On New Year’s Day, commercial flight Trailblazer 119 takes off with 14 passengers on a routine flight from Singapore to Tokyo. The main pilot, Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) and his young co-pilot, Samuel Dele (Yoson An), encounter an unexpected lightning storm that causes critical engine damage. Torrance makes the crucial decision to execute an emergency landing, but what they didn’t know is that they have landed in the Jolo group of islands, overrun by armed rebel troops who control the area. They soon discover that the passengers, including ex-military and murder convict Gaspare (Mike Colter), are taken hostage by the rebels led by their leader, Datu Junmar (Evan Dane Taylor). With time running out, Torrance and Gaspare must find a way to outsmart the rebels and escape their dangerous predicament.
Audiences are not expecting an award-winning film, but rather an entertaining action-thriller starring their reliable action star Gerard Butler. However, the film raises questions about its representation of the Philippines and the government’s response to the situation, with accusations of poor emergency responsiveness and outright cowardice. The casting of Evan Dane Taylor, a Fil-Am actor, as the Filipino rebel leader, Datu Junmar, may also be viewed as a missed opportunity to cast a real Filipino actor in the role. With high-stakes and tension at every turn, “Plane” offers a thrilling ride that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats.
