Cameron Poe - Nick Cage

Cameron Poe is a highly decorated Army Ranger who gets home to his wife and runs into trouble where she works with some drunks. A fight ensues outside and Poe accidentally kills one of them.

Sadly, thanks to his Army training, it's argued that he's trained to kill. Therefore he should never have got into the fight in the first place and he's sentenced to seven years.

When he's eligable for parole, he's sent home on a plane loaded with some of the most dangerous criminals in the US penal system, who thanks to Cyrus "The Virus" are planning to break out.

Whilst Vince Larkin is overseeing the transportation, another agent - this time from the DEA, one Duncan Malloy (Colm Meaney - The Commitments, Star Trek: The Next Generation) is making his life hell, thinking he can take over and generally making a complete mess of things.

It's therefore down to Poe to save the day before Cyrus and his band kill everyone or get away...

Of course, it's never that simple and whilst one of his mates has diabetes and is in dire need of a jab, one of Malloy's men is on board with a gun hidden - a big no-no, considering the company aboard.

John Cussack and Colm Meaney

John Malkovich

You're probably not expecting that there are prizes for guessing what ensues as Cyrus and his cronies make a bid to take over the plane, while Poe - who just wants to get back to his wife and daughter - does his best to stop them.

This is one of those films where whilst the plot is quite well sorted - aside from the usual bits of 'cenematic licence' that is, the main thing is the action. However, it's not all straight--faced, serious stuff, despite the overall premise.

I mean, lets be fair, how many films do you know where the baddy holds a gun to a soft toy rabbit and tells the hero, "Don't make a move or the bunny gets it"?

Later, Poe - with a completely straight face, tells one baddy to, "Put... the bunny... back... back... in... the... box..."

Now are we really supposed to take it seriously?

Regardless of some of the less - shall we say - serious moments, there is some rip-roaring action with Cage, Cussack and Macovich on fine form, and don't foget Steve Buscemi who is absolutely horrific as Garland "The Marietta Mangler" Greene, a complete psychopath who would probably make Hannibal Lecter quake in his boots.

The film is not as predictable as you may think - if the dialogue above doesn't tell you and it's well worth a look as it's one of my favourites and that should be enough of a hint.

It's worth watching just to see what happens to Malloy's pride and joy - a silver Corvette Stingray...

Now if that hasn't whetted your wistle and piqued your curisity, I don't know what will.

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