This film suffers horrendously from its direction "Julian Grant" , and its incompetent lead, Steve Guttenberg, who's putting a solid effort to win a Bruce Willis look-alike contest! The writing is reckless Hollywood action thriller; Sean Bean --whose one of my favorites-- David Fraser, and Kim Coates give a decent performance. The film is definitely below average. 3 out of 10! I wonder what Hollywood studios thought, actually giving the go ahead, to weak director such as Grant. And I'd say to Sean Bean "what were you thinking even considering participating in a film like this, after such great films like GoldenEye, Ronin, and Patriot Games!
26 Reviews
What were they thinking?
Enchorde9 November 2003
Warning: Spoilers
**Might contain spoilers**
Ok, lets conclude this movie in one word: bad. Two words? Really bad. Now why do I think that? Let me explain.
Guttenberg leads a special-ops team consisting of four persons that get assigned to retake an lethal virus after some arms-dealer stole it from a lab. They do this by attacking the arm-dealers in mid-flight and somehow gets back the virus after some fighting. However, suspicions arise about Guttenberg because one of the terrorist knew his name. After debriefing the team-members get attacked by unknown persons and everyone starts to suspect everyone else is involved. After deciding they cant trust their bosses, they decide to, once again, steal the virus and try to lure out the possible attackers.
In theory this is a plot that could have worked in a low-budget movie that just aims to be aired on TV. However, the plot is compromised and the movie ruined in several accounts. Firstly, the plot is totally predictable and it is not fun to know how the movie is going to end after three minutes. Second. The acting is really bad, or the actors are directed to act as dummys. There aren't many emotions, change of facial expressions at all etc. I was especially disappointed in Guttenberg that I believe can do so much more, but fails completely in an attempt to be a rough action-hero. In addition, though I am not by any means any expert on the subject, I totally believe I could assemble a better covert-ops team by picking up five strangers and train them for a week. This seems to be a theme in the movie to do things as stupid and unprofessionally as possible. This go for good guys, bad guys and bystanders as well. Then I sincerely doubt the scientific and technical consultants, if any, of the film. For example, I have poured liquid nitrogen over my hand and I didn't break instantly.
Don't know how to conclude this really, but lets say that this movie has a predictable plot, bad acting and they seem to be amateurs in whatever the do. Sorry, can't be any nicer than that. Do not watch this movie, it is not even so bad it is funny. 2/10
Ok, lets conclude this movie in one word: bad. Two words? Really bad. Now why do I think that? Let me explain.
Guttenberg leads a special-ops team consisting of four persons that get assigned to retake an lethal virus after some arms-dealer stole it from a lab. They do this by attacking the arm-dealers in mid-flight and somehow gets back the virus after some fighting. However, suspicions arise about Guttenberg because one of the terrorist knew his name. After debriefing the team-members get attacked by unknown persons and everyone starts to suspect everyone else is involved. After deciding they cant trust their bosses, they decide to, once again, steal the virus and try to lure out the possible attackers.
In theory this is a plot that could have worked in a low-budget movie that just aims to be aired on TV. However, the plot is compromised and the movie ruined in several accounts. Firstly, the plot is totally predictable and it is not fun to know how the movie is going to end after three minutes. Second. The acting is really bad, or the actors are directed to act as dummys. There aren't many emotions, change of facial expressions at all etc. I was especially disappointed in Guttenberg that I believe can do so much more, but fails completely in an attempt to be a rough action-hero. In addition, though I am not by any means any expert on the subject, I totally believe I could assemble a better covert-ops team by picking up five strangers and train them for a week. This seems to be a theme in the movie to do things as stupid and unprofessionally as possible. This go for good guys, bad guys and bystanders as well. Then I sincerely doubt the scientific and technical consultants, if any, of the film. For example, I have poured liquid nitrogen over my hand and I didn't break instantly.
