Customer Reviews

Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal [VHS]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Believe it or not, this is actually not that bad of a film. Now, that shouldn't be taken to mean that this is a particularly good film, either but as far as implausible B-movies taking place on hijacked airplanes without pilots go, Turbulence 3 is definitely one of the better examples of the genre.

Basically, the film deals with Slade Craven, a "goth" rock star that is obviously meant to conjure up memories of Marilyn Manson. Bizarrely enough, the two songs that Craven actually performs in the film are actually fairly good. Like a lot of things in this film, the songs are actually something that the producers could have easily blown off but instead, for whatever reason, they actually went to the effort necessary to keep things at least occasionally entertaining. Anyway, for some reason, Craven's latest concert is going to be a pay-per-view extravaganza held inside a 747 flying to Canada. Of course, the idea of holding a concert in an airplane while the airplane is actually in flight is nothing short of ludicrous. Of course, it's no more ludicrous than Rutger Hauer, of all people, popping up as the plane's copilot without raising anyone's suspicions. The filmmakers to their credit, don't waste any time trying to justify this insanity but instead they cheerfully embrace the silliness of it all and roll with it.

In quick order, the flight ends up getting hijacked by your typical group of demented Satanists. While the plane's helpless passengers -- a nice combination of decadent goths, confused stewardesses, and bandmates who wouldn't be out of place in a shock rock sequel to Almost Famous -- fight for their lives, a ground-based computer hacker (Craig Sheffer) works with a tightly wound yet secretly frisky FBI agent (Gabrielle Anwar) to thwart the hijacker's sinister plans. (Those plans never quite make sense but, by this point, we've already been forced to accept the sight of a concert being held in a 747 and it's already too late to quibble about plausibility.)

Strangely enough, this all works in it's nicely demented way. This is a fun film and, if for nothing else, it deserves credit for not insulting the viewer's intelligence by trying to be anything other than an entertaining action-comedy. The script is full of a few pithy one-liners that serve almost to satirize all the awful "comic" relief that audiences have been subjected to in every big-budget action film produced since the late '80s. As well, the film's actors all seem to be having fun and it comes across to the viewer. Special notice should be given to Joe Mantegna, who seems to be chanelling none other than Airplane's glue-sniffing Lloyd Bridges, as a by-the-book FBI agent, Hauer, Anwar, and, surprisingly, Craig Sheffer who, for once, manages to turn in a performance as something else than the most boring human being alive. The film's strongest peformance comes from an unknown by the name of John Mann who manages to make Slade Craven into an actual, almost compelling human being as opposed to a cardboard cut-out of Marilyn Manson.

Turbulence 3 is the type of time waster that gives wasting time a good name.

When I first heard that this movie existed, my initial thought was "Why?". Having seen the big budget parent of this series, which was a colossal dud, and the lackluster direct to video turbulence 2: fear of flying, how could they do it? How could they keep making these movies? Imagine my surprise when I found this one entertaining, albeit strictly in a "so bad it's good" sort of way. Have you ever wondered what it would be like if Marilyn Manson played an action hero? I never did either but Goth Rocker Slade Craven is forced into that role through an unlikely set of circumstances. This film continues the direct to video Turbulence trend of having semi-known actors filling supporting roles. In Turb2, it was Tom Bernger, in Turb3, watch for Joe Mantegna and Rutger Hauer. One question I would pose to those who view the film. Just what is it that makes Eastern Kansas the unholiest place on Earth as alledged by the religious cult that hijacks the plane?

I don't know if I have seen the same movie as the other reviewers, but I can safely say that it is one of the worst I have seen.
A heavy metal concert abroad a plane..a Marilyn Manson lookalike..a rock star that is taught how to land a plane. Please! spare me.
The action sequences and dialogue are closer to comedy, not intended I tell you.
I am baffled as to what on earth Rutger Hauer, Gabrielle Anwar and Joe Mantegna are doing there???
Maybe with other less known and talented actors, the film would have been more bearable.
The only saving grace in all this mess, is watching Anwar and Monika Schnarre, two very beautiful women, but sadly the script and direction are a waste.
Save your $$s for a proper action film, and give this one a miss.

