plays the good-mannered Air Force Officer who puts himself in harm's way for the President more time than the Secret Service agents do. He just doesn't get enough screen time toward the beginning. And Dean Stockwell will have you cussing under your breath as the power-hungry Secretary of Defense. And it seems that Wolfgang Peterson watched every great Action/Military movie of the past 3 years and hired all those "briefing room generals". For this I applaud him. As for the terrorist, they rival those of Die hard. Cold, stone-faced, funny, smooth, and just plain hateable, they did their job.
The bulk of the movie takes place aboard the Air Force One no kidding eh?). And boy do you believe it. The production designer (Williams Sandell) obviously paid attention to detail, mimicking the real Presidential Aircraft. Small, claustrophobic and believable.
Andrew W. Marlowe's script gets it job done as well. Nothing award winning. It's everything you would expect given the story it has to tell. Couple times it will make you cringe, but again, look what it needs to accomplish.
The late Jerry Goldsmith's score for this movie is a hands down classic. Only having two weeks to score the film after Peterson rejected Randy Newman's work, Goldsmith with the help of Joel Mcneely composed one of the most bombastic, riveting, emotional, suspenseful, and patriotic scores I've heard come out of the film world. It works perfectly with the movie.
A few times your mind is going to be stretch you may have to resort to the "It's just a movie" mindset. Overall its fun. Not a bad way to spend 2 hours. Harrison Ford for President. -
ironhorse_iv21 November 2019Made in the aftermath of the Cold War & pre 9/11 world, director Wolfgang Petersen's "Die Hard" inspired thriller 'Air Force One' indeed flew high with both audience members & critics. Most of them like the motion picture about a U.S president James Marshall (Harrison Ford) attempt to retake his plane after a group of terrorists led by Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman) hijack it. I can see why, as most of the action pieces were truly enjoyable. For example, the shoot outs and brawling stunt work were choreography very well even if the opening palace storming scene backdrop certainly didn't look like it took place in Kazakhstan, but in Cleveland, Ohio. Despite that, you can tell a lot of hard work went into the action; as Ford himself did most of his own stunts. He really did take some stiff punches from Gary Oldman. Besides his character's very important title, he look believable as the regular everyman forced into surreal situations to rise to heroism. While, yes, the Commander in Chief in this film had some value past military training. His present middle aged body was not bulked up to take the punishment. He got tired, hurt and damage as the film went on. There are parts in the film where he get easily capture or make a dumb decision or mistake. Because of that, Ford made for a great reluctant hero. It's just too bad that his character seem a bit one dimensional. After all, it seem like Ford was playing over righteous jingoism version of himself minus his flying skills. I can hardly remember anything much about James Marshall. If anything, the first time I saw this, I thought he was playing Jack Ryan again in another Tom Clancy adaptation. Regardless of that, some of the action scenes not involving much of him being presence were a little bit disappointing. After all, how in the hell does fighter jets not be able to shoot down a giant Boeing 747 out of the sky!? It's make no sense. To add to that some of plane explosions in the film look highly awkward dated and fake looking, especially the water landing. The idea that Air Force One has no automatic landing capability is silly. All Boeing 747s have the capability to land on auto pilot. It doesn't take an aviator genius to know that. Anyway, Major Caldwell (William H. Macy) does have the ability to fly it. After all, in order to gain his rank, he has to log at least 3,000 flight hours in an aircraft. So the whole third act escape seem a bit add on. Despite that, I did find the KC-10 Extender scene pretty cool to watch; along with the getaway from Ramstein Air Base even if the airplane being able to turn quickly with ease or fly up without flaps within a short distance was a bit unrealistic. It's non-existence like the real plane having an escape pod or parachute lift. Nevertheless all of these scenes are a lot better than the moments involving the Vice President Kathryn Bennett (Glenn Close). I found the whole White House sequences to be irritating. All the 25th Amendment talk was too much. It made the film muddled with endless filler amount of unneeded political clicking & debate. It got so bad, I felt like I was watching CSPAN. They really made her look very