Altitude

OK I have a few things to say about this movie. But to answer the most important questions:

1. Was this a good movie (good meaning quality)? No, this was in no way a good movie.

2. Did I enjoy this movie? Yes, absolutely, I enjoyed every horrible minute of it. Although maybe not the way it was intended. There were some parts that I laughed out loud that weren't meant to be funny.

I'm seeing on the forums this movie compared to Frozen. I have no idea why. The only thing these movies have in common is that the people are high up in the air. Meaning a fall to the ground could be damaging or fatal. Even the heights aren't comparable though. Other than that I see no real similarities.

About this movie specifically. Horrible acting, totally unbelievable, predictable from the first 5 minutes. But I enjoyed it for the same reason I enjoyed other crappy horror movies. And I think those reason are individual. But, I WAS able to, in a couple of scenes, feel the hopelessness of being stuck in a tiny plane up in the air with no possible idea of how to fix it. I would much rather be stuck on the ski lift.

So, if you like crappy horror movies and you can suspend pretty much all reality when you watch a movie you might enjoy, if not, don't bother. You will hate it and people like me who enjoyed it don't want to hear about how bad you thought it was. We know, we liked it anyway.

"You're not afraid to fly, are you?"

This was like a mediocre, modern episode of the Twilight Zone. One updated with some of the most annoying and unlikeable characters I've ever seen in a movie. Yet, with all the (hilarious) overacting, all the times I wanted these stupid people to just die, already, and the fact that the movie kept getting more and more ridiculous until it reached an almost mythical plateau of absurdity, I didn't hate it.

Altitude begins with a group of young adults loading up into a small plane for a trip to a Coldplay concert. We get introduced to the pilot, who's a young woman with a tragedy in her past, as well as her 4 companions. The first act plays out a bit like a slasher movie, as we meet the various characters and the predictably complicated relationships between the three guys and two girls. Things quickly start going wrong with the plane once it gets into the air. You could probably come up with a pretty fun drinking game based around guessing what incredibly important part of the plane would fail next. As the condition of the plane deteriorates, so does the atmosphere inside the cabin. Jealousy, conflict (along with a storm that clearly could have been avoided), that sort of thing. And then a supernatural element is introduced, which almost makes the latter half of the movie seem like something completely different from what came before. Just as silly, but less of a (hilarious) thriller/slasher and more of a (still hilarious) sci-fi/horror flick. 

In the final thirty minutes, or so, the absurdity spikes to incredible levels. I was somewhat transfixed by just waiting to see how ridiculous the plot would get before it ended. And the end did indeed exceed my expectations, by being perhaps the most incredulous conclusion I've seen since The Life of David Gale. 

I wouldn't describe Altitude as good, but it is entertaining. Please don't watch this if you want a solid thriller/horror movie, because your time will be completely wasted. Don't take it seriously and embrace the unintentional humor of it, and you'll have a new favorite movie to bring to your Mystery Science Theater/RiffTrax party with your friends. Enjoy

Sara's mother died piloting her small plane. New pilot Sara (Jessica Lowndes) is flying her boyfriend Bruce Parker (Landon Liboiron), her cousin Cory (Ryan Donowho), her best friend Mel (Julianna Guill) and Mel's boyfriend Sal (Jake Weary) to a Coldplay concert. A mechanical malfunction sends them climbing. It's terrifying to fix the problem but then something truly supernatural happens.

This is somewhat like a Twilight Zone episode. I say this as a compliment but it also means that it's a hour-long story at best. Firstly, Sal is too annoying. It seems to be an often used trope but not one that I particularly like. It would help if one character is actually funny and likable. These are photogenic young actors playing uncompelling characters. What starts out as a tight little thriller turns into a hodgepodge of supernatural messiness. I like the confined space of the aircraft but the movie has problems.

There have been many films, TV episodes which have taken place within a confined area, and the tension can become excruciating.

Lifeboat, Midnight (Doctor Who), are just a couple.

Altitude - the story of a half dozen teens trapped in a little plane - is NOT one.

The director who made this - Kaare Andrews - has made a 'teen' horror film that doesn't try hard to be any better than of the films it desperately rips off - the FINAL DESTINATION films, are just one franchise, which comes to mind.

The 'acting' horrendous. The 'plot?' Cheesecloth holds together better.

The 'technical' dialogue, spouted by 'pilot' Ms. Loundes, is akin to hearing a monkey explain quantum mechanics - and, just as believable.

This is one of those films, in which the 'director' seems SO hard to demonstrate his skills, and, has none, to begin with.

Bluish-green tinted movie? Seen it. Actors' eyes (annoyingly) colorized? Yawn - ENOUGH!

I kept praying this nightmare would end - and, by that, I mean 'crash' end. You do not care about ANYONE. It seems they all got cast by meeting Mr. Andrews, who 'promised' they'd 'star in' his big, Hollywood' movie.

90210 star Jessica Lowndes takes off onto to the big screen in this very effective and atmospheric supernatural thriller that takes place entirely on-board a small passenger plane, so if you're claustrophobic hold tight as this movie can get pretty breathless and tight. I think this movie was a straight to DVD, and I avoid them types at all costs, but Altitude caught my attention when I saw those tentacles in the sky and a Kraken like creature roaring in the clouds in the trailer. It's different, I'll give you that, and the twist end was one I didn't see coming. For those who are unsure about watching this re-think it, Altitude is a neat little thriller with surprisingly solid performances, characters that, despite some cockiness, are worth following as well as a lot of suspense, it's probably the only straight to DVD release I own and probably the only one I've ever watched.