First of all, how did they manage to get Joe Mantegna, Gabrielle Anwar and Craig Sheffer in this? Poor Joe must have his career on life support if he has to do this stuff.

But seriously, I actually stumbled across this on cable and actually watched it from beginning to end. The idea of having a concert on an airplane is certainly unique, albeit ridiculous one (somehow they managed to find a large stage area, with a light show and extensive props. Where??).

Anyway, the film holds your interest and there's a sense of fun about it. It doesn't take itself seriously and you find yourself actually getting caught up in it. As far as a B-MOVIE, it's not half bad.

But I'm STILL wondering how the heck they managed to stage a concert inside a 747.

I must have seen this movie a billion and one times. I rented it from blockbuster after a friend showed it to me, and I watched it over fifty times alone in the first time I rented it. Then I re-rented it again and again and again, constantly re-playing every single scene with Slade Craven. The man is simply GORGEOUS beyond words!! Any goth girl's dream!! Tall, long black hair, pale with black makeup for a yummy effect, a long vinyl trench coat, and the most AMAZINGLY tight leather bodysuit thing in the whole world!! This movie is HIGHLY reccomended to any gal who loves goth guys. I SURE DO!..

This movie has been on cable recently...and other than one actress who spent the movie parading around the airplane in tight leather pants, this movie has no redeeming qualities. The plot has a "death" rocker in a Marilyn Manson-type get-up boarding an airplane to give his final concert via an Internet webcast, along for the ride are a few dozen wonderfully dressed and made up "metal-heads." Soon all kinds of hijinx and hijacks break out as the viewer is left screaming for a parachute. Rutger Hauer makes a surprise appearance as the co-pilot; surprise, meaning that its a surprise that the same actor who flawlessly spearheaded the classic "Blade Hunter" years ago has found himself in this bumbling, ridiculous monstrosity. After Hauer and the plane's captain were mercifully dispatched to that great cockpit in the sky, it is up to the Manson look-alike to try and land the plane...all I could think of was when Julie Hagerty in "Airplane" got on the plane's intercom and asked, "By the way does anyone know how to fly a plane?" I would also add "By the way, does anyway in Hollywood know how to make a movie?"

If you didn't shed at least one tear during the plane landing scene, then you truly have a heart made of stone. Singlehandedly landing a plane against all odds, with no previous piloting experience and with the lives of dozens (not to mention his own life) at stake took *tremendous courage*. Craven proves he's not the self-centered primadonna nihilist you expect him to be and really shines by the end of the movie. Although I don't want to give away the details, there is one scene that with few words, summarizes Craven's re-humanization by juxtaposing his most fearful and humble moment with an enfusion of character and strength.

Fans of the Turblulence triliogy will wonder "where is there to go from here?" as Slade Craven's character is arguable the most charismatic protagonist of the series. I'm expecting Craven will likely make a comeback in Turbulence IV, if not be the focus again.

I would be shocked and mesmerized if you and your family did not thoroughly enjoy this movie.

I saw this on HBO a couple months ago and I just could not stop laughing. If you try to take this movie seriously and consider it a thriller, you will surely be dissapointed. But if you think of it more as parody, it will have you in stitches.

okay i can understand that people could hate this movie. it's the kinda movie that people love to hate. i loved it anyway. slade craven is a major babe, the clothing in the movie is a-ma-zing and the characters are lovable. these qualities are enough to cover up the lack of story and bad acting. it's a movie you watch to get away from reality (dude, what's with the metal detector woman, wish airport personnel treated me like that).
loved it.

A concert on a plane! A hacker see's everything that goes on. I like the movie, besides the music!