Turbulence - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Even when first seeing Turbulence in theaters, I remember walking out thinking it was a serviceable action thriller — another run-of-the-mill 90s high-concept blockbuster banking on spectacular visuals to compensate for its preposterously implausible plot. But I also have to admit that it is a total blast to watch when in the mood for a campy, action-packed thrill ride. It's basically a mash-up of a slasher flick and a disaster movie set on a plane, but Ray Liotta is the absolute highlight of this absurdly over-the-top flight. As the deranged serial killer turned hijacker Ryan Weaver, Liotta plays the villainous role with all the manic energy usually expected from a low-budget B-movie. But he plays it with just enough charm to keep it from sinking into pure cheesiness. And he doesn't hold back either, chewing the scenery and delivering every line with a gleam in his eye that leaves us wondering if he knows exactly how ridiculous this is.

Liotta's performance is the perfect balance of sinister and laughably outrageous to save this production from crashing and burning. And he's not so much menacing as he is unpredictable, bouncing between calm and crazy in an instant and without warning. His ability to switch from a charming, smooth-talking gentleman to a stone-cold killer keeps the movie in the air and makes it watchable, even if Jonathan Brett's story itself is a train wreck. When watching a movie where a guy threatens to crash an airplane in midair or into the L.A. airport, Liotta is precisely the person needed to elevate it beyond the "just another dumb action movie" category. His commitment to playing this maniac with a devilishly knowing smirk makes the whole thing strangely fun, even if it's hard to ever take it seriously. Honestly, the Goodfellas star is the only high point and most memorable feature of the whole thing — at least, for me, the only thing I ever remember of it. 

If there are any other redeeming qualities, it is seeing how Liotta's dangerously cold-blooded criminal works surprisingly well in a setting that feels like a cross between Airplane! meets Die Hard 2. Directed by Robert Butler, who's arguably better known for his TV work than his full-length features, the movie has a weirdly slapstick, slyly farcical vibe in the setup and for much of the story, particularly in the climactic third act. It flies from the increasingly ridiculous to dangerously white-knuckle situations, which is partly due to Brendan Gleeson's Southern accent as another dangerous killer aboard this skeleton crew. As Liotta tries to take control of the plane with a fervent yet funny intensity, he clearly relishes in the chaos, making it feel like we're in on the joke. Meanwhile, Lauren Holly's performance as flight attendant Teri goes so full-throttle serious that it feels like a daytime melodrama causing actual turbulence to the pacing. 

Ultimately — as I put on my figurative "objective" critic cap — Turbulence is not a great movie by any stretch of the imagination. The production is frankly a disaster waiting to happen. And it sadly was in its original theatrical run, dumped into theaters in January and failing miserably to recoup even a quarter of its $55 million budget. It has failed to even gain a notable cult following that I'm aware of. Nevertheless, this slasher-disaster actioner is weirdly loads of mindless popcorn fun, thanks massively to Liotta's performance as the charming crazed maniac playing the part of the human disaster — the only one thing keeping it from completely crashing and forever forgotten. He brings a level of energy and unpredictability that makes even the dumbest scenes delightfully entertaining. When in the mood for expensive B-movie thrills, silly airplane hijinks, and a villain who is just a little too gleeful about causing destruction, Liotta is precisely who we want piloting this disaster as it nosedives into the ground. 

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Kino Lorber brings Turbulence to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack. The triple-layered UHD100 disc and a Region A locked, BD50 disc are housed inside a black, eco-elite vortex case on opposing panels, and the package comes with a slipcover. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen of the cover art with the usual options along the bottom and music playing in the background.

The action thriller makes a successful emergency landing on the Ultra HD runway with better-than-expected results thanks to a brand-new restoration and remaster of the original 35mm camera negatives. 

Equipped with a refined yet visible layer of natural grain throughout, the native 4K transfer looks very film-like and cinematic — that uniquely 90s polished but still somewhat gritty appeal that was very popular with disaster flicks. Fine lines and objects are incredibly sharp and detailed, exposing all the small intricacies and components of the airplane. At the same time, the lettering of signs and monitors is legible from a distance. The Dolby Vision HDR presentation also arrives with a spot-on contrast and brightness balance, showering the action in brilliant, spotless whites and crisp, radiant specular highlights, which give many of the Christmas lights and decorations a realistic glossy sheen. Speaking of which, Lloyd Ahern II's orange-teal cinematography really pops with energy and surprisingly good cheer as the holiday-themed sets are bathed in sumptuous, richly saturated colors from start to finish, and facial complexions appear accurate and healthy with lifelike textures in the cast. Most impressive are the inky-rich, true black levels lavishing every scene in silky, velvety shadows that don't ruin the finer details, providing the 2.35:1 image with excellent dimensionality and cinematic appeal. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 92/100)

The fun little thrill ride also crashes into home theaters with an outstanding DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack that immediately sets expectations from the beginning and lends itself splendidly to the receiver's Dolby Surround or DTS: Neural:X up-mixing functionality. From the sounds of an airplane flying overhead and the constant noise of the cabin to the thundering cracks of a major storm echoing all around, the listener is almost constantly immersed in a variety of commotion that only grows louder and more prominent as the action and suspense build. Even the more subtle ambient effects are heard flawlessly moving between the channels to create an awesome 360° soundfield. Imaging continuously feels wide and expansive with fantastic channel balance and definition in the mid-range, exhibiting superb clarity and detailing in the higher frequencies. All the while, vocals consistently remain precise and well-prioritized above all the chaos and commotion. Likewise, a robust, potent low-end adds some serious oomph and presence to the visuals, giving each gunshot some appreciable weight while the more intense action pieces deliver a fun, couch-shaking rumble. (Audio Rating: 94/100)

For this UHD edition, fans are sadly offered a rather measly selection of bonus content capping off with a solid audio commentary and little else. 

• Audio Commentary features director Robert Butler reminiscing on the production with filmmaker Joe Begos (VFW, Bliss). Butler does most of the talking, sharing various anecdotes from working with Ray Liotta and prepping for the film to the visual effects and the public reaction.
• Trailers (HD, 6 min) is a collection of the theatrical preview, four TV spots and a radio spot.

Objectively speaking, Turbulence is not a great movie — the typical 90s high-concept blockbuster using spectacular visuals to mask a preposterously implausible plot. Yet, on a personal level, the slasher set in disaster airplane flick is a total blast to watch as a campy, action-packed thrill ride, largely thanks to Ray Liotta's absurdly over-the-top performance as a deranged serial killer turned hijacker. The box-office flop crash lands into Ultra HD with an outstanding Dolby Vision HDR presentation and an equally excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack, but the bonus features leave much to be desired. Overall, the UHD package is Recommended for those in the mood for some easy, mindless popcorn fun. 

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