Air Force One Blu-ray

Air Force One

 (1997)

Action | Drama | Thriller



The President of the United States of America, James Marshall (Harrison Ford), takes a tough anti-terrorist stance and then becomes a hostage himself when Air Force One is taken over by terrorists from Kazakhstan, led by Ivan Korshunov, who demand the release of their fascistic leader General Radek. The President seems to escape from the plane in an emergency capsule yet is actually hiding on board. He silently kills a member of the terrorist group before establishing contact with F-15's to engage the hijacked plane. As passengers escape by parachute, Marshall is captured by Ivan and forced to release General Radek, setting in motion an international incident.

For more details about Air Force One on Blu-ray, see the Air Force One Blu-ray Review

Starring: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Wendy Crewson, Paul Guilfoyle
Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Air Force One Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Air Force One lands on Blu-ray with a good 1080p, 2.40:1-framed transfer. The image's most noticeable trait is a heavy layer of film grain that covers most every frame. The transfer sports a fair amount of depth throughout, the lengthy interiors of the plane in particular appearing to stretch on deep into the distance. However, much of the transfer seems covered in a slight haze, part of that the smoky corridors of the plane, the result of gunfire and explosions throughout. Still, the hazy appearance minimizes detail and colors in some scenes, but clearer shots exhibit an average level of detail and strong colors. Detail suffices across the board in the better scenes, whether in close-ups of faces, the instrument panels on the plane, or the plush leather seats in the cabin. Likewise, colors appear vibrant in the clear shots, the blues in particular appearing strong and natural in appearance. Blacks occasionally stray into a shade of gray, but flesh tones generally remain constant and strong. Air Force One will certainly never be mistaken for a Pixar Blu-ray, but this transfer reveals a quality film-like appearance that showcases the strength of Blu-ray to recreate a true movie experience in the home.

Air Force One Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Air Force One swoops onto Blu-ray with a phenomenally aggressive Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack. The track impresses with a solid presentation of the score accompanying the opening credits. Jerry Goldsmith's (Hollow Man) music plays to fine effect with crisp highs, a solid midrange, and strong lows from the percussion section. Indeed, the track delivers the goods throughout, the "stand up and cheer" all-American music never missing a beat and the lossless soundtrack delivering each note crisply and precisely. Nevertheless, this mix is all about the action, and it delivers the goods with every single second of non-stop thrills. Surround channels are active throughout, the raid on Radek's palace at the beginning of the film featuring gunfire, shouting, music, the whirling of a helicopter rotor, and environmental atmospherics pouring out of every speaker with no bias towards the front part of the soundstage. It's an all-encompassing experience that perfectly sets the tone for the remainder of the soundtrack. The first gunfight aboard Air Force One delivers a superb blend of action delight, with a broad array of automatic weapons and pistols delivering a wallop, and whether the shots hit flesh or the hull, the impact is felt throughout the listening area. Likewise, the thunderous roar of jet engines swooping about the soundstage engulfs the listener with a devastating load of decibels sure to please and the most hard-of-hearing. As expected, dialogue delivery never falters, whether whispers in a confined space on the plane or echoing words heard reverberating through a cavernous dining hall. Though over a dozen years old, this track remains one of reference quality for its ability to completely immerse listeners and place sound naturally and simultaneously all around the soundstage.

Air Force One Blu-ray, News and Updates

• Today on Blu-ray - June 2nd - June 2, 2009


• More Sony Catalog Titles on the Way - March 23, 2009

Air Force One Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

Topic

Replies

Last post

» Show more forum threads