Hostage

I had read Robert Crais's novel some years ago and remember enjoying the book as a good thriller. Now I know most adaptations of novels tend to not match the original in terms of overall quality. Thus I kept me expectations low. But even that wasn't enough. 'Hostage' is very disappointing. It's executed in the form of an uninteresting episode of 'CSI: Miami'. The background score is heavily intrusive and makes every single situation overtly dramatic. Add to that, the over the top performances by every single member of the cast who are mostly yelling and screaming. The director really made it into a 'Die-Hard' style action flick. It lacks the depth of the book. Willis is in his Die Hard mode, shouting at people and running around. Oh and there's also this irritating Jimmy Bennett who tries to be cute and screams. Michelle Horn is pretty but she's the clichéd whiny teen. Foster is unrecognizable but his character has no layer. Pollak doesn't do much to be proud of. Tucker overacts. Allman manages to keep the balance at times and does better than his co-stars. It's pity that a novel which would have made a fine thriller film has been wasted on a poor film due to over-the-top...everything. They didn't even follow the events of the novel properly resulting in plot holes and lack of development (thanks to Richardson's screenplay).

The TV spots basically make this movie look like Die Hard 4: In A House, but its not at all. first off, its a suspense movie with some action, not the other way around. Secondly, the main thrust of the movie isn't even hinted at in the TV spots that I've seen. All of the acting is very good, the villains especially considering their age, pull off their roles quite well. There's a scene where they face off with Willis and a chopper thats truly nail-biting, and it wouldn't work at all if they were bad actors.

So i recommend this movie even if you think it looks generic from the trailers. its got a lot of twists and surprises, tho not in an annoying M Night shamalamadingdong way. Please go see it in theaters, support our rare R rated films while enjoying a good movie in the process!!

I saw Hostage in a German Pressscreening and I was blown away. Visually stunning from the first second to the last. The director Florent Siri nails every frame. He kept me on the edge of the seat from beginning to the end.

In the last years Bruce Willis disappointed me. His last movies I found very lame. But here, he is back as the great Action dude, he is famous for. But Hostage is not another "die hard"-flick. It is different. With more Drama, much darker and less humor is Hostage one of the most adult (means grown up) Action Thriller I saw in Years.

The story is great. No cheap tricks, every second is well written, superb acted and directed. The same with the soundtrack and - as I said before - the visuals.

Hostage is a kind of violent Film noir in a MTV a like style. A real ride. I don't want to tell much about the story. Go and see!

The film focuses a previous LA hostage negotiator (Bruce Willis) who subsequently a failed negotiation goes away to a little town along with his wife (Serena Scott Thomas) and daughter , Amanda, (Bruce Willis's daughter in the movie, was played by his daughter Rumer Willis , she wanted the part, but Willis made her audition like everyone else and she got the part) . Then , three punks (Jonathan Tucker, Ben Foster, Marshall Alltman) pull off a burgle from a rich man's house (an accountant Kevin Pollack) taking him as hostage along with his children (Michelle Horn and Jimmy Bennett). But the events go wrong and the negotiator's family is also kidnapped to force him to obtain an information at home with a high-tech security system .

The movie is plenty of thriller, violence , shootouts with stimulating and spectacular action set pieces ; including profanity , as the word "fuck" is used 89 times . Bruce Willis , as usual action hero , confronts perils and risks and he must battle till vanquish in this overly violent action film , his main enemy results to be a psychopathic young killer (an excessively nasty Ben Foster) . The picture gets similarity with ¨The nest¨ , previous film by the same director , cameraman (Giovanni Fiore) , musician (Alexandre Desplat) and technicians ; in fact , there is also a place surrounded by various perpetrators and a violent showdown in a locked location . As Bruce Willis as film producer hired to filmmaker Florent Siri for the successful former film . The flick will appeal to Bruce Willis fans and action movies enthusiast . Predictable but delivers the action required of the genre and is recommended for those who are just looking for exciting films . Rating : Better than average and well worth watching.

I just loved this movie. Tense. Engrossing. Gripping from start to finish. All words to describe a conversation with Johnny Betts. But they also adequately describe Bruce Willis' latest movie Hostage. The movie could also be referred to as Redemption because that's definitely what you'll see this as if you have been disappointed with Bruce's recent efforts.

Hostage sacrifices heavy action and humor for a darker, more character-driven tale, and it works. THIS is how a thriller should be!

Are you in the mood for a dark, intense, edge-of-your seat thriller? Then Hostage will most certainly entertain. If you're the type of moviegoer who only knows how to complain about clichés and coincidences then I'm sure you'll do the same here. I recommend loosening up and enjoying life a little.