The Greatest In-Flight Safety Video You Have Ever Seen

And no, that is not hyperbole.

In fact, the video itself begins by saying on-screen, "The most epic safety video ever made."  And it's being low-key and polite.  To be fair, "Epic," in this case, is sort of a tongue-in-cheek reference, as you will see.  But it's nonetheless epic in the generally accepted sense, as well.  This is far and away like no in-flight safety video you've seen, or likely will ever seen.  It's so far away that everything else is in third place.  Just leave second place empty.  And, honest, that's not an exaggeration.

The in-flight video is for the safety explanation aboard Air New Zealand flights, and...well, let's just say as a reminder that New Zealand is where they filmed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.  And we'll leave it at that, and let your imaginations take over..  

There are twists and turns here, and a lot of tongue-in-cheek fun, and some surprises.  And further, when is the last time you ever saw credits at the end of an in-flight safety video?

As a safety video, I'm going to guess that patrons aren't going to be paying the closest attention to what's being told them, which probably isn't ideal.  On the other hand, a) most people by now have a pretty good idea of the safety procedures on an airplane, b) in some ways, people are going to watch this much closer than the regular in-flight safety videos they zone out of, and c) this is going to be see FAR more by people who are not on an airplane, so there's no risk of going down in the water.

Which brings up the other point.  

Beyond being the Greatest (and Most Epic) In-Flight Safety Video Ever, this is also a brilliant promotional video for  the next film in The Hobbit series.  If I had the opportunity to bet all my cash money, it will go viral around the world, if it hasn't already.  However much it cost, there will be no need to buy TV air-time (which is so expensive), and you wouldn't anyway, since it's 4-1/2 minutes long.  Maybe they'll cut down a 30-second version, but it's really not necessary, and it won't do it justice.

This is so wonderful and so smart.  Just a brilliant idea, and whoever came up with the idea deserves a major promotion and bonus, and hats off to all the people on both sides of the aisle who approved doing it.

So, here, then is the most epic in-flight safety video ever made.  Really.

No, really.