The basic premise of "Mayday at 40,000 feet" goes like this : during his transport on an airplane, a convict hell-bent on escaping creates havoc, with dire consequences. The movie is probably best described as workmanlike and serviceable, rather than captivating. The cast is great but the material is blandly predictable. For instance, one of the passengers is a medical doctor fallen into disrepute ; you just KNOW that circumstances will require this character to exert his professional skills once more.
Viewers of a frivolous nature can amuse themselves by giving the various characters more interesting backstories than those provided by the screenplay. (Stewardess : "My husband and I are adopting our first child. We don't care whether it's a girl or a boy, we just want someone to inherit our cannabis plantation." Disgraced doctor : "I had it all - friends, success, respect. One night of drunken weakness and my life imploded. Why, o why, did I ask that guy to tattoo Papa Smurfs all over my face ?")
It's rather strange how people keep underestimating the dangerousness of the prisoner, even after the man has provided proof positive that he is willing to cause major damage a) to other human beings and b) to the aircraft. I can see only two possible answers to such behavior - the first consists of killing him, the second of immobilizing him utterly and completely, with the aid of handcuffs, restraints, chains and so on.
Viewers of a frivolous nature can amuse themselves by giving the various characters more interesting backstories than those provided by the screenplay. (Stewardess : "My husband and I are adopting our first child. We don't care whether it's a girl or a boy, we just want someone to inherit our cannabis plantation." Disgraced doctor : "I had it all - friends, success, respect. One night of drunken weakness and my life imploded. Why, o why, did I ask that guy to tattoo Papa Smurfs all over my face ?")
It's rather strange how people keep underestimating the dangerousness of the prisoner, even after the man has provided proof positive that he is willing to cause major damage a) to other human beings and b) to the aircraft. I can see only two possible answers to such behavior - the first consists of killing him, the second of immobilizing him utterly and completely, with the aid of handcuffs, restraints, chains and so on.