Customer Reviews

Con Air

5 star:		(72)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

For pure adrenalin and testosterone exposure, one can't do much better than CON-AIR. There are a ton of unbelievable action scenes, and that's the key word---unbelievable. One can't say director Simon West didn't keep the action flowing. The finale in Las Vegas is way over the top!!!
Credit the actors for doing something with their roles, especially the brilliant John Cusack who puts his teeth into his meaty role as a US Marshall. Also Colm Meaney as the DEA agent who is obstinate and overbearing, to say the least. There are a nasty set of villains--John Malkovich, Nick Chindlin, Ving Rhames, Danny Trejo, David Chappelle---a nice looking guard played by Rachel Ticotin, another good bad guy played by Mykel Williamson, and Monica Potter does a nice turn as Poe's wife. Nicolas Cage is so bland, saddled with a ridiculous Southern accent, and does so many stupid things, it's hard to see how we can consider this guy that heroic.
But, if you want a two hour roller coaster ride with plenty of guns and action, CONAIR is hard to beat. It also has the Trisha Yearwood version of "How Do I Live," which is worth watching the movie!!!!

When I first sat down to watch this film I was expecting anything, but when it was over I knew it was one i'd always want to Have! The Story is about a man who has done time in prison for murdering somebody who tried to hurt his wife! And Finally he's going to go home! Tho on his way home he is put onto a plane that seems to have Americas worst criminals in hostory abourd, and the plane is highjacked by them and the plot starts! to take place and unfold, and many storys are told through the way, with some comedy, some action and some fun along with some decent acting for a film of this type!

This movie is worth it in my opinion! But its not to everyones taste, my recomendation is to hire it before you buy it if you can! It does play on personal opinions and tastes! To me its a great movie, but you be the judge for yourself!

Most people don't consider this movie to be an action-comedy, but is. This is definetly John Malkovich's funniest movie. It is about a plane transporting deadly convicts across the country, until it is taken over by the convicts. The convicts include, Cyrus "the virus" Grissom (Malkovich), a deadly killing machine who's violated every law in the book. A black-supremeist leader "Diamond Dog" (Ving Rhames), and a quiet, psychotic killer, Garland Greene (Buschimi) who's creepy in his own little way. Cyrus's plans are fouled by a parolee, Cameron Poe (Nicholas Cage), an ex-army ranger charged with manslaughter returing home to see his family. This movie is packed with action, plenty of laughs, and great actors give this movie two thumbs up.

Con Air is a blockbuster movie. A film that soars with the best of them. And since it's produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, no wonder it's a hit. Making his directorial debut, Simon West does a terrific job pleasing the crowds of movie-goers. Cameron Poe (played by Nicolas Cage, with a Southern accent and shoulder-length hair) has just been releashed from prison after being convicted of manslaughter in the first degree. After 7 years, Cameron is finally going home to his wife and daughter. Hitching a ride home on the 'Jail Bird,' Cameron is put on a plane with the world's most vicious criminals including Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom (John Malkovich), Diamond Dog (Ving Rhames), Billy Bedlam (Nick Chinlund), and Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi) who "makes the Manson family look like the Partidge family." Within 5 minutes of takeoff, the criminals have already assumed command of the plane, are in possession of all the weapons, and took all the guards hostage. Being the former United States Park Ranger that he is, Cameron Poe decides to try and save the day with the help of on-the-ground U.S. Marshal Vince Larkin (played by John Cusack). Con Air is an explosive film with great special effects, superb acting, and humor on the side. I recommend it for anyone looking for a movie with non-stop action beginning to end.

Con Air(released in June/97) features a power house cast in this action-a-minute thrill ride.John Malkovich made himself a household name playing characters that were slightly or way off center and this one shows him off to perfection.The story can sometimes get in the way of the action but overall the film comes through in the end due to Bruckheimers deft touch.
The story involves one Cameron Poe(Cage)an ex army Ranger who gets sent to the Pen defending the life of his wife.Eight years later he is parolled and is heading back home.He is put on a flight with some of the most notorious criminals around and from here things go downhill.Cyrus Grissom(Malkovich)has secretly planned to take over the plane with the help of some of the other inmates aboard.Before they reach their first stop they do so and Poe plays along with the group to buy time and try to get a warning out to the authorities if he can.When they land some of the guards are off loaded as prisoners in a blinding sand storm as is the planes transponder.But a clue left behind by Poe alerts the authorities who unsuccessfully try to stop it at the last minute.
Once back up in the air and now with one especially new rider,a notorious serial killer called Garland Greene(Steve Buscemi),things start to heat up along with some inside bickering.Poe uses this to his advantage and plants another message on a dead body which is pushed out of the plane.It alerts the police to the plane's next stop in a deserted location in the California desert.When the plane arrives the police arrive and a terrible gun battle ensues.Many are killed but the plane still manages to take off.
The police are by now hot on the trail and they track down the plane in the air.They shoot one of its engines and it is forced to make a landing on the Vegas strip.This is a huge transport plane and the damage it does is something to behold.Post crash,Poe has an on going battle with three of the convicts,Grissom included.When it's all over all are dead and Poe is reunited with his family.The one who gets away is none other than the serial killer Greene who is seen at the last sipping on some cool drinks in a casino.
As I said Malkovich plays the crazed convict Grissom to a tee along with a very cold Bescemi doing Greene.Honourable mention goes out to Danny Trejo as serial rapist Johnny Baca,John Cusack as Marshall Larkin and Colm Meaney(also in Deep Space Nine at the time)as DEA agent Malloy.The claustrophobic atmosphere aboard that plane is almost palpable and all play their parts especially well in those scenes.
Technically speaking the film has been transferred well and is in its 2:35:1 a/r.This edition comes with a digital copy(for downloading) and the only other feature here is the trailer.
A recommmended film.Get set for one heck of a plane ride!

