One of the reasons this is the case is the squabbling that takes place on the ground inside the White House. The Secretary of Defense, Walter Dean (Dean Stockwell), and the 
Vice President, Kathryn Burnett (Glenn Close) find themselves arguing over who is in charge – they even call in the Attorney General (Philip Baker Hall), asking him to bring a copy of the Constitution with him – and the best course of action. The fight does not hamper their performance during the crisis, but is absolutely believable.
Of course, the film is really Ford's, and the few scenes between he and Oldman – who, as always, delivers an exceptional performance – are worth the price of admission by themselves. These are both actors clearly at the top of their games in the film, and could each hold the entire movie together without the other. The fact that they both appear, and appear so strongly, is a true boon for filmgoers.
The Blu-ray release of the film is good, but nothing truly special. Only one special feature accompanies it, a director's commentary featuring Petersen. The visual presentation, however, is quite a good one. The blood is just the right color red and the print, though grainy, is a clean one. The sound, while excellent with explosions, wind, and gunfire (especially in the surround speakers), is a tad troubling when it comes to soft dialogue, particularly Oldman's, which sounds somewhat muddled at times.
Air Force One is a straightforward action film elevated by its direction and performances. Even on Blu-ray, it'll have audiences standing and cheering when the outcome – which is inevitable from the moment the film begins – finally arrives. Watching the film, one can almost see a world where should Harrison Ford ever decide to make a run for President, it's possible that he could win simply by running a campaign in which this film is delivered to each and every American voter as campaign material. "You know who I am? I am the President of the United States." Indeed.
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