The film open on a city street. A man walks along the street, he is being watched by the police. Is he a suspect in a murder case? [Why the delay in the arrest?] He will be transported by air back to Los Angeles. Conversations tell about the flight personnel, and the passengers. The weather ahead is bad, the flight will change course. But something will happen to add drama to this story. Can everything that can go wrong happen? What if something happens to the pilot? What if a clever criminal gains control of the airplane? Will he be driven to kill again to increase the drama? [Even if it does not fit his profile?] Weaver's conversation adds more drama. "Do not open the door!"

The empty airplane has an eerie spooky atmosphere [added drama]. Weaver's questions show his clever insanity. "Talk to me." The turbulence adds to the drama. Will they shoot down the jumbo jet before it can crash into a city? "I'll never fly this airline again!" The scene where the 747 hits a building is strangely prophetic. "Don't worry about it." Terry pushes the buttons to try another landing. "I changed my mind." Will there be a happy ending to this story? It needs one to be a commercial success.

Those who know more will probably criticize some details in this film. Parts of this film seem very cynical, others less believable. Would an LA detective plant evidence on a suspect he believed was guilty? Nobody had to do that with Ted Bundy.

Too bad I can not give Turbulence no stars. This movie is just filled with way too many things that just stretch even the most liberal imaginations well past the limits of reality! The whole movie just does not work. The FBI agents are too easily overcome and out smarted by a self professed genius serial killer whose one dimensional actions make his IQ seem incredibly average to me. Rather than being very smart the serial killer seemed a self absorbed slob who is overly impressed with his own lame exploits. The rest of the airplane passengers seem like fawns or sheep. Logic suggests when transporting a dangerous horde of hardened criminals the crew would be a select group of individuals hand picked for their skill at dealing with a plane full of diseased brilliant minded malefactors.

The plot is obviously concocted to introduce fawn like ladies and foppish men into the mix so the audience has a heightened thrill factor. Problem is the other non-law enforcement passengers seem inserted into the plot for no good reason other than their role as pawns to be used by the serial killer to drag an otherwise painfully predictable lifeless story along to its all too formulaic end. Also the Christmas lights festooned all over the plane when you are carrying hardcore prisoners is so over the top that you must wonder what the heck were the writers thinking. Most hardcore prisoners are quite intelligent and could certainly turn all those dangling Christmas lights to their advantage in some vile criminal way. No FBI agent or corrections officer worth his or her salt would let a prisoner set foot in a plane that had so many opportunities for prisoners to escape their direct care custody and control.

Also the most glaring flaw in Turbulence occurs when even the most basic tenants of maintaining care custody and control of violent malignant inmates were overlooked again and again. The Plane skimming over buildings through rooftops into structures was just plain stupid. While most tall buildings roof top garden rooms and associated elements are lightly constructed they must stand up to high winds. Add that buildings the plane was scraping had mechanical equipment towers where strong girders and supports reside that should have broken the plane up or at least damaged it more than was shown. It is like the writers of Turbulence were a bunch of college drama students drunk and totally detached from reality got challenged to come up with a disaster thriller plot. Drama for drama's sake without any plausible relationship to reality is not thrilling or action adventure it is just disjointed stupid garbage. Turbulence is just garbage to watch when you have time to waste. If you want real suspense on a plane get Air Force One. Turbulence is an invitation to take a round trip to and from Palooka-Ville, the plane has plenty of seats available but who cares!. This Turbulence is just a bumpy ride that leaves you feeling sick. I can think of better ways to spend time.

this film isnt near as bad as people say...that is if u like good serial killer films....a must for ray liotta fans....this guy plays serial killers better than anyone ever...his eyes look like pure insanity....also see "unlawful entry" for another great performance as a crazy basta#$....some good action and pretty formulaic film overall however..but its Liotta who makes it worthwhile