weak by having her work with the terrorists' demands & being pushed around from U.S. Defense Secretary Walter Dean (Dean Stockwell). At least, the filmmakers didn't have her breakdown and cry like the original script from Andrew Marlowe ask for. The film is already making women figureheads look disfavor enough by having the guys play with her emotions. Honestly the time spent with her should had been used to explain the mole reasons for betraying his crew. Without it, the whole heel turn seem very confusing. Its sucks because the premise of the movie is heavily tied to the geopolitics of the mid to late 90's. Yet the film didn't explore too much of his history. Nevertheless I did like how the other villain in the flick, Korshunov felt more fully dimensional than a standard stereotypical smug evil foreigner. Gary Oldman plays him as realistic human being to the hilt. He really got to shine at times. There are certain moments in the film where the terrorist brings up a pretty good point about US policies. In particular, how the president is also a killer. Although the somber and patriotic score quickly written in 12 days by composer Jerry Goldman did make the Commander in Chief actions seem more heroic than the villain. While, the soundtrack is beautiful to listen to, the film did force feed it down our throats to the point that the music came across as a bit extreme chauvinism for my taste. It got so bad that in 2016, Presidential candidate businessman Donald Trump use the music for his bid for the White House. Regardless, it's still a good soundtrack. A lot better than original composer Randy Newman's score for sure; which Newman reused for 2010 animation film 'Toy Story 3'. In the end, overall: 'Air Force One' truly is one of the most popular action films of the 1990s. It's one film worth flying over to go see. Highly recommended.
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Marshall is the kind of President referred to a change in the U.S. foreign policy He took a great risk when he stated that America will no longer tolerate any terrorist government His policy is soon put in practice when he boards his plane on his way home
Once is in the sky, 'Air Force One' is hijacked and currently controlled by Russian radicals who ask for the release of their leader or they'll execute a prisoner every half hour
Harrison Ford is the action hero making his way through the plane taking out few terrorists, managing to free several hostages, trying to get to his wife and daughter who are prisoners on board
Gary Oldman almost steals the show as the head terrorist Ivan Korshunov who takes over the president's plane
Beautifully directed by Wolfgang Petersen who controls the action with his usual extreme intelligence, building the challenge with captivating, tense sequences from every compartment of the huge aircraft to the White House contingent in Washington -
cricketbat13 January 2021There are two reasons that Air Force One succeeds: Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman. Their performances alone keep this political action flick in the air. However, the decades haven't been kind to the visual effects-the exterior flying scenes look really cheesy now. Also, this film feels excessively violent. Nevertheless, I'd still vote to watch it again one day.
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mjw23054 February 2006An Action movie is made to entertain, and should always be taken at face value. With this in mind Air Force One hits the mark, despite some minor flaws it still delivers tension, drama and action in abundance.
The cast is strong and full of believable characters, the story is compelling and the traditional dose of sentiment is added sparingly and to good effect. Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman both put in solid performances and they are well supported by the likes of Glenn Close and Wendy Crewson.
Overall Air Force One is an safe bet for the average movie fan and should entertain most, without ever really excelling.
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I know what you're thinking, "What the hell is he saying?" It's true that we've had so many biographies about presidents in which some of the movies told about historic incidents, why not have a fictional president that could kick ass and take names? Harrison Ford is the man for the job.
"Air Force One" is a thriller that involves Russian terrorist Ivan Korshunov (Gary Oldman) and his gang of criminals hijacking the first plane along with the president's wife and child and his staff. Meanwhile, President James Marshall (Harrison Ford) is hiding after an attack on the ship where he must reunite with his family before they end up victims to Ivan's plan if the president doesn't release a Russian prisoner who happens to be a general and a terrorist.
