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Executive Decision AKA Critical Decision
R2 - United Kingdom - Warner Home Video Review written by and copyright: Movie Mad (24th April 2004). |
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The Film
 I've never been one for political thrillers. The closest to a real thriller like that I've got is the Jack Ryan saga (I'm hoping to see JFK soon). Like the latter films this is in the same style. It also features The World's Most Hated Action Star having a hilarious death scene. Read on to find out more. A plane is hijacked by a group of Islamic terrorists (led by David Suchet) and hold everyone onboard (including a pre-fame Halle Berry) hostage unless their recently captured leader is freed alive. The U.S. Goverment calls in Dr. David Grant (Kurt Russell) to analyze the situation. David believe that they have a chemical bomb called DZ-5, which is a nerve agent, and they plan to detonate over Washington. The military is called in (led by The World's Most Hated Action Star, John Leguizamo and Joe Morton) to deal with the situation. The leader decides to used an untested air craft to do a mid-air transfer. The take Grant and the plane's creator (Oliver Platt) with them. Unfortunately the transfer goes horribly wrong... Everyone does a good job of acting (in fact, they all act better after the action star leaves the picture) and the suspense is dead on. The film is quite heavy darkness as they hide below the passenger decks, which only helps the atmosphere. It definetly gives a good look at how soldiers in the field work - they stealth around retriving as much infomation as possible and they wait for the right moment to attack. Recommended.
Video
In 2.35:1 anamorphic, the transfer is decent with only aliasing, film grain and a clumsy layer change knocking marks down. Subtitles are provided in English and (why?) Arabic.
Audio
Presented with the lone English Dolby Digital 5.1 track, it is your usual action track, with the bullet sounds flying for all speakers. Tape down glassware.
Extras
The disc is encoded regions 2/4. Does that count? Didn't think so.
Overall
The film has been cut to earn a 15 certificate. Cuts are minor but noticable.
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