Plot: What’s it about?
Man has gazed up at the skies and dreamed of flight since the earliest days, as birds darted across the skyline with grace and ease. This prompted numerous attempts at flight, all of which collapsed and failed to produce the desired results. Man was grounded, but he wasn’t about to give up and eventually, a couple of Wright boys managed to crack the code. Now flight has become part of everyday life for mankind, as millions of people travel through the skies each day. The magic exists only for a select few who thrill at the flights and those who have never done so before. But trips that would days now take mere hours, so even if it isn’t magical, it has to be considered a crucial service. For some fliers, there are no more cruel words than to learn the flight has been delayed or canceled, an event which can throw off every aspect of someone’s life. The long lines through those metal detectors, luggage that ends up in another airport, and of course, all the other strange passengers, all that and more is here in Airline.
Now this is a welcome series. A reality show that delves into a universal topic we can all relate to, problems at the airport. The kind of stuff we wouldn’t wish on our worst enemies, but still love to listen to the horror stories from friends and relatives. So now instead of just hearing about the strange stories, we can see them for ourselves, as Southwest Airlines allowed A&E to document the madness. If you’ve ever flown, it is certain that you have some kind of story to tell, either one of long delays, rude passengers, lost luggage, and perhaps even being seated next to someone famous. In Airline, all of these stories plus others unfold on a regular basis, but this is not a look at the dark side of travel. No, the good side is shown also and sometimes, that means seeing how well an irate client is treated under pressure. I loved this first season of Airline and with so much chaos in the business, I am sure that future seasons will be just as golden. A&E’s treatment isn’t first class, but the ride is so smooth, you won’t mind the lack of supplements.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. I assume this was shot on digital video, as it looks as if that were the case. As expected, the format produces some flaws, such as inconsistent light, but in a documentary feature like this, you can’t expect perfect lighting and other photographic bliss. The colors look good and flesh tones are accurate, while the contrast is acceptable, if a little inconsistent at times. But considering the nature of the material and the equipment used, this looks as good as we could ask.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is rather basic, as the series is more about dialogue than music or brash sound effects. So if you’ve seen a reality show before, you should know what to expect, a track that is clean and effective, but unmemorable. Then again, we wouldn’t want a dynamic track in this case, as it would distract from the material too much. We need to focus on the people and their dialogue, not the surround channels. The dialogue is smooth and always clear here, so no vocals wind up muffled or drowned out by other elements. All in all, a solid soundtrack and in the case of Airline, that’s all need.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