The film itself is a nail bitter thriller with an all star cast as Ford and Oldman play their usual good guy/villain roles with Glenn Close, Wendy Crewson, Xander Berkerly and William H. Macy in supporting roles. If there was such thing where Harrison Ford had a nomination for president, I would vote. -
AIR FORCE ONE is one of the last wave of 'DIE HARD IN A...' Hollywood flicks inspired by the Bruce Willis blockbuster, although DIE HARD rip-offs would continue in B-movie cinema for years to come (and are still being made, in fact). This film has Harrison Ford's everyman US president tackling a gang of murderous Russian terrorists who have stormed Air Force One and are willing to sacrifice the hostages for their political ends. The film is dated and more than a little cheesy in some of the sentimental scenes (the black woman on the parachute is one of the most unintentionally hilarious scenes you'll find here) and the CGI effects haven't dated too well either. Otherwise, I really enjoyed it. Wolfgang Petersen brings some of the same claustrophobia as he mined in DAS BOOT and even manages to fit Jurgen Prochnow into a little role. Ford and Michael Douglas were my favourite Hollywood thriller stars of the 1980s and 1990s and Ford does well here as the tough yet believable character. There's plenty of suspense and action throughout and the latter scenes are well staged and exciting. Gary Oldman reprises his volatile villain role from LEON to strong effect and as a whole this is an entertaining package where you can just switch off and enjoy.
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phiggins4 September 2006Air Force One features Harrison Ford, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman, Dean Stockewell, and William H. Macy. A dream cast! In the freshest, friskiest, funniest, laugh-out-loudest comedy of the year! Cheer as President Harrison Ford takes on the baddies all by himself "Right now, he's our only hope". Hiss as Dean Stockwell tries to get Glenn Close to sign away power and "take down Air Force One". Will she sign? Like hell! Sigh with relief when the fax machine stalls, stalls a little longer, and then just when we'd given up hope stalls a little longer, and then works! Clap like a whacked-out space cadet on class-a drugs when the fax lady parachutes to safety. Scratch your head a little when you realise that the big plot device of the bad guys having a guy on the inside is of no interest or use whatsoever. Ponder for a long time just why Gary Oldman's character doesn't just shoot the wife and the kid, for crying out loud. Marvel at the advances in special effects technology that can make a plane crash in a big budget movie look like a plane crash in a primitive video game. Thrills! Spills! Drama! Action! Utter, utter, crap!
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bat-53 August 1999Air Force One is one great ride. What makes it work so well is the conviction that Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman bring to their roles. You can see in each actor's eyes that they stand behind what they believe in. Gary Oldman makes a perfect villian and a very complex one at that. He is not just an average, run of the mill madman. He has a family, he is someone's son and those facts make him that much more real. Harrison Ford is great as the president. He's strong, quick witted, and will do anything he can to save his family and staff from the hijackers. A good ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat for two hours, just as long as you don't ask any questions.
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gavin694216 October 2006Harrison Ford plays a president who refuses to negotiate with terrorists. But after one terrorist (Gary Oldman) hijacks the Air Force One and the president's wife and daughter, maybe he will have to rethink his position.
Allegedly, Kevin Costner was supposed to be playing the president. Boy am I glad he was too busy making "The Postman" for this movie. Not only did he make a great Postman, but he would have made a horrible president. When you want drama, you call Costner. When you want action, you call Bruce Willis. When you want the perfect blend of drama and action, you call Harrison Ford (think "The Fugitive", for example... don't think "Star Wars").
Ford is great as a diplomat, but equally as good with a gun and in a fight. But the real star of this is Gary Oldman, who plays an evil and soulless terrorist determined to get his old general freed from prison. Oldman plays it like he means it, killing mercilessly while still appearing cold and calculated rather than insane. The writer even had the decency to have Oldman deliver lines condemning the president for bombing villages while being against terror.
Glenn Close and Dean Stockwell made great supporting stars, and even William H. Macy seemed a little less flamboyant than usual in his role as a military man.
