ALTITUDE (Alex Merkin, 2017)

[Jox]

French TV premiere release June 28th on NRJ12
http://www.nrj-play.fr/nrj12/altitude
http://www.nrj-play.fr/nrj12/altitude/a ... -55-348233

[Jox]

US Blu-ray back


(click to enlarge)


EDIT:
Blu-ray.com detailed review with screenshots
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Altitude- ... 25/#Review

Video Quality 3.5 of 5

Altitude is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.40:1. The film's closing credits list a Red Camera company, and the IMDb lists the Red Epic Dragon as the camera used, but the IMDb also states a 6K capture, which I find frankly incredible given the middling results seen here (though of course a native capture means nothing with regard to the resolution of a finished DI). As can be seen in the screencaptures accompanying this review, some heavy grading, often toward deep blue or purple tones, often keeps fine detail levels pretty tamped down, and some odd framing choices, which often offer elements like seats slightly out of focus taking up large portions of the frame (a gambit I wonder may have been done to cover up budget limitations) means that sharpness is also variable. (The fact that lots of jiggly cam and whip pans are also on display tends to support the thesis that director Alex Merkin may not have wanted the eye to be able to settle on any given production design element for too long.) It's the CGI that is this presentation's single biggest letdown, however. From the opening credits, which offer perhaps the least believable CGI clouds ever rendered, to later, supposedly more spectacular, elements like the insane maneuvers of the jet to a fiery landing to an even more fiery crash are just almost comical looking at times, suggesting that this film's creative staff's reach simply may have exceeded their budgetary grasp.




Audio Quality 4.0 of 5

While arguably more convincing than the video component of this release, even Altitude's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 isn't as impressive as some of the film's set pieces might seem to suggest. There are near "disaster film" levels of trauma that afflict this airliner, and yet LFE is sporadic (and when it does occur, it's rarely floorboard rumbling), and even a lot of the sound effects seem to be apportioned more generously toward the front end of the mix. Dialogue (such as it is) is rendered cleanly and clearly and fidelity is fine throughout.


Special Features and Extras 0.5 of 5

Altitude Trailer (1080p; 1:42)


Overall Score and Recommendation 1.0 of 5

The best thing about Altitude is Greer Grammer's totally gonzo take on the character of Sadie, but that seems to be because Grammer at least has an idea that this is not exactly Grade A Entertainment. With a predictable story that only offers a couple of truly exciting moments, and with a cast who largely seems to be there to pick up a paycheck, Altitude falls flat. Even technical merits are a little lackluster, for those considering a purchase.

[Jox]

Right on the money:

There might be a reason to watch the film if, you know, there was anything novel about the film, but we have literally seen everything in Altitude before in Passenger 57 or Con Air or Executive Decision. If you feel like you've seen this film before, then you have probably seen Turbulence or Red Eye or Non-Stop. No? Then you've definitely seen Flightplan or Air Force One or Airport '77.

In other words, this film has been done a time or twelve.

http://videoeta.com/news/5536

[Jox]

http://cutprintfilm.com/blu/blu-ray-review-altitude/

[Jox]

Opens today in United Arab Emirates theatres
http://gulfnews.com/leisure/movies/list ... -1.1180668
http://movies.tbreak.com/title/altitude/

[Jox]

While this big score would worked well on a bigger movie, it does not seem adequate for a low budget flick like ALTITUDE and doesn't do it any favour

[Jox]

German release October 27 with the title ALTITUDE - DIE HARD IN THE SKY
http://www.bluray-disc.de/blu-ray-filme ... u-ray-disc
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B0761SBHYF

[Travis]

I saw it last night on TV and I must say, I liked it a lot better than most people here. It seems all of Dolph's films that people here dislike are the ones I like.

It's not a good movie but any means but it is not that bad either and I found it entertaining.

The most unrealistic thing is not the effects, it's Denise Richard beating up big men.

I was surprised when the end credits roled that Kelsey Grammer's daughter was one of the stars. I just finished watched all 11 seasons of Frasier.

[thegoon4eto]

It's not a good movie but any means but it is not that bad either and I found it entertaining.

Yeah, same feeling here. It was far from a good movie, and the special effects were really bad, but I kind of enjoyed it for what it was.

[Jox]

The DTVC (Direct To Video Connoisseur) Podcast actually enjoyed ALTITUDE
https://www.talkshoe.com/episode/8308715
https://www.talkshoe.com/recording/inli ... c462a8.mp3 (mp3)

[savagesketch]

Latest episode of the podcast is here, this time chatting with executive producer, Benjamin Sacks! Ben has been the producer on a number of Dolph’s films, and he lended his insight on the behind the scenes of many of these films! Our discussion may help answer what it is that’s driving the decisions of many In the making of these independent films! Enjoy!

https://imustbreakthispodcast.wordpress ... min-sacks/

[Nathan]

I think the problem is people just don't really know how to make good films at this level. With a good writer you could easily make a really tense, contained 75 minute film aboard a plane - on a small scale - it's been done before. Something like Executive Decision but on a budget.

The issue is there is absolutely no passion behind stuff like this or no sense of how to actually make a film. The Tracker and HNF don't even feel like actual films, like they just don't feel like films. Then you get The Hateful Eight where people sit in a room for 3 hours and it is gripping as fuck.

How difficult would it have been to write Dolph some really sinister, smart dialogue? You can do it within the constraints of a budget. I don't understand what goes through peoples' heads. I get producers and distributors just wanting to slap anything together and put it out there but how the hell can they not even start with a half decent script anymore?

[savagesketch]

Latest interview episode has arrived, this time chatting with the director of ALTITUDE, Alex Merkin! Merkin was gracious enough to discuss the movie, as well as his next upcoming collaboration with the Dolph, the still untitled Christmas movie co-starring Eric Roberts! Enjoy! As always, feel free to rate and review the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever else you go to subscribe!

https://imustbreakthispodcast.wordpress ... -altitude/

[Jox]

Thank you for interviewing the directors and crew of projects I'm not really keen on doing research or interviews on...

[savagesketch]

Not sure if that's a compliment or not, but I'll take it. The end result with some of these films may not be particularly good, but these films still require a ton of work, especially from those working behind the scenes. And everyone has a story to tell, which I've found are even more fascinating than the films themselves!