[.ca] Con Air [Blu-ray]

From Amazon.com:
Con Air is proof that the slick, absurdly overblown action formula of Hollywood mega-producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer (Top Gun, Days of Thunder, The Rock, Crimson Tide) lives on, even after Simpson's druggy death. (Read Charles Fleming's exposé, High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess, for more about that.) Nicolas Cage, sporting a disconcerting mane of hair, is a wrongly convicted prisoner on a transport plane with a bunch of infamously psychopathic criminals, including head creep Cyrus the Virus (John Malkovich), black militant Diamond Dog (Ving Rhames), and serial killer Garland Greene (Steve Buscemi, making the most of his pallid, rodent-like qualities). Naturally, the convicts take over the plane; meanwhile, on the ground, a U.S. marshal (John Cusack) and a DEA agent (Colm Meaney) try to figure out what to do. As is the postmodern way, the movie displays a self-consciously ironic awareness that its story and characters are really just excuses for a high-tech cinematic thrill ride. Best idea: the filmmakers persuaded the owners of the legendary Sands Hotel in Las Vegas to let them help out with the structure's demolition by crashing their plane into it. --Jim Emerson

On the Blu-ray disc:
The main bonus features on the Blu-ray disc are two routine promotional featurettes in standard definition: "A View from Above" and "The Destruction of Las Vegas" (about eight minutes combined). Blu-ray-specific is the Movie Showcase, which jumps to three different scenes (each a minute or less) intended to show off the sound and picture. And they do: appropriately for a Jerry Bruckheimer production, the 1080p picture and 48 kHz/24-bit uncompressed sound are spectacular. Note that the cut of the film is the 115-minute R-rated one that played in theaters, not the 122-minute unrated version that was also released on DVD. --David Horiuchi

great action,decent story,and comic relief from the master(Steve Buscemi) (4.75/5):
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.

Ugh... what a bad film.:
Nicholas Cage with a southern accent????!!!!! It is so annoying and that was the first thing that got me angry. It is really depressing and annoying. TWO GUYS TAKE OVER THE PLANE WITH A SMALL LITTLE NAIL? MAYBE EVEN A SEWING NEEDLE!!!! I must agree with the below reviewer, if two (stupid guys, mind you,) could take over a plane with that kind of equipment, they wouldn't even be in jail. They'd be running the world. NICHOLAS CAGE TAKES A BULLET, AND HIS FACIAL EXPRESSION DOESN'T CHANGE OR ANYTHING! AT POINT BLANK!!! A POINT FREAKING BLANK! And the script ain't that great. The bunny was really annoying. I didn't understand it. Oh, and if a guy who killed 37 people got off a plane, he wouldn't be playing around in a casino. He'd be in a high security jail in solitary confinment. If you want to watch a crime movie, go see Escape From Alcatraz. You'll get a kick outta that!

Great Flick!:
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!

OVER THE TOP AND THEN SOME:
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!!!!

As Believable As Finding Out "Snow White" Is A True Story:
This movie is about as believable as finding that "Snow White" was based on a true story...this movie is so ridiculously stupid that I gave one star. First of all, if Nicolas Cage's character killed someone in self-defense, there'd be no trial, he wouldn't be charged. Second, JOHN MALKOVICH AS A VIOLENT, MULTIPLE FELON? WHO DID HE BEAT FOR THE PART...STEVE URKEL? Then there's John Cusak trying desperately hard to show us that he can act...that he's still got it...but HE NEVER HAD IT! BELIEVE ME, IF THESE FELONS COULD FIGURE A WAY TO TAKE CONTROL OF A PRISON TRANSPORT PLANE USING A PAPER CLIP AND A MATCH, THEY WOULDN'T BE IN COUNTY LOCK UP, THEY'D BE RUNNING THE WORLD. Most of the directing shots are tilted and herendous, the acting is stupid (with Cage's phoney Southern accent), and the fact that Malkovich conviently lands on a conveyer belt that ends up crushing his head is way too unrealistic...ANOTHER THING, MALKOVICH IS ABOUT AS BRUTAL IN THE FILM AS IS WATCHING HIM ACT!