This film is especially interesting in the context of our current president, George W. Bush. Bush has also gone on record many times for not negotiating with terrorists and takes a hardline approach similar to Harrison Ford. What would Bush do if terrorists hijacked his plane or kidnapped his family? Even giving me that visual image made this film worth the viewing. -
hoffes2 April 2023This is probably one of the most ridiculous movies I have ever watched. Unrealistinc beyond any imagination, cliché, cheesy patrotism (cringe level: expert). The special effects are subpar and look like they were made in the late 60s, which is unacceptable for a film made in 1997. It's a shame to see such a talented cast, including Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, and Glenn Close, wasted on such a poorly written and directed movie. But also, as some reviewers noted - why one of the agents helped hijackers? What was the purpose? And why did he act so weird, hewlping the president for half of the film (after he killed 3 of his own people first), only to change his mind last minute, effectively commiting suicide? Or what happened with the 40 or 50 people who parachuted somewhere over Kazakhstan in the middle of the night, at the altitude of 15 000 feet, some in thin clothing? The air temprature at the altitude of 15 000 is ca 0 F (-15 C), and this is the nominal temperature. With the wind that would feel like what, -30 or -40C? Hahaha. One last thing that says everything about the prioduction of this film - when Russian TV squad (terrorists) are entering the plane, the gang leader name on the screen is EGOR Korshunov. But in the closing credits his name is... IVAN Korshunov. These are completely different names!!! Incredible, just incredible load of manure.
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bob the moo16 July 2002During a flight, Air Force One is taken over by terrorists. The security forces rush the president to the escape pod but he stays to help his family. However with the terrorists making great demands and starting to kill hostages on the plane the President has to make contact with the ground but also take on the terrorists.
It's not an original idea Die Hard on a plane. But hang on we've done Die Hard on a plane at least a few times in Passenger 57 and Executive Decision so how can we do it again? By putting it on air force one of course. So the President becomes John McClane and Gary Oldman is the usual Brit playing Euro-trash terrorist. The difference between this and Die Hard is that here the action is a lot more stilted and underplayed which is a surprise for an action movie. However it does manage to have a good tension so it's still good.
It adds interest by having the action in the ground along with the political fighting in the White House over control of the situation. It isn't an earth shattering script but it is good enough to get you carried away easily. The only downside is that you can nearly always see where the formula is going at any one time.
The cast is good and is deep. Ford has the age to play a President but the action status to give him that fighting edge. Oldman is no stranger to hamming up his bad guys and doing iffy accents and here turns in a so-so performance as a cartoon terrorist. The support cast is good even if they have little to do. Glenn Close, Dean Stcokwell et al don't have much to do but talk loud but do it well. Macy, Berkeley, Prochnow and other big names add weight but have few lines.
Overall this is a big Hollywood blockbuster that no doubt helped America feel good about itself. It sticks close to the formula but the action is slick and quite tense and makes for an enjoyable, if unoriginal, 2 hours. -
sme_no_densetsu24 February 2017For a movie that recycles most of its ingredients from past action movies (especially "Die Hard"), "Air Force One" still manages to stand out relatively well in its own right. This is partially due to the high concept premise that's chock full of potential.
In the movie, a group of terrorists hijack Air Force One, which is the official call sign of the aircraft carrying the President of the United States of America. Luckily, the President just happens to be a tough-as-nails Medal of Honor recipient (rather than, say, a blowhard with a combover). Obviously, these terrorists are about to experience some major turbulence.
Starring as the President is Harrison Ford. There aren't too many actors that could pull off this role but Ford is one of them. His pedigree as an action hero is unquestionable but he's also convincing as a stalwart leader and a loving husband & father. His worthy adversary is played by the always captivating Gary Oldman, who contributes a deliciously villainous performance. The supporting cast is headed by the formidable Glenn Close as the Vice President and is otherwise studded with the likes of Dean Stockwell, William H. Macy & Philip Baker Hall.
As I alluded to above, the story borrows heavily from other (better) action movies, particularly "Die Hard". In fact, there are so many parallels that you could say that this movie is basically "Die Hard" on a plane, with the President in place of John McClane. That being said, the "Die Hard" template translates very well to the setting of "Air Force One". Unfortunately, in the later stages the action gets somewhat ludicrous, possibly in an attempt to distinguish the movie from other similar excursions.
The sometimes over-the-top action isn't the only problem with the narrative, though. The catalyst for the story is a betrayal by one of the American Secret Service agents. However, director Wolfgang Peterson felt that it was unnecessary to provide a glimpse into this character's motivation, so he ended up leaving an explanatory scene on the cutting room floor. This is particularly baffling since the character figures into the action fairly significantly but he basically remains a mystery.
