The time arrives for everyone to demonstrate their value. This Russian disaster movie draws inspiration from the 1980 film with the same name and has achieved notable success internationally, particularly in Japan and China. There's a lot of positive buzz surrounding it—regarding its production and box office performance—and while I enjoyed watching it, I didn’t find it as impressive as others did. It isn’t that I think it’s overrated; my reaction was simply less enthusiastic. The story centers on the lives of pilots, exploring their personal struggles with relationships, family problems, and professional challenges, especially when they're most needed. The first portion focuses heavily on drama, serving as an introduction to what unfolds later. We see a pilot dealing with his rebellious teenage son, and another pilot who was dismissed from the Russian air force, now working for a private airline where he meets a woman but finds it difficult to maintain stability in their relationship. The narrative shifts dramatically when the second half begins; it almost feels like an entirely different movie, especially appealing to fans of action and adventure. Circumstances bring these pilots together on a plane, and they decide to rescue people stranded at an airport near an Alaskan island that has been struck by volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The remainder of the film showcases heroic actions from the pilots and their colleagues. > "He’s a pilot blessed by God. My hands are just hands; his are wings. I've never seen anyone like him before." Visually, it was well-done—the key graphic elements were rendered effectively. The stunt sequences were also skillfully composed, although some felt unrealistic, which isn’t uncommon even in Hollywood productions and doesn't bother me too much. My main issue was the film’s length; at over two hours, I didn’t care for a lot of the first half. The second half proved quite good due to its thriller aspects. Just when I thought it was concluding, the story surprised me with another adventure in the final segment. As is typical for Russian films, this one incorporates a corruption subplot—though not throughout the entire movie, but primarily in the initial stages. It portrays individuals wielding influence who target honest employees for opposing them. This is an effective theme, but it’s forgotten once the disaster element takes over. The film then becomes very engaging, making you lose track of time and sit forward to enjoy it. If you've seen many similar heroic films, this will likely feel familiar; otherwise, you might find it enjoyable. It took an hour for the action-adventure elements to emerge, but during that time, the romantic aspects weren’t developed as well as they could have been. I was disappointed by this, given the presence of capable actors and suitable situations to build upon. The father-son dynamic seemed much stronger. In the second half, these sentimental themes didn't resonate with me as they should have; it became more focused on heroism and sacrifice than on family or relationships. Overall, it’s a commendable effort—a good film for a weekend viewing. _7/10_

Source on TMDB