Don't know how to conclude this really, but lets say that this movie has a predictable plot, bad acting and they seem to be amateurs in whatever the do. Sorry, can't be any nicer than that. Do not watch this movie, it is not even so bad it is funny. 2/10
surprising, straight to video action yarn
rob-23617 May 1999
A cut above from the usual straight to video actioneer, Airborne has enough in the tank to keep it going for the full 90 minutes, although you can't help but think of how low former '80's comedy golden boy Steve Guttenburg has stooped to be in such a cheap production (and playing a hard man too!). The plot is simple, the baddies have stolen a deadly virus and Guttenburg and the rest of his goodie pals are sent to retrieve it, Not bad of its kind but not in the same league (obviously) as the films it is compared too on the cover such as AIR FORCE ONE and CON AIR. The cast is good though, with Sean Bean reprising his Brit.-bad guy character which we have had a glimpse of in such box office smashes as GOLDENEYE and PATRIOT GAMES.
Do you have six hours to spare?
liamw197121 June 2004
I love most movies and I'm a big fan of Sean Bean so I thought that I would at least LIKE this movie. Also, I'm Canadian and this is a mostly-Canadian movie so I was prepared to cut it some serious slack. Nothing could have prepared me for the garbage that is "Airborne". Steve Guttenberg as an action hero? Give me a break. The acting throughout the movie was so bad I am going to have trouble sleeping tonight. I now have only two wishes in my life.
1. I hope that you never have to sit through this movie. 2. I wish I could get those 6 hours back. Oh wait, the movie's under 2 hours - it only seemed like 6 hours...
Don't watch this. Seriously.
1. I hope that you never have to sit through this movie. 2. I wish I could get those 6 hours back. Oh wait, the movie's under 2 hours - it only seemed like 6 hours...
Don't watch this. Seriously.
You'll have a great laugh at this one
CQKRIS30 June 2001
This is one of the best comedies ever to be put on video, the trouble is, 'Airborne' is not meant as a comedy. Its meant as a one of those high octane, action thrillers with plot twists around every corner. I cant even begin to describe how bad the acting is in this one. The only person who comes out with any kind of credibility is Kim Coates who, as always, is excellant. The rest of the cast, Im afraid, are nothing short of dreadful. Especially Steve Guttenberg. I've always thought he was a terrible actor and his performance in this one proves it. His facail expression never changes throughout. This film is a pretty dire effort.
Some actors should NOT bulk up for a part
onysia29 August 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This is so bad it will be my contribution to the next bad movie party I go to. It is clear from the start that Steve Gutenburg was taking this role seriously.... the other principles were walking through their lines. I think they got a whiff of how much it stank early on and they were going through the motions for their paychecks. Sean Bean "acted" as usual but was spared sharing space on screen with any of the principles till the final scene where it was like an actor walking onto a high school stage that is how defined the contrast was. Some actors do not look good scruffy. Some actors should not bulk up for a part. Those two statements apply to "Police Academy" Steve. His scruffy look translates to bum and indigent and his bulking up makes him look potato lumpy not buff. Pair that with one of the worst scripted dialogues in Hollywood history and you have BAD movie. I can only guess that all of the principles really really needed the money for remodeling or something or their agents signed them before the script was written by the monkeys that must of typed it out. I would love to know the back story to this disaster.
Steve Guttenberg trying to be Steven Seagal
fastpuppy26 July 2005
Wow... this is the kind of movie that makes you wonder who's idea this was and what soup kitchen are they eating at now. To say this was bad is an insult to the bad movies we all know and love.
When I saw Guttenberg's name in the TV guide I figured it would be a spoof... maybe it should have been. Could have made for a better movie.
Look for the scene where they are in an airplane in mid flight with the door open and there is no wind what so ever. They could have sprung for a fan at least.
Look for several Canadian & c-list actors in the movie. This is the kind of movie that litters the b-rate cable stations you never watch except on a rainy Sunday.
When I saw Guttenberg's name in the TV guide I figured it would be a spoof... maybe it should have been. Could have made for a better movie.
