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 US 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

Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 01/08/2008 Run time: 115 minutes Rating: R

Cameron Poe (Nicolas Cage) is a former Army Ranger who killed a man in a fight while defending his wife. He gets paroled after several years in prison, and catches a special flight back home. He is eager to meet his daughter, who was born after he went behind bars.

Also on the flight are some tough convicts, mostly lifers, who are being transported to a new maximum security facility. Led by serial killer Cyrus "the Virus" (John Malkovich), the cons take control of the flight, and lots of violence ensues. John Cusack is a U.S. Marshal who tracks the airplane and pursues it from the ground.

If you like mindless action flicks, you'll probably love this one. Just leave your thinking cap at the door before watching.

I was okay with my purchase of Con Air / VHS which was my first option.
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William

My wife told me the whole story before watching it. It sounded interesting. But once I saw John Malkovich I groaned? This is supposed to be the bad guy? He's laughable. Who would be scared of that geek? Seriously, I was more entertained with my wife telling me the story.

Con Air is a good movie with decent action and acting. It has drama, some dry humor and even a bit of romance. Nicholas Cage and John Malkovich are really great as adversaries. The only thing that I would change about this movie is Nic's southern accent. It's okay but a bit too twangy. Other than that, it's a fantastic movie. I could watch it again and again.

This is my second favorite Nicholas Cage movie after The Rock. Great action escape movie. Kick Back and just watch the villians get smack around pretty good.Great on Blu Ray.