this is another action packed thrill ride,though i didn't like it as
much as "The Rock" another action adventure thrill ride which came out
the year previous.Nic Cage stars in both of these movies,though in "Con
Air",Cage is the main focus,whereas "The Rock" was an ensemble cast.any
way,in this movie(Con Air)Cage is the lead star and the the main action
hero,though he does have some help.the action scenes in this movie are
great,though not always believable.there is also a semblance of a story
which we are told near the beginning of the film.this sets up the
action nicely.there are some big names in this movie,including John
Cusack ,John Malkovich, Ving Rames, and Colm Meany.Danny Trejo puts in
a very good performance,as well.but it's Steve Buscemi who provides the
comic relief,in his usual wry, sardonic way.but,like i said,it's Nic
Cage that takes centre stage as the action hero,and he is very credible
in my opinion.before i forget,i must mention that the movie also has
some dramatic moments which work good.i also like the soundtrack.i
thought it suited the movie very well.overall,i liked this movie lot
and would recommend it for action fans.i give Con Air 4.75/5.

The original idea behind "Con Air" is that prisoners take over a prison plane, which is certainly a clever idea for an action movie; however, the movie soon spirals out of the realm of possibility and into the ridiculous adding meaningless subplots and contrived tiwsts. Somehow the moive accumulates a great cast with Nicholas Cage, Ving Rames, Steve Buschemi, John Malcovich, and John Cusack, but instead of using their acting talents, all the characters are forcibly flat and uniteresting. Cage is the ultimate good person who can do no wrong and only serves to help others. Malcovich and Rhames are just bad men.. The only notable character is Buschemi for his offbeat observations, but even then he is reduced to a sideshow by the end of the movie. This being said, despite their restrictive roles, the cast manages to drag this movie to respectablity by generally conveying a sense of excitement into the movie.

Nicholas is Cage is our all-American hero Cameron Poe. (Seriously silly name or what?) He's a bold, shaggy-haired super-hero who has just left the special forces and what he cares about is family values and honour and loyalty and goodness and heroism and his cute little girl and her cute blond mother and courage and valour and no one ever gets left behind and looking very sensitive and... you get my drift. One does rather wish he would pick his nose occasionally just to make him a bit easier to like. He's also a bit simple-minded and slow, as his voice-overed letters home from jail make clear after he has wasted some some-town tough who hassled his wife... Think Forrest Gump with muscle toning. After all, hey, nobody likes a smarty-pants.

John Cusack is our other main good guy, Larkin, the US Marshall whose job is to sort things out after assorted super-criminals take over a prisoner transport 'plane. And sorting things out is not really that difficult as these particular baddies are really not all that smart and their plan is, let's face it, pretty half-baked. So to make it difficult the writers responsible for this tosh have compelled him to work alongside gung-ho DEA official Malloy (Colm Meaney). Now there are lots of stories and movies that get good drama about the working relationship of two professionals with interestingly different approaches to their work. But this isn't one of those movies. Here the main difference is that Larkin is smart and responsible while Malloy is a complete pillock.

Good old hard-core action picture stuff follows with heroic Poe forced to battle single-handed against a small army of evil psychopaths, John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, Danny Trejo, Ving Rhames, M. C. Gainey, and various other thesps who evidently really really needed the money. They're all about seven feet tall and hard as nails with guns and stuff and, boy, you can just smell the testosterone and the action just comes and comes. So that once you start watching, you watch to the end gripped in a kind of horrified fascination only to be left sat there as the closing credits roll wondering just how you ever came to allow two whole hours of your short and precious life ebb quietly (well, not so quietly) away on such total bollocks.

What can I say about this except DON'T WASTE 2 HOURS OF YOUR LIFE WATCHING IT! Honestly I've seen some bad films and this has got to be up there in the top 5, probably number one....need I say more.

Can't really fault this film at all. The action is fantastic, the casting is perfect and the love is just plain cute! Nick Cage is one of my favourite actors. I think he has class and a great ability to show emotion. He brings characters to life in a realtistic way.

John Malkovich is just damn cool. He plays the intelligant guy who makes everyone else feel just stupid! He is scary but in a laid back way.

John Cuscack is beautiful. The way in which he spends the entire film looking out for Cage is really cute. All the men in this film are hot and they are fantastic actors. Everyone needs to see this film!