Look for the scene where they are in an airplane in mid flight with the door open and there is no wind what so ever. They could have sprung for a fan at least.
Look for several Canadian & c-list actors in the movie. This is the kind of movie that litters the b-rate cable stations you never watch except on a rainy Sunday.
Utter trash, cannot be taken seriously
fantasticflyingfreak29 July 2002
Warning: Spoilers
Seriously, this film is not. Steve Guttenburg is constantly forcing his tough-guy dialogue and then giving everyone the evil-eye all the time. He just wasn't believable, he seems like he's trying to be a badass and he sucks at it. I just remember him as the millionaire dad with the Olsen twins in It Takes Two...so, this is a BIG change. I rented this film for Sean Bean, and he dies (as usual). Only this time he didn't get impaled on a boat anchor (Patriot Games), smashed by a giant satellite dish (Goldeneye), or get run over by cows(The Field). He just got shot, real quick-like and civil, and that was all I got from this film that they didn't kill him off in an extremely grotesque and morbid way. How sad is that? I was only watching it for the 3 seconds that Sean was in it, and then the rest was rubbish. I actually tried to watch and understand the plot, but there really wasn't one. Seemed a little like Mission Impossible with the hole,"Oooooo! There's a mole! It's the leader of the group, and NO ONE EXPECTED IT! Let's trap him! Let's frame the underdog good-guy so we can get away with it!" Cliched and tired, this movie was a waste of time.
I enjoyed this.
paulclaassen12 October 2020
'Airborne' might not be the best action film you'll see, but I rather enjoyed it. The action sequences were nicely done and I enjoyed the all-star cast.
Steve Guttenberg's character, Bill McNeil, is a bit too grouchy, and he really ought to smile more. There was no real reason why he should be so wood-faced from the beginning. Later, yes, it might be acceptable when he realized they've been set up, and off course mourning the murder of his best friend. Nevertheless, Guttenberg is looking fit and strong, and (thankfully) they find enough excuses to display his muscular physique. I didn't mind one bit!
There are twists around every corner. 'Airborne' does play more like an episode from a television action detective series, but there were enough here to keep me interested. Sean Bean's character, Dave, was underdeveloped and it felt like he was only really on screen when needed. Ron Simpson (Colm Feore) was by far the most interesting character.
The film has a thrilling, fast-paced finale. Not bad at all for a film made over two decades ago. I enjoyed this!
Would I watch it again? Yes.
Steve Guttenberg's character, Bill McNeil, is a bit too grouchy, and he really ought to smile more. There was no real reason why he should be so wood-faced from the beginning. Later, yes, it might be acceptable when he realized they've been set up, and off course mourning the murder of his best friend. Nevertheless, Guttenberg is looking fit and strong, and (thankfully) they find enough excuses to display his muscular physique. I didn't mind one bit!
There are twists around every corner. 'Airborne' does play more like an episode from a television action detective series, but there were enough here to keep me interested. Sean Bean's character, Dave, was underdeveloped and it felt like he was only really on screen when needed. Ron Simpson (Colm Feore) was by far the most interesting character.
The film has a thrilling, fast-paced finale. Not bad at all for a film made over two decades ago. I enjoyed this!
Would I watch it again? Yes.
Worst Die Hard rip-off ever
Leofwine_draca25 February 2015
This awful "action thriller" (I use the term loosely) is an the nadir of straight-to-video trash. Desperately ripping off the plots and ideas of just about anything that worked, the only exciting thing about this are the closing credits which at least provide some release from the stultifying boredom that the rest of this film brings. From the incredibly lame CGI effects work (they were too cheap to have a plane), to the barely coherent, mumbled dialogue and the smatterings of poorly-edited action, this is a bomb all the way.
