I pre-ordered this, received and watched this today. Some quick feedback for for those of you considering the Blue Ray.
Plot: This was a bit of a let down. Denzel does a great job saving lives on the plane, but you could see it coming that his character is going down in flames from the very first scene. It's a bit too obvious, and if you've ever known folks with addiction demons, it is a predictable sad story. His life goes from one disaster to the next, throwing away a lot of potential. Don't assume this is an action film, you'll be disappointed. The ending was weak, and predictable. The clydesdale commercial during the 49ers-vs-Ravens super bowl stirred more emotion in me.
Action: The plane crash scene is decent, but not great. They do a good job of getting you to imagine the horror of a plane going down, and you'll surely stay strapped in your seatbelt in turbulence.
Acting: Denzel plays the alcoholic to a tee. He's a decent actor, but this wasn't his best role, and certianly not his most likeable character. A great bit of scriptwriting is a scene when he is in the cabin door, calming passengers on the microphone, while his hand is behing the wall mixing a triple screwdriver. Makes you want to smell all your future pilot's breath. The overly straight-laced, very religious, and meek co-pilot is well played, both in the crash scene, and an uncomfortable/awkward hospital visit by Denzel. Nadine Velazquez has a small part, and a terrible fate. She doesn't really get much of a role, but she....well, she's pretty enough thay you have an uncontrollable desire to buy her a car, or say, New Zealand. Kelly Reilly (also gorgeous) put in a solid performance, perhaps the MVP, as a sweet, likable, but troubled girl Denzel meets in the hospital, sneaking cigarettes in the stairwell.
Who really played a good, upbeat, role well, is John Goodman, as an amicable, personality-filled drug dealer, and loyal frend of 'Whip' (Denzel). He was the most upbeat part of the movie....besides Nadine, of course. But his performance was very much in line with his type-cast personality.
Effects: Meh. Castaway's plane crash blew this away. No really great effects.
Picture: *yawn* There certianly isn't the visual appeal of say 'Batman' or the 'Avengers'. Pretty average.
Sound: Castaway's plane crash scene sound was several levels beyond this soundtrack. This will not show off your spiffy subwoofers nearly as well.
I give it a 'C'. It is worth watching, but nothing special, IMO.
What do ya'll think?