One of the top 5 grossing movies of '97 is now having a healthy release on video, and I can't figure out why. There's very little in this Harrison Ford thriller that we haven't seen before. As a lead character Harrison's President is retread of his most famous figures Indiana Jones, Han Solo and that character from Clear and Present Danger. The movie itself is another simplistic action movie in the vein of Die Hard and Under Seige, only on a plane - essentially another Passenger 51 or Executive Decision. I would have expected much more from Oscar nominee director Wolfgang Peterson if I was at all familiar with his work, but Air Force 1 did not show any special skill on his part. Even the plane crash into the lake - a scene where multiple special effects could really shine - was dull and seemed like little more than a computer simulation.
Air Force 1 is a sad, sad, sad movie and I highly recommend any of the other films mentioned above before this one.