Generally, though, from a directorial standpoint, Wolfgang Peterson did a fine job. Before eventually going overboard, the movie is quite suspenseful. Unfortunately, another drawback of the excesses in the action department is that the special effects aren't quite convincing. At least the Jerry Goldsmith score provides a rousing backdrop even when the story goes off the rails.
Ultimately, "Air Force One" is a decent action movie but one that loses its way in the late stages. Apart from the aforementioned misguided action sequences, the final showdown with the terrorists also leaves something to be desired. Even so, the movie's still worth watching since Ford & Oldman going head to head makes for compelling viewing for a large chunk of the movie's runtime. -
ccthemovieman-12 December 2005A very clichéd but interesting film with a two-fisted President of the United States (Harrison Ford) literally taking on terrorism himself on board his jet, Air Force One. Believable? Of course not, but it's an story that hooks you in and keeps you involved all the way. It could have been trimmed down, to be sure, but the better-than-average action scenes help make up for that. While not blatant, the film did have it's typical Hollywood Liberal slant with political correctness abounding....so be aware of that. It borders on reverse sexism and racism and there is a fair share of profanity in here if you are concerned about that.
The sound on the DVD is tremendous with some excellent rear speaker action. It would be great demo model for anyone's surround sound system. It adds measurably to the enjoyment of the film. If you like action and a lot of tension, this film has it. It's one of those movies that wears you out by the end of it! -
mm-399 June 2001Ford and Oldman have strong performances, and the script is incredible. Unlike most action movies this film is fresh, and the Russian villains act as believable terrorists. Too bad Ford is not the US President, I would vote for him any day. The director, who did Das Boat, directs this film mechanically, and it is a pleasure to watch the mechanics of this film unravel.
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MovieAddict201619 August 2002Although it is very unrealistic, AIR FORCE ONE is just pure, 100% fun at the movies. Anyone who takes this serious has a problem. It's not meant to be, it's just supposed to be an entertaining, fun, action packed thrill ride. Action haters beware! The acting was great-as usual with any Harrison Ford film- the directing was good, and it's like I said before, just good plain fun! So take my advice, see Air Force One, and don't take it too seriously. Just have fun watching it! 3.5/5 stars!
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djfdmpwr20 February 2022I don't care what anybody else said this was a tremendous movie. I've seen it probably four different times each time I started it I couldn't stop watching it. When compared to movies in this day and age it far exceeds what we're seeing in these faky-techno fictional times now. Tremendous directing & even acting work for that matter.
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Luigi Di Pilla21 January 2007I find too underrated AIR FORCE ONE on this site. Here I got all in one: breathtaking, gripping, nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat entertainment and some good jokes from Harrison Ford. He was very cool and also Gary Oldman delivered perhaps one of his best performances in his career. What I liked the most was the cat and mouse play on the president's air plane. Then also the special effects were not bad and the soundtrack was well synchronized to each scene. Last but not least I thank very much the director Wolfgang Petersen for this great work. Don't miss it. If you liked this one you should watch also UNITED 93. 7,5/10.
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alexandermangoldt7 September 2007Now I admired the director Wolfgang Petersen after seeing DAS BOOT. This was a flick where I thought: Can't get any better. Of course, at the time, people obviously considered Hollywood a smart career move, but if we now take a look at Petersen's Hollywood films, I really think he should have stayed in Germany. Sure, he wouldn't have the money that he's having at his disposal now, but remember: DAS BOOT had a rather infinitesimal budget and nevertheless managed to thrill, enlighten and entertain millions of viewers. Now, what do we have: A German director who directs patriotic and nationalistic filth that invites the average American Joe to believe in the moral and military superiority of his own country. A movie that doesn't really discuss the topics at hand and divides the cast into good and evil with no shades of grey at all. There's one scene where Gary Oldman as the terrorist aboard the plane says to the president's daughter: Do you think your father is a better man because he's wearing a tie and a suit and because he uses smart bombs? I found this scene to be very interesting, however, in the film it is not dwelt upon. Instead we get Harrison Ford playing the father and leader of clean, wholesome politically America and being politically correct and charming and funny and whatnot. What's the moral of this film: God bless America and no place else.
