Con Air: Don’t hate on it
February 21st, 2008
I’ve noticed over the past several years or so that there is an increasing number of films that I totally get and love yet everyone else hates. Granted, I don’t always need to have the nature of humanity explored on screen and explosions are occasionally just plain fun and often I’m only looking for one or two scenes that interest/entertain/inspire that will give the rest of the movie a ‘do not go directly to jail’ card.
One of these movies is the 1997 film Con Air.
I don’t know what it is about Nic Cage films that stir people up so much, people either love him or loathe him, I don’t care cause I fall into the camp that enjoys the majority of Cave’s work (Snake Eyes? Let’s not stretch the friendship!).
I must admit that the idea of spending some time in a cell, given the freedom to exercise, learn Spanish, learn origami and do a lot of reading is slightly attractive. Of course there are flashbacks to OZ and I’m wondering if the buggery would not interrupt the paper crane folding.
I like the idea of growing hill-billy hair too and developing a slow drawling accent.
I know that film as a whole has problems but it’s got a good cast, some very nice scenery and big planes crashing in Las Vegas.
There are some memorable lines throughout and more often than not they involve Steve Buscemi playing the national treasure Garland Greene:
“Define irony: a bunch of idiots dancing on a plane to a song made famous by a band that died in a plane crash.”
“What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn’t you consider that to be insane?”
“Baby O: What’s wrong with him?
Cameron Poe: My first guess would be… a lot. “
The film is typical of the whole Bruckheimer movie extravaganza experience and it is wonderful. Awesome soundtrack filled with heavy heroic themes. Explosions, sand being whipped around in the gale, slow motion running and injections of humour throughout.
One thing I do cringe about though is the ‘bunny’ lines… groan.
So don’t be ashamed that you like Con Air, proudly display this on your site:
Popularity: 8% [?]
Categories: Movies | Tags: bruckheimer, cameron poe, con air, garland greene, Movies, nic cage, snake eyes, steve buscemi | 12 Comments
