Harrison Ford and Gary Oldman star in Wolfgang Petersen’s (Das Boot, In the Line of Fire) gripping thriller about a steadfast U.S. President who has just told the world he will not negotiate with terrorists. Now, Russian neo-nationalists have hijacked Air Force One, and the President is faced with a nearly impossible decision – give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country’s dignity, but the lives of his wife and daughter.

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Video Quality

The new 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook release of Air Force One offers a tremendous uptick in quality over the accompanying Blu-Ray that was very solid when it was first released years ago. The film was already released on 4K UHD Blu-Ray nearly five years ago in standard HDR10, and the difference between that and the new release is less stark. That release is likewise stellar and the only noticeable difference on the video side of things with this new release is the inclusion of Dolby Vision, which can often tidy up any nagging encode issues in addition to slightly more vivid colors.

This transfer sports a picture that has terrific film grain that resolves perfectly without being clumpy, swarming or unnatural. Even the trickiest transitions do not betray the picture with loose grain or banding, always resolving with precision. There has been no digital tinkering on this transfer, so this disc is free of DNR, compression artifacts and other encode issues. Skin tones appear much more natural and consistent than the Blu-Ray with healthy doses of fine detail apparent on faces such as facial hair and pores. The clothing and production design is presented with perfect clarity and lovely texture. There are a wide array of minute details inside the airplane that are visible thanks to the 4K resolution.

Arguably the greatest gain for this transfer is in the implementation of the color spectrum. The Dolby Vision/HDR really harnesses the nuances on display and features it to its full potential. Colors are more rich, natural and accurate to what was intended by the creative team. Even the more mundane colors such as the shades of brown and gray offer a glorious stability. The highlights in the film are more controlled with the whites more pure and balanced with no instances of blooming to be found. The black levels are a thing of beauty in this presentation, staying deep and inky with great detail. This is a very natural looking transfer that offers up a virtually flawless presentation. The previous 4K UHD disc was near perfection, and this new Dolby Vision transfer just brings it slightly closer to that benchmark if you have the equipment to support it.

Audio Quality

This 4K UHD Blu-Ray ports over both the previous Dolby Atmos track and the original DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio which gives the film an explosive soundscape with a real vitality and immersive quality. Both of these tracks are top notch in their own ways and will satisfy audio fiends and purists alike. Those who choose to embark with the original track may not utilize every speaker you have, but you will be granted a complex, natural sound without any age-related flaws.

With the Atmos track, you get your traditional emphasis on the front channels for dialogue and other distinct sounds, but activity extends to the surrounds, rears and overhead speakers to make the world feel more alive and all-encompassing in a way that will knock your socks off. The sounds up above are implemented well as they make you feel as if you are in the thick of this journey. The low end effects from the subwoofer give many moments that desired extra weight to enhance the experience. Atmospheric sound effects are rendered appropriately within the mix so that directionality is never a concern. The film really satisfies when it comes to the momentous score from Jerry Goldsmith which washes over you in a really enveloping manner. Dialogue is crisp and clear without ever getting trampled by the music or sound effects. The original DTS-HD 5.1 track is not quite as all-encompassing as the Atmos track, but it handles the material as precisely as you would want with power and stability. Sony has done top tier work with both of these.

While the audio itself may not be upgraded from the previous release, that does not mean there is nothing that makes this disc better. For years there has been a line of subtitled Russian dialogue that has been incorrectly repeated instead of providing the correct line of dialogue from the theatrical exhibition. This issue has dated back to the original Blu-Ray, but Sony has finally reinstated the correct line of burned-in subtitled dialogue for this newest release. It may have been a minor issue, but fans can now view the film as it was intended to be seen.

Special Features

Sony has provided Air Force One with a sleek new SteelBook featuring artwork that is truly lovely in person. The front artwork is an animated depiction of several key characters from the film surrounding an airplane that is on fire, and the rear features animated fighter jets surrounding a missile targeting system. The interior sports a solid black appearance that is not creative in any particular way. Video of the SteelBook can be found at the top of this review.

4K UHD

Theatrical Trailer: The two-and-a-half minute trailer is provided here.

Blu-Ray

Audio Commentary: Director Wolfgang Petersen provides a moderated commentary track in which he discusses casting and working with all of the performers, how this film originated as a Kevin Costner project, shooting locations, the stunt work, the model work and CGI work, and much more that makes for a thoroughly engaging listen.

Final Thoughts

Air Force One is a simple thriller, but it is so impeccably crafted and executed that you cannot help having a blast from beginning to end. Wolfgang Petersen truly knew how to capture and present action sequences in a way that conjured maximum tension. Harrison Ford is in top form for this second act of his career, and Gary Oldman unsurprisingly makes a big impression as the primary villain of the piece. This is ‘90s action filmmaking in its prime. Sony Pictures has released a truly stunning new Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook featuring a miraculous A/V presentation, including newly-implemented Dolby Vision and newly corrected subtitles. Even if you have the previous 4K UHD Blu-Ray, there are a few compelling reasons to pick up this new set. If you only own this one on Blu-Ray or not at all, this package is a no-brainer for anyone looking to add the best version to their collection. Highly Recommended

Air Force One is currently available to purchase on Limited Edition 4K UHD Blu-Ray SteelBook and Digital.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.