Steve Guttenberg, still smarting after his career in the doldrums with the POLICE ACADEMY series and desperate to branch out into new areas (although with this kind of choice he isn't doing himself any favours) stars as the ageing hero who desperately wants to be Bruce Willis, even down to the nine o' clock shadow. Elsewhere, Sean Bean is the imported star who has only a few minutes screen time while the other actors and actresses blur into one in their sheer inability to act convincingly.
Loud music plays over anything remotely "exciting" which is enough to make for you to reach for the remote, only for Guttenberg to mumble inaudibly in the next scene. It's extremely annoying. The plot doesn't make sense, the twists are lamentable and there's barely any action as it is. Unless you have a bizarre desire to watch a low budget shot of a man getting frozen by liquid nitrogen (TERMINATOR 2 this ain't) then avoid this like the plague. Not the worst film ever made, but certainly close.
Steve Guttenberg, still smarting after his career in the doldrums with the POLICE ACADEMY series and desperate to branch out into new areas (although with this kind of choice he isn't doing himself any favours) stars as the ageing hero who desperately wants to be Bruce Willis, even down to the nine o' clock shadow. Elsewhere, Sean Bean is the imported star who has only a few minutes screen time while the other actors and actresses blur into one in their sheer inability to act convincingly.
Loud music plays over anything remotely "exciting" which is enough to make for you to reach for the remote, only for Guttenberg to mumble inaudibly in the next scene. It's extremely annoying. The plot doesn't make sense, the twists are lamentable and there's barely any action as it is. Unless you have a bizarre desire to watch a low budget shot of a man getting frozen by liquid nitrogen (TERMINATOR 2 this ain't) then avoid this like the plague. Not the worst film ever made, but certainly close.
Not all bad
Smish26 December 2004
OK.. I'll admit, it's not exactly Oscar worthy, but I thought this film was a great escape for an hour and a half! The plot was fairly predictable, but I tend to have a soft spot for cheesy films, especially cheesy action films, so that didn't bother me...
Steve Guttenberg is unfortunately unconvincing as an action hero, and for me personally, there were a few too many shots of him bare chested! Torri Higginson acted her socks off (as always) and her, and the rest of the cast, did an amazing job in salvaging the film from being a turkey... If the supporting cast hadn't been as strong, this film could have ended up being fairly unbearable.
If you go to watch this film expecting a work of genius, you'll be sorely disappointed... If you take it a face value (i.e. as a good old fashioned mindless action flick) you'll enjoy it...
Steve Guttenberg is unfortunately unconvincing as an action hero, and for me personally, there were a few too many shots of him bare chested! Torri Higginson acted her socks off (as always) and her, and the rest of the cast, did an amazing job in salvaging the film from being a turkey... If the supporting cast hadn't been as strong, this film could have ended up being fairly unbearable.
If you go to watch this film expecting a work of genius, you'll be sorely disappointed... If you take it a face value (i.e. as a good old fashioned mindless action flick) you'll enjoy it...
Steve Guttenberg...Action Star!
tarbosh220009 January 2012
Warning: Spoilers
Bill McNeil (Guttenberg) is the head of a Special Ops team known as "Mach 1". His compatriots are Sara Gemmel (Higginson) and Romeo Cortez (Akin). There's an evil canister with an evil virus that a lot of evil people want to do evil things with. Head of said evildoers is the ominously-named Dave Toombs (Bean). When certain people end up dead, McNeil thinks it may be an inside job. So he goes on the run with Gemmel to get to the truth. Also Colm Feore and Kim Coates are on board.
Airborne is an unintentional (?) laugh riot. One of the main things that makes it funny is not just the presence of Steve Guttenberg, but his gruff, overly-serious performance. Obviously trying to shed his Police Academy "Mahoney" image, The Gute opts for an unshaven, laconic, cliché-action-hero style. Just check out the way he does a simple task like answer the phone. The phone rings. There is a pregnant pause as Gute takes the phone off the receiver. There is another pregnant pause before he speaks. Then, in a low, portentous, drawn-out tone, and speaking as if his throat is filled with gravel, he simply says, "Yeah". While it may seem like nothing, this scene brought the house down with laughs. So that's a microcosm of what to expect in Airborne, the movie that takes itself wildly seriously, even though it's a shot-in-Canada, cliché-ridden turkey with bad sound, low production values and CGI airplanes.
