It’s been over two decades since Wolfgang Petersen’s “Air Force One” came out. So, it is natural for its visual effects to seem dated and shoddy compared to today’s standards. However, what strikes out as worse is the film’s outdated political portrait. Especially in the wake of Alex Garland’s “Civil War,” the 1997 film feels like just a sketchy and surface-level exploration of its central politics. Regardless, this Harrison Ford project is an exciting popcorn flick that follows an escape mission for the U.S. President after his plane gets hijacked by some Russian terrorists.
Spoilers Ahead
Air Force One (1997) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“Air Force One” follows the U.S. President as he tries to escape a plane from Moscow to the US, hijacked by some Russian terrorists. The Russians want their political leader to be released from the American prison. So, to make it happen, they terrorize the plane’s passengers and put many lives in danger. The President and his staff do all in their hands to protect themselves while not letting a terrorist escape their prison. Besides Ford in the lead role, the film also stars Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Wendy Crewson, Paul Guilfoyle, William H. Macy, Liesel Matthews, and Dean Stockwell.
What happens in ‘Air Force One’ (film)?
Wolfgang Peterson’s “Air Force One” largely revolves around the United States President James Marshall’s (Harrison Ford) escape mission from the terrorists. But, before that, we learn about a joint operation between the American and Russian Special Forces that apprehends the self-proclaimed leader of Kazakhstan, General Radek (Jürgen Prochnow). Radek is a genocidal military dictator of a rogue neo-Soviet regime who had threatened the world with a new Cold War. A few weeks after Radek’s capture, President Marshall gives a speech during a diplomatic dinner in Moscow where he notes that the US government will never negotiate with the terrorists henceforth.
Soon after, Marshall plans to return home with his team of cabinet advisors and his wife Grace & daughter Alice on Air Force One. Along with them, some press members get permission to get on board with them. But little do they know that they are actually Radek loyalists disguised as journalists. After take-off, their mole in Marshall’s entourage, Secret Service agent Gibbs (Xavier Berkeley), helps them obtain weapons and terrorize the passengers. The Radek loyalist team, led by Egor Korshunov (Gary Oldman), started killing the security and military personnel. Then, they take everyone else hostage, including Marshall’s wife & daughter.
What happens to President Marshall?
While Korshunov’s team takes most Air Force One passengers hostage, Marshall gets taken toward an escape pod for his safety. The pod ejects before the terrorists can reach there. Meanwhile, Korshunov breaks into the cockpit and kills the crew so that the plane cannot make an emergency landing in Germany. While Air Force One is hijacked, Vice President Kathryn Bennett (Glenn Close) takes charge to control the situation from the White House Situation Room. Once they establish contact with the aircraft, Korshunov demands Radek’s release from the prison. He threatens to kill a person every half hour until they fulfill this demand.
Meanwhile, Marshall, who was supposed to escape through the pod, remains in the cargo hold of Air Force One. As a war veteran and a Medal of Honor recipient, he considers it his duty to protect the people he is responsible for. So, he risks his life observing Radek loyalists from hiding. While he covertly kills two of those terrorists, Russian President Petrov (Alan Woolf) is not ready to let Radek leave the prison. Korshunov notices his two men dead. So, to prove his command and send a message across, he kills the National Security Advisor of the White House. Later, he tries to explain his motives to Marshall’s daughter, who doesn’t believe in him.
Air Force One (1997) Movie Ending Explained:
Does Radek get released from Prison?
Marshall decides to use a satellite phone to communicate his present status to his on-ground staff. But one of Korshunov’s men catches him. Marshall keeps the phone on and communicates the further guidelines for a counterattack against Korshunov. With his military advisors, he tricks Korshunov into taking Air Force One to a lower altitude for mid-air refueling. By doing so, he buys time for the hostages to parachute safely off the plane. While fighting Korshunov’s men, Marshall rejoins his staff for their further rescue operation. One of the staff members advises communicating with the ground team through fax.
Major Norman Caldwell (William H Macy) guides the hostages to the cargo hold to escape. But Korshunov’s men decode the efforts for the escape and shoot the parachute bay door. So, Marshall, Caldwell, Gibbs, and Chief of Staff Lloyd, besides Marshall’s family, cannot escape. Meanwhile, the aircraft tanker ignites due to a fuel leak. With these developments, Korshunov gets furious and threatens to kill Marshall’s daughter. By doing so, he forces Marshall to contact Petrov and arrange Radek’s release. Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Walter Dean requests the Veep to override the President’s request, by declaring him incapable of taking such a decision. But Bennett refuses it.
Does President Marshall safely escape Air Force One?
Due to Korshunov’s constant pressure, Radek gets released from the prison. While his loyalists celebrate the release, Marshall cuts the tape around his wrists and proceeds to kill them all. After an intense fight with others, Marshall finds Grace at Korshunov’s gunpoint. Grace tricks Korshunov and escapes, which leads to a fight between Marshall & Korshunov. Luckily, Marshall survives and kills Korshunov. Then, he rescinds his order for Radek’s release. So, Radek gets shot right when he is about to escape. Marshall takes charge of the plane with Caldwell’s support for a safe landing.
However, the MiG-29s of Radek loyalists keep attacking them. US F-15s engage with enemy aircraft to protect Air Force One. The fuel tanks suffer some damage due to gunfire. After losing an F-15 pilot, another unit is sent to save the president. In the end, Gibbs shows his true face, kills Caldwell, and tries to stop Marshall from being the last person to escape. Marshall wins the fight and attaches himself to the para jumper at the last moment. While Air Force One crashes into a sea, Marshall and his family manage to escape safely.
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