Plane

I was expecting another below-average film, but I must admit that French director Jean-François Richet gave it the right edge (his two Mesrine films are truly exceptional). Gerard Butler played his part well; I had no trouble believing him as the determined pilot. The film also impressed me with its exotic setting in the Indonesian jungle (not something you often see in feature films). Additionally, the uncompromising action, which doesn’t hold back on anything or anyone, stands out. There’s a fantastic fight in a crumbling building and a few truly spectacular shootouts (that Barrett at the end? Fantastic :D). The film wraps up with a well-executed conclusion to the story. I’m satisfied. However, the depiction of the emergency landing could have used more effort, as the CGI was quite shaky. For me, it’s a 7/10. (2023-03-01)

In the context of formulaic and naïve action movies starring Gerard Butler, Plane is pleasantly refreshing thanks to the exotic Asian setting and the bad guys who are reminiscent of the villains in Rambo movies. The captain’s responsibility for his passengers and his experience in the military, which is apparent in his way with a machine gun, are also nice. A buddy motif, long-distance phone calls with his daughter and so on. However, the effects with the plane’s crash landing are mediocre. (2023-02-25)

An old-fashioned action flick that relies on an interesting, albeit B-movie script and a skilled director. Jean-François Richet knows his craft, and Gerard Butler and Mike Colter have no trouble watching his back. The jungle running and contact bloody fights are crowned by a final shootout with a wonderful sniping with Filipinos flying a good three metres over the top of a car. Awesome! (2023-12-22)

When Captain Butler welcomes passengers on board at the beginning and talks about his era, saying he is "pretty much indestructible," we already know he’s talking about himself. He takes passengers to heaven and back twice, while preparing hell for militant separatists. He has, besides the Plane, a Plan (even if it's sometimes quite idiotic). Sure, it's okay, but imagine how it would have looked thirty years ago with Bruce Willis. One quip after another, a set of lines interacting with Mike Colter's character, and maybe a postcard from some exotic destination in the mailbox at the end, hinting that the money in the bag worked out. While there aren’t moments like the plane's nose stopping just five centimeters from a fuel tanker, Jean-François Richet's film takes itself so seriously that even Leslie Nielsen would have chuckled. (2023-02-08)

This was an incredible show and action like it hasn't been here for a long time! The excellent Gerard Butler and Mike Colter, the thrilling piloting and landing in the jungle among insurgents and absolutely flawless action full of blood, shootouts, stealth missions like in "Far Cry" and knife fights. I was literally never bored for a minute, I devoured the film from the first minutes and the final shootout at the plane took my breath away, just like the whole 100 minutes before it. I don't have the slightest complaint, this was just top shit that all action and shooter fans will appreciate. I haven't enjoyed a movie like this in a long time!!! (2023-02-13)