In fact, while there is low-key, "smoldering" (harsher minds might say "emotionless") acting by just about everyone involved, the movie could have used more Sean Bean. He is a bright spot in this dour production, and Kim Coates also tries to inject any energy he can, but it's to no avail. You'd think the power team of Steve Guttenberg facing off against Sean Bean is the match-up the world has been waiting for - and it clearly is - but somehow Airborne doesn't capitalize on this meeting.
And while Gute's co-star Higginson resembles a DTV Sigourney Weaver, it's hard for her to compete with his slow-motion, "cool" walking and other "cool" activities like putting on/taking off sunglasses. In fact, the importance he places on this action predates David Caruso and CSI.
Plus you know it's the 90's because of the high-waisted jeans and unnecessary, Tarantino-esque cultural references. Also Sean Bean has an intimidating bad-guy mullet. But the Mach 1 team wears some impressive outfits: helmets that look like they are from the 80's Laser Tag competitor Photon, and head-to-toe spandex. There's one disturbing scene in particular where Guttenberg's spandex pants don't leave much to the imagination and...yecccchhh.
So while wags might say this is just another stupid, brainless ripoff of The Rock (1996) that is so riddled with clichés it can't possibly add anything new to the genre, we say it's the most dramatic retelling of the story of how that teacher invented his own cold medication yet put to film.
For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
Airborne is an unintentional (?) laugh riot. One of the main things that makes it funny is not just the presence of Steve Guttenberg, but his gruff, overly-serious performance. Obviously trying to shed his Police Academy "Mahoney" image, The Gute opts for an unshaven, laconic, cliché-action-hero style. Just check out the way he does a simple task like answer the phone. The phone rings. There is a pregnant pause as Gute takes the phone off the receiver. There is another pregnant pause before he speaks. Then, in a low, portentous, drawn-out tone, and speaking as if his throat is filled with gravel, he simply says, "Yeah". While it may seem like nothing, this scene brought the house down with laughs. So that's a microcosm of what to expect in Airborne, the movie that takes itself wildly seriously, even though it's a shot-in-Canada, cliché-ridden turkey with bad sound, low production values and CGI airplanes.
In fact, while there is low-key, "smoldering" (harsher minds might say "emotionless") acting by just about everyone involved, the movie could have used more Sean Bean. He is a bright spot in this dour production, and Kim Coates also tries to inject any energy he can, but it's to no avail. You'd think the power team of Steve Guttenberg facing off against Sean Bean is the match-up the world has been waiting for - and it clearly is - but somehow Airborne doesn't capitalize on this meeting.
And while Gute's co-star Higginson resembles a DTV Sigourney Weaver, it's hard for her to compete with his slow-motion, "cool" walking and other "cool" activities like putting on/taking off sunglasses. In fact, the importance he places on this action predates David Caruso and CSI.
Plus you know it's the 90's because of the high-waisted jeans and unnecessary, Tarantino-esque cultural references. Also Sean Bean has an intimidating bad-guy mullet. But the Mach 1 team wears some impressive outfits: helmets that look like they are from the 80's Laser Tag competitor Photon, and head-to-toe spandex. There's one disturbing scene in particular where Guttenberg's spandex pants don't leave much to the imagination and...yecccchhh.
So while wags might say this is just another stupid, brainless ripoff of The Rock (1996) that is so riddled with clichés it can't possibly add anything new to the genre, we say it's the most dramatic retelling of the story of how that teacher invented his own cold medication yet put to film.
For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com
Horrendous enough as a parody, until you realize they're serious!
