Review of Executive Decision (1996) by Steve M — 10 May 2008

The American government stages a daring, covert midair boarding and hostage rescue operaton when a Muslim terrorist (Suchet) seizes control of a trans-Atlantic flight that he's loaded with nerve gas and intends to crash into Washington DC.

When I saw "Executive Decision" in the theatre when it was first released, I remember thinking how far-fetched the notion of terrorists hijacking a plane with the intent of using it as a giant bomb was. I found it hard to swallow that anyone could be that evil and crazy. History has certainly proven me wrong!

With more resonance that it had in 1996, "Executive Decision" is an excellent action thriller with numerous unusual twists (including a startling scene with Steven Seagal that STILL surprised me even if I knew it was coming) and a group of heroes who must use finesse and skill instead to accomplish their goal instead of the usual movieland brute force.

Featuring an excellent cast performing within a well-structured script, and a fine score by the late Jerry Goldsmith, this is a thriller that is worth a look for fans of action movies with political overtones... assuming you don't mind a film that's anti-terrorist and which draws a distiction between traditional terrorists and the extreme massmurdering fanatics that have come to the forefront in the past decade.).

Executive Decision.

Starring: Kurt Russell, John Leguizamo, David Suchet, Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Nicholas Pryor, Joe Morton, and Steven Seagal.

Director: Stuart Baird.