Air Force One (UHD Steelbook) review

[David Vaughn]

Studio: Sony Pictures
Release Date: March 7, 2023
 Rating: R
 Film:  4/5

Plot
The fate of the nation rests on the courage of one man. Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman star in two-time Oscar^® nominee Wolfgang Petersen’s (Best Director & Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium, Das Boot, 1981) gripping thriller about an uncompromising U.S. President who has just told the world he will not negotiate with terrorists. When Russian neo-nationalists hijack Air Force One, the world's most secure and extraordinary aircraft, the President is faced with a nearly impossible decision to give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country's dignity, but the lives of his wife and daughter.

My Thoughts
This is one of those “guilty pleasure” films for me. Sure, there’s no basis in reality in the story, but I just check my brain at the door and run with it. There’s a ton of action and suspense and Harrison Ford is tailormade for the part as the US President who takes matters into his own hands in order to save his family.

I only owned this film on DVD (remember that format) and never got around to getting it on Blu-ray. Needless to say, the jump in A/V quality is leaps and bounds above what the DVD offered (even though it was a Superbit!). Sony does its usual bang-up job on the video restoration and the new Dolby Atmos encode makes full use of all of the speakers in the room. This was first released on UHD Blu-ray a few years ago, but it’s back with a fabulous-looking Steelbook collectible case that features the main cast on the front and a couple of fighter jets on the back.


Video 9/10 (MVC)

Audio 9/10 (Dolby Atmos)


Special Features:

·                  Audio Commentary
·                  Theatrical Trailer
·                  4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital Copy


 
 Conclusion
It’s nice to see that the UHD format is at the point where major studios are rereleasing top titles with Steelbook packaging. While the disc and supplements are the same as the older UHD release, it’s the collectible aspect of the case that makes this easy to recommend for collectors.

Reference Review System
JVC DLA-RS2000 4K Ultra High-Definition Front Projector
(Calibrated with Portrait Displays CalMAN color calibration software & C6-HDR Meter from Portrait Displays)
Stewart Filmscreen - Firehawk 110” 2.35:1 Screen
Trinnov Altitude 16 Audio/Video Processor
ATI AT527NC Powering Bed Channels
ATI AT524NC Powering Atmos Speakers
Panasonic DP-UB820 Ultra HD Blu-ray Player
System Controller: URC MX-990
M&K S-150 THX Ultra (R-C-L Speakers)
M&K SS-150 x4 (Surround Speakers)
Atlantic Technology IC6-OBA x 4 Overhead Speakers
SVS PC-Ultra Cylinder Subwoofer
SVS SB3000
HSU VTF-15H MK2 Subwoofer
M&K Sound X15+ Subwoofer
Mini DSP HD controlling all subwoofers
Audioquest and Monoprice - Audio/Video/Speaker Cabling
PureAV PF60 Power Conditioner

[bmoney]

such a HT staple.  remember getting excited for the superbit version of the dvd!!  thanks for the review

[David Vaughn]

such a HT staple.  remember getting excited for the superbit version of the dvd!!  thanks for the review

I owned the Superbit as well. 

[TRainH2O]

Superbit.........now that really takes me back to the days of having a 1080p rear-screen projection set and being desperate for ANY better-looking video. 

I even went so far as to buy The Fifth Element on Superbit. Yes, I was "jonesing" for a video fix in those days. 

I do like this movie but have the first Blu-ray release. Thanks for the review.

[David Vaughn]

Superbit.........now that really takes me back to the days of having a 1080p rear-screen projection set and being desperate for ANY better-looking video.

I even went so far as to buy The Fifth Element on Superbit. Yes, I was "jonesing" for a video fix in those days.

I do like this movie but have the first Blu-ray release. Thanks for the review.

Tracy....reminds me of the days back on The Spot, that's for sure! 

[bmoney]

Oh man the rear projection screens! Loved going to sears to check them out

[andyandthecats]

the remix Dolby Atmos is fair good sound quality . not sure what budget was for remix , how many weeks or months it had ? seems decent compared from memory with Denon AVC-X8500H that only did some many channels

recent install , stormaudio elite mkIII 32 channels , 24 of which in present use with some special modifications to the basic stereo overheads using x3 Dolby SA10 for pin point overhead plus extra channels

the " pan -a -through " the sidewall surrounds x3 each sidewall though to back wall surrounds
discrete five screen with Lc Rc . originally mixed released Sony SDDS 8channel

overhead surrounds was fairly active which had me looking around , over my shoulder due to some sound/frequencies and below matrix surrounds around the room

stormaudio elite mkIII 32 , Dolby Atmos , lucasfilm ltd THX sound system , JBL professional cinema 156 speakers , 40kw THX