RJBose18 March 2000
Warning: Spoilers
A friend picked up this film as a video rental, believing from the title and cover description that "Airborne" would be a moderate-to-bad exercise of the genre. This assumption was egregiously over generous; this movie is a pathetic, lamentable and completely, indeed, insultingly bad. Borrowing cliches from over a dozen previous movies, it apparently was shot over three days in various vacant spaces in Canada with a cast of about six. After the first ten minutes it ceased to be funny, as awfully bad movies sometimes are, and quickly devolved instead into a grotesque vanity piece for Steve Guttenburg, who after abandoning his Police Academy persona has attempted to recast himself as a tough-guy action hero. He succeeds only in looking as though he is portraying a Bruce Willis character at a bad Halloween costume party. From the overused and lame opening premise (an "elite" secret commando team, complete with code names and specializations typed in over their frozen images after the movie has commenced) to the painfully banal plot contrivances and thoroughly predictable sequences, the whole thing is a complete and utter waste of time, save perhaps as a catalogue of stolen characterizations, premises, and even dialogue from other films. Did Guttenberg actually believe anyone would buy him as a Willis clone? The production values and sets make this movie resemble a bad eighth grade media project more than the straight-to-video debacle it evidently was. Most laughable was the stock footage of tanks and other military apparatus ostensibly mobilizing to shut down the airport in the final climactic scene which were then nowhere in sight as Guttenberg/Willis struggles to save the world from a stolen secret biological warfare virus, stolen by (guess who?- the head of his own secret agency!- Maybe he should have tried to imitate Tom Cruise if he was stealing the plot of Mission Impossible). This movie is so bad it's not even worth the unintended laughs. Maybe it's time for Police Academy 15, Steve?
Bad Movie, Hot Actor
quebecgirl102719 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was bad on so many levels. The writing was horrible so even the best actors could not have made this movie watchable. It's a shame because they did have some good actors in this movie. I mean if anyone has seen any of the Police Academy movies, you would know that Steve Guttenberg was good. His Character in this movie was very serious, which was a big difference from Characters i have seen him play before, so that was a plus. And I did think that Steve Guttenberg was extremely hot in this movie. With or without the shirt you can not deny that he has a GREAT body! Sexy face too. Loved the 5 o'clock shadow look, it made him look dangerous. At one part in the movie he is lying in bed without his shirt and i have to say, I would have gladly jumped in there and tried to take his mind off of his problems! So honestly i would watch this movie again just to fantasize!
The Worst Movie I have ever Seen!
bloggster6 April 2004
It sounded so promising in the Rental Store, the premise sounded great and I couldnt wait to get home and watch it. It was Apalling the Diologue is Dreadful, The Action is Extremely badly Scripted and the Plot takes a nosedive from the beginning. Gutenberg puts in a pathetic performance, Sean Bean tries his best but with a script this bad there wasnt much he could do.
This isnt even worth watching, even if you can get it for free (borrow it off a friend for instance) Dont as you will regret it and waste 90 Minuites of your life.
0/10
This isnt even worth watching, even if you can get it for free (borrow it off a friend for instance) Dont as you will regret it and waste 90 Minuites of your life.
0/10
So bad its a classic
adityad22 September 2002
My friends and I rented this movie mistaking it for another one about skateboarding. Watchin Steve Guttenberg as an action hero is hilarious. The movie is so incredibly predictable and over the top that it ended up being a laugh fest. Even though I gave it a 1/10 this movie should be seen especially if u manage to catch it on TV anywhere.
Grounded From the Start....
HKFAN20 November 1999
This film tries very hard to be an "action" film, but it fails miserably.
Steve Guttenberg plays the head of an elite counter-terrorist team that fails (?) in attempt to keep a mysterious group from stealing a deadly nerve agent.
The story...the acting...the special effects...ALL FALL FLAT!!!
Definitely A MUST AVOID!!!!
Steve Guttenberg plays the head of an elite counter-terrorist team that fails (?) in attempt to keep a mysterious group from stealing a deadly nerve agent.