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TaylorYee9416 February 2022I cannot even understand myself, giving eight stars for this movie, 'Air Force One'. With Harrison Ford, it feels like Indiana Jones on the plane. Everything seems to work perfectly for hero's side with perfect timing. A president always makes morally right choices, and it sounds true that he tries to act God. A hero in this movie is such a flat character, screaming 'justice should be done' from the start to the end. On top of all, candlelight vigil scene really made me laugh. This movie stays on borderline of becoming so obvious and shabby. However, it works because of dynamic, intense, and entangled storyline. A main story happens on the plane, a president and his family trying to escape from the villain AND the crash. Political matter of releasing a dictator and a vice president handling the whole situation in White House strengthen the connection among all three different settings. With the help of music, 'Air Force One' succeeds in keeping on the edge of the seat, nervously waiting for next to happen.
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MAYESY-443 June 2020Good action film with a really good story, Harrison Ford brilliantly plays a family loving president with an armed forces background. Good political story with a hostage situation.
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villard12 February 2006This movie is intriguing in that it actually presages some of the terrorism realized in the tragedy of 9/11.
That said, the film is mortally flawed with stupid and ridiculous contrivances that make is more of a comic book yarn than having the sophistication of, say, a Tom Clancy novel.
High on the "oh come on get real!" factor:
1. Any White House PressSecretary would be far too astute to let a self-describe TV journalist on Air Force One (AF1). The very first thing they would do is check the reporter's credentials and publication/broadcast record.
2. The spectacle of a 747 jumbo jet careering through an airport on an aborted landing is simply light-years beyond absurd.
3. Why would AF1 have a stash of enough assault rifles to take over a small country? And, with all the gunplay in the passenger cabin there's not one bullet hole in the fuselage?
4. I have it on good authority that Air Force One does have countermeasures, but putting the president in an escape pod though fundamental to the plot it just inane. That's the *last* thing you would do with the U.S. President at 30,000 ft.
5. Equally ridiculous is the idea that AF1 conveniently has more parachutes onboard than the Titanic had life preservers. Just as silly is the image of Washington bureaucrats easily jumping off the plane at 15,000 ft.
6. I've been inside an open, stripped-down 747 airframe, there isn't nearly as much room as shown on the cargo deck. There certainly isn't room for a cargo deck vending machine?!
I could go on and on, but this film is another example of filmmakers believing that movies goers are gullible enough to swallow any tall tale for the sake of lots of action shots and melodrama. If you've gonna concoct an action drama tale like this, at least have one foot in reality and plausibility, or otherwise call it "science fiction." -
Blade_Le_Flambeur12 February 2004Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, and Glenn Close are the main stars in director Wolfgang Petersen's action thriller 'Air Force One', a film about the scenario of the famous presidential jet being taken over by a group of terrorists. The terrorists, led by Ivan Korshunov (Oldman) want one thing, the release of one of their comrades named General Redek. However, little do they know the President is a very intelligent and lethal man, and the film becomes a cat and mouse game onboard the air liner between the terrorists and the president. The suspense works out well, there are some good moments of surprise and plenty of good action sequences. The film keeps its momentum and pace going, despite some lame moments through out (e.g. the 'parachuting' scene). Harrison Ford is enjoyable in the role of the tough- as- nails president, but it's not particularly anything new for the actor. Gary Oldman is spectacular as the cold blooded terrorist, he is very commanding and daunting in the role. Close also her role well, making the character live, also worth nothing is William H. Macy as a major on board the flight. The script has some nice lines to it, and some strongly written scenes of action, though there are still notable clichés. Petersen's direction is almost furious in style, he tries his hardest to not let the film fall apart, and in some way he succeeds. All in all, 'Air Force One' is worth watching, it's not necessarily one of the top action films of all time, but it has plenty of moments and is definitely entertaining. Oldman is also a very nice treat. 8/10