Yes, the plot is stupid. Yes the cast is less than stellar (other than Liotta), yes you've seen others like this before...OR HAVE YOU?
Turbulence is a great ride from start to finish because it IS so predictable; you don't have to pay that close of attention and think too hard to get the plot but it is suspensful and a kick to watch Lauren Holly's character grow in her own self-confidence by the end of the film. At the beginning of the film she's the weak little blonde who lets men walk all over her. By the end she's a flight attendant who kicks butt.
Liotta, as always, does a great job portraying his character. As Ryan Weaver, a serial killer, he did his homework on the nuances that make "serials" serials. He uses his good looks and natural charm to get women to trust him, uses his brain to take advantage of a great situation in his favor, is emotionally manipulative, and then masterfully becomes a complete psycho all in the blink of an eye. Probably one of the best portrayals of a serial killer I've seen on the big screen for a long time.
Without spoiling the "big" moments in the film I will say that what happens to Catherine Hicks'(Child's Play, Star Trek IV, tv's 7th Heaven) character is a shame (sad, actually), one of the funniest moments of the film (in a sicko kind of way) is when Liotta "decorates" the plane with some of the passengers, and the ending is pretty schlocky and cheesy.
But all in all, I was certainly rooting for Lauren Holly's stewardess (sorry, "she's a flight attendant") when she outdoes Karen Black (Airport '77) by a mile in finally landing the plane and basically telling the officials on the ground to go to hell!
The photography is decent, a few of the special effects very cool, and there are a few real decent laughs along with a little gore. Oh, and you will never watch "It's A Wonderful Life" in the same light again!

I can't say I was too fussed about watching this movie, but I watched this movie, otherwise I would have watched Tru Calling all night! :) As it's a Christmas movie, I was only ALLOWED to watch it before Christmas. Not after, cos that would be bad, right? I decided to watch it on Christmas Eve Eve, but I'm beginning to wish I'd watched it now, as Christmas Eve is really dragging - I'm still a big kid at heart! (I wanna open presents!)

I have to say, after this movie started, I was instantly distracted by Lauren Holly's severe haircut - boy, that did NOT suit her! If I remember correctly, I've only seen her before in Dumb & Dumber, but the haircut was absolutely dreadful! (Apologies to people out there who have this haircut.) Someone who has prominent cheekbones that I would die for, would probably get away with it. She also manages to strip down to her underwear, when she doesn't have much to fill it, and it just a cheap thrill for the guys.

I've never seen Goodfella's, so had absolutely no idea who Ray Liotta was, although he reminded me of a more evil-looking Patrick Swayze! That was also very distracting! He did quite a good job, making you constantly wonder whether he was the good guy or the bad guy. He's also a bit OTT in the role - I'm not sure why, he just wasn't convincing.

I love Hector Elizondo ever since I saw Pretty Woman, and then afterwards, Runaway Bride. He doesn't appear much in this, and almost comes across as the bad guy at points.

Most of the movie isn't worth going into detail about. You mix in every (im)possible event that could happen, and then add the plucky, brave girl (flight attendant, not stewardess!) who thinks she can save the day. Prancing around in your underwear doesn't save the day.

What scared me most about this movie was the very obvious references to the 9/11 tragedy - despite it being made 4-5 years before, it seemed almost like a premonition at some points, and scared the bejeezus out of me. I think if this had been out around the same time as 9/11, it would have been either straight-to-DVD, or, like Spiderman, the World Trade Centre digitally removed. (WTC doesn't appear in this - it's what happens that makes me think of 9/11.)

What I did like about this movie, was Lauren Holly getting told how to land the plane - or attempt to - and seeing what all the buttons were. I felt like I learned a little bit - although I'll probably forget it all. That was the one bit of the movie I really concentrated on, and it actually interested me.

For me, this movie is what Final Destination was like a few years, just before I went on holiday. I won't be getting on a plane anytime soon. It's a stupid movie, but good enough to remove a couple of hours of your life watching it.