The story...the acting...the special effects...ALL FALL FLAT!!!
Definitely A MUST AVOID!!!!
Watch for Sean Bean Only
Rainey-Dawn18 March 2018
Bacteria jumps species. Star jumps shark.
mark.waltz22 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is the type of loud obnoxious action movie that you put on to out-blast loud roommates or neighbors. It's also perfect for loaning to a friend you secretly want to stop speaking to you. Steve Guttenberg may have been hot stuff in the 1980's, but every film I've seen him in since "Cocoon II" and "Three Men and a Little Lady" has been beyond insipid. It's also one that you realize after skimming other reviews and watching ten minutes that your time is far too precious to waste on trying to make sense of what is going on. In fact, I spent a good part of the ninety minutes perusing information available on it to get an "Airborne For Dummies" guide to any sensible description of what it was about in order to be able to write a fair, concise review.
So in being far too heavy on the scientific exposition, it is very pretentious and not in a way that makes it seem any smarter. The characters are also far too smug to be likeable, and the use of unrelated metaphors to explain the plot just makes you begin to your eyes and look at the remaining time and your watch. The action sequences may be a bit over the top, but they become much missed when the attempt at a plot takes over. An evil talking car takes over in one of the more bizarre moments of action, turning this into "Nightmare Rider". But Guttenberg and one of the other men are able to unlock the door and jump out as it speeds to the inevitable crash. The overly artsy looking set is over the top with colors, looking like a ten topping pizza tossed out of the car and allowed to splash over everything. In retrospect, this is like one of those absurd Asylum direct to video or cable movies that you strive to get through but just can't.
So in being far too heavy on the scientific exposition, it is very pretentious and not in a way that makes it seem any smarter. The characters are also far too smug to be likeable, and the use of unrelated metaphors to explain the plot just makes you begin to your eyes and look at the remaining time and your watch. The action sequences may be a bit over the top, but they become much missed when the attempt at a plot takes over. An evil talking car takes over in one of the more bizarre moments of action, turning this into "Nightmare Rider". But Guttenberg and one of the other men are able to unlock the door and jump out as it speeds to the inevitable crash. The overly artsy looking set is over the top with colors, looking like a ten topping pizza tossed out of the car and allowed to splash over everything. In retrospect, this is like one of those absurd Asylum direct to video or cable movies that you strive to get through but just can't.
Absolute crap. Really. I wanted my money back, but...
shakaboom200018 November 1999
I saw this movie for free during Toronto's FantAsia '98 Festival, and I wanted my money back. The director was present (and was in fact was one of the organizers of FantAsia) and someone asked him, after the film, if he had a hat full of cliches that he picked from to make the film. This film is BAD. It's worse than Highlander 2. It has NO redeeming features whatsoever. Cliche after cliche. Avoid at all possible costs. There is nothing to see here. Please move along.
Dull and cheap Canadian action film
Wizard-826 October 2015
I had a pretty good idea that "Airborne" would be a bad movie before I actually watched it, because it was a production by Le Monde Entertainment, a Canadian outfit that made nothing but bad B movies during its run. So why did I watch it voluntarily? Two reasons, one being that it had Sean Bean in its cast, an actor I feel is very underrated. The second reason was that the movie promised to have Steve Guttenberg given the atypical acting job of playing an action star - and I thought that might be worth a few unintended laughs.
However, I was disappointed by both promises. Sean Bean has only what could be called an extended cameo - it's obvious he knocked off his few brief scenes in just a few days of shooting. As for Guttenberg, while there are a few (mild) chuckles seeing him act tough and swearing, he's for the most part pretty bland and not that lively.
In fact, the rest of the movie is just as bland and unexciting as Guttenberg. There is far more talk than action. And when the action does come, it's pretty badly handled, being poorly directed, choreographed, and edited. Part of this is probably due to the fact the movie clearly didn't have an adequate budget. The movie has a cheap look and feel like one you would associate with a 1990s Canadian television show.
