release year: 1997
genre: action
viewing setting: theater, 6/6/97 during rainstorm amidst Myrtle Beach vacation and again 12/21/97 on home laserdisc, then 6/30/01 on home DVD
what I expected: mindless action & violence
what I got: mindless action & violence (it was great!)
synopsis: Decorated U.S. Army Ranger ends up in jail for defending his wife against scum. When it's time for him to get out on parole, he has the bad luck to end up on the same plane as a bunch of really evil criminals. Think that plane's gonna complete its flight on schedule?
impressions: Good, brainless violence with all the standard, necessary cliches and one-liners. Mighty.
acting: Nicholas Cage overdoes it as the good ol' Louisiana boy who must be a hero once again. John Cusack plays it cool as the FBI agent trying to help Cage. Colm Meaney makes a good slimy good-guy-who-wants-to-blow-the-plane-out-of-the-air. John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi, and Danny Trejo head the cast of dangerous convicts. Over-the-top all around.
final word: rip-roaring chaos, good variation of Die Hard theme
rating: B-