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Ending spoils a good `Decision'

There's nothing like a movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat, or one that has you wanting to yell at the screen, rooting for the characters in their time of woe. When elements like these combine with a flat ending, however, all you get is a film like "Executive Decision."

In this recent Warner Brothers creation, we have all the makings of a breathtaking thriller. It has terrorists, bombing and espionage -- all thousands of feet above the ground. It centers around the hijacking of a 747 headed for Washington, D.C. The terrorists aboard plan to exchange the 400 passengers for the release of their leader, who is held captive by the Americans.

The film follows the president's Crisis Management Team through their fight to restore peace in the friendly skies. This group struggles with the problem of handling the highly temperamental terrorists led by Nagi Hassan (David Suchet); Hassan has the ability to destroy hundreds of Americans both in the air on the ground.

They are placed in desperate circumstances where the most obvious decision is not always the best. The complicated options allow the movie to follow an unusual pattern, making it not as predictable as many intense stories can be.

Kurt Russell stars as David Grant, Ph.D., the intelligence expert on international terrorism. Grant enlightens the government with his insight on the true intentions of the enemy; he knows that one wrong move destroys hundreds. Grant is one of those civilians/government employees who has the brains to help the government, but appears to lack the muscle to make any other effort.

Excitement builds in every scene of the flick. The amazing, yet frightening, aspects of modern technology are utilized by the government and computer whiz Cahill (Oliver Platt) to get the Special Forces aboard the plane. When only half the team completes the mission, the men on the ground must rely on their intuition. The soldiers must compete, not only with the terrorists, but with their own government in order to survive.

Halle Berry is the flight attendant who somehow has the knowledge to outwit the terrorists, while providing beverage service to her passengers. Although her role is brave and impressive, it is at times a bit unbelievable. She receives some comfort from the silent Marla Maples Trump, who, throughout the entire film, only nods and smiles, adding a humorous facet to all the tension.

The might of the government's plan comes from the Special Forces led by Lieutenant Colonel Austin Travis (Steven Seagal). The group, including Rat (John Leguizamo), Cappy (Joe Morton), Louie (B.D. Wong) and Baker (Whip Hubley) aren't just a bunch of soldiers whose only role is to shoot and get shot; these guys are strong and stable throughout the entire flick.

"Executive Decision" has great excitement. It is a mix between "Die Hard" and "Speed," but, at times, it is a little too much like both. The plot walks the line between reality and fantasy, and the parts that involve imagination require a great stretch for our minds.