If you think I am slamming this movie for being a B movie, I'm not. In fact, I *love* a great number of B movies. But this particular one simply doesn't cut it.
However, I was disappointed by both promises. Sean Bean has only what could be called an extended cameo - it's obvious he knocked off his few brief scenes in just a few days of shooting. As for Guttenberg, while there are a few (mild) chuckles seeing him act tough and swearing, he's for the most part pretty bland and not that lively.
In fact, the rest of the movie is just as bland and unexciting as Guttenberg. There is far more talk than action. And when the action does come, it's pretty badly handled, being poorly directed, choreographed, and edited. Part of this is probably due to the fact the movie clearly didn't have an adequate budget. The movie has a cheap look and feel like one you would associate with a 1990s Canadian television show.
If you think I am slamming this movie for being a B movie, I'm not. In fact, I *love* a great number of B movies. But this particular one simply doesn't cut it.
This film is pants
Gez_Medinger11 November 1999
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps I'm being somewhat rash commenting on this film when I only saw the last 10 minutes of it on TV. However I felt compelled to warn anybody out there who might be tempted to rent this film - don't. For a start it stars Steve Guttenburg - this itself is no crime, however when the film is made in 1998, and not 1988 , this point becomes more pertinent. For a star who abandoned the police academy series because of dropping standards (tell me if I'm wrong here) it would seem he intended to go on and further his career with quality films. Well, it would seem not. From what I could glean from the climax of the film, there's a killer virus, cunningly contained in a glass container for maximum safety -which our hero Steve must reclaim from the evil Sean Bean. *SPOILER* (although to be honest I dont think there's much to spoil) Cue a daredevil jumping from car to plane taxiing along a runway sequence (gosh, thats never been done before) , with crap stunts (you wouldn't want to spoonerise those two wordS) and a thoroughly predictable ending that... Oh dear
Steve Guttenberg as an action hero? You've got to be kidding.
modius30 July 2002
Pathetic action film which tries too hard to be all action and ends up way too much in bad movie terrotory throwing up cliche after cliche...
I mean, Guttenburg with his mandotory unshaven look speaks softly and roughly - I couldn't stop laughing nor take him seriousily. His facial expressions hardly change, if ever.
Sean Bean of Sharpe fame is okay in this but he isn't in the film enough and the rest of the film fails to grab my attention at all.
Overall: 0/10
I mean, Guttenburg with his mandotory unshaven look speaks softly and roughly - I couldn't stop laughing nor take him seriousily. His facial expressions hardly change, if ever.
Sean Bean of Sharpe fame is okay in this but he isn't in the film enough and the rest of the film fails to grab my attention at all.
Overall: 0/10
how can anything be this rubbish? (bit of a spoiler)
bmyatt_uk15 June 2002
Warning: Spoilers
at first glance, from looking at the box, this film seems like a good, if generic action thriller, and in my opinon had three things going for it:
1) Sean Bean (My Favourite actor)
2) a seemingly okay plot: Bio-terrorism, special forces, arms dealers, the stuff of good fun.
3) Steve Guttenberg (Who is always entertaining)
Withing 15 minutes of the start, I was thinking "Why, god, WHY?"
The first attack on the plane went well. Sean Bean as a bad guy was to be expected. It went downhill from there. it was predictable, the acting was attrocious, even from Sean, in his oh, three lines before he got killed.
how bad can one film GET???
1) Sean Bean (My Favourite actor)
2) a seemingly okay plot: Bio-terrorism, special forces, arms dealers, the stuff of good fun.
3) Steve Guttenberg (Who is always entertaining)
Withing 15 minutes of the start, I was thinking "Why, god, WHY?"
The first attack on the plane went well. Sean Bean as a bad guy was to be expected. It went downhill from there. it was predictable, the acting was attrocious, even from Sean, in his oh, three lines before he got killed.
how bad can one film GET???
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