What is the Best Airport Movie?
There are heaps of aviation movies, but very few are about or set primarily in an airport. In fact, I can only think of three. So what am I missing, and which one is the best?
The Original: Airport (1970)
I just watched this for the first time, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of airport stuff in it. Firstly, the airport manager is the main character (of an extensive ensemble cast). He’s not the airline’s manager at the airport but the guy who runs the airport. He’s married to his job, loves to get out airside and keeps his finger on the pulse.
The first half of the movie is excellent. It’s all about the pressures on the ground. There’s a big snowstorm, a disabled aircraft, road transport issues and angry neighbours complaining about the noise. It’s awesome.
The second half is about a bomb on the plane, meh.
A quick Google search will reveal where you can watch it online for free.
The Heartwarming: The Terminal (2004)
It is the Americanised reimagining of the story of Mehran Karimi Nasseri, who lived in the CDG Terminal building for 18 years. But, thanks to Tom Hanks and Stanley Tucci, it is much more entertaining. The quick synopsis is that the main character, Viktor Navorski, arrives in New York from Krakozhia. While in flight, his country fell apart, and his passport was invalidated. Unable to enter the US and unable to go home, he makes a life in the Terminal.
The Exciting: Die Hard 2 (1990)
I don’t want to hear any arguments; it is an Airport Movie and a Christmas Movie.
It is almost a remake of Airport but with less of the airport manager, fewer love-related scandals and much cooler action.
The Winner?
I’m a child of the ’80s…
But what do you think?
