Aviation Movie Reviews

These are some aviation-themed action movies and DVDs. Movies are listed in random order for your browsing enjoyment.

Passenger 57 (1992, Warner Bros, rated R): Always bet on black.

John Cutter (Wesley Snipes) is an airline security expert who happens to be on board when the FBI unwisely decides to transport the "world's most dangerous terrorist", Charles Payne, on a commercial flight.

Payne has other plans, namely hijacking the airplane to gain his freedom, and Cutter must defeat a team of baddies to save the day. This is essentially Die Hard on an airliner.

For lots of humor and fast-paced action, I give it 4 out of 5.

Con Air (1997, Buena Vista, rated R): Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is a former Army Ranger who killed a man in a fight while defending his wife. He gets paroled after several years in prison, and catches a special flight back home. He is eager to meet his daughter, who was born after he went behind bars.

Also on the flight are some tough convicts, mostly lifers, who are being transported to a new maximum security facility. Led by serial killer Cyrus "the Virus" (John Malkovich), the cons take control of the flight, and lots of violence ensues. John Cusack is a U.S. Marshal who tracks the airplane and pursues it from the ground.

For plenty of mindless action, a good sense of humor, and implausible flying scenes, I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Turbulence (1997, HBO, rated R): Will people ever learn that transporting prisoners by air is a bad idea?

Ray Liotta is a condemned serial killer being moved with another prisoner on a very lightly populated Christmas Eve flight. As you might expect, violence breaks out, and the prisoners take control of the flight, which is headed for a deadly storm.

Lauren Holly is the flight attendant who must save the day.

I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Coming Attractions

• Air Force One
• Airplane!
• Battle of Britain
• Broken Arrow
• Drop Zone
• Executive Decision
• The Flight of the Phoenix
• Hot Shots
• Top Gun
• Twelve O'Clock High