Willis manages to be the best thing in the picture, and largely because of him I was willing to overlook the plot's ridiculous loopholes and exaggerations.
Well, yeah, maybe I could have done without Talley's family problems, but they, too, figure into the fabric of the tale before it's over. And maybe the story is not what you're looking for; and maybe it could have lightened up a bit. And maybe it does stretch to the breaking point one's ability to suspend disbelief. But it delivers the requisite excitement for an action/adventure from beginning to end. And whether these things are done seriously or tongue in cheek, isn't that what action movies are supposed to be about?
Video:
Buena Vista has recently seen the same light as Warner Bros., transferring their movies to disc at a reasonably high bit rate for maximum picture quality. I'd say the only minor deficiencies in the video are those related to the original print. The screen size measures a wide anamorphic ratio of about 2.13:1, closely approximating its 2.35:1 theatrical-release dimensions. The colors are good, although slightly glassy in appearance. Darker areas of the screen are a tad murky and object delineation is only average, but grain is at a minimum.
Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 sonics do their job with a vengeance. A helicopter flies over and around the screen in the first minutes of the movie, so you know the director wanted to show off the soundtrack's audio capabilities. Then there are more helicopters, and more, again and again. They're everywhere-- in the front speakers, in the back speakers, along the sides of the room, and over our head. I think you get the idea: It's impressive sound, even when it's overdone. Strong dynamic contrasts, a wide stereo spread, realistic musical ambiance, and decent bass complete the audio package.
Extras:
The extras are plentiful enough; they just aren't very exciting. Director Florent Siri does what he can with the audio commentary, but he's a fairly soft-spoken gentleman, and I couldn't find it interesting enough to listen for longer than a few minutes. Perhaps the reader will have better luck. Then, there's a twelve-minute featurette, "Taking Hostage Behind the Scenes," which is mostly promotional, with the cast and crew doing their best to sell us on the film. Pretty typical. Better are six deleted and two extended scenes, all in widescreen with optional director's commentary. Beyond that, there are eighteen scene selections, with a chapter insert; Sneak Peeks at six other Buena Vista films; English and French spoken languages; and Spanish subtitles, with English captions for the hearing impaired.
Parting Thoughts:
Willis is intensely earnest the whole way in "Hostage," even when his character's life seems like hell. Seriously, this poor Chief of Police he plays should get out of the law enforcement business altogether because grief seems to follow him everywhere. Still, Willis manages to be the best thing in the picture, and largely because of him I was willing to overlook the plot's ridiculous loopholes and exaggerations. It's an action movie, and you get action. Besides, as unlikely as it seems, the plot hinges on obtaining a single DVD, and I love DVDs. How can I complain?
Video:
Buena Vista has recently seen the same light as Warner Bros., transferring their movies to disc at a reasonably high bit rate for maximum picture quality. I'd say the only minor deficiencies in the video are those related to the original print. The screen size measures a wide anamorphic ratio of about 2.13:1, closely approximating its 2.35:1 theatrical-release dimensions. The colors are good, although slightly glassy in appearance. Darker areas of the screen are a tad murky and object delineation is only average, but grain is at a minimum.
Audio:
The Dolby Digital 5.1 sonics do their job with a vengeance. A helicopter flies over and around the screen in the first minutes of the movie, so you know the director wanted to show off the soundtrack's audio capabilities. Then there are more helicopters, and more, again and again. They're everywhere-- in the front speakers, in the back speakers, along the sides of the room, and over our head. I think you get the idea: It's impressive sound, even when it's overdone. Strong dynamic contrasts, a wide stereo spread, realistic musical ambiance, and decent bass complete the audio package.
Extras:
The extras are plentiful enough; they just aren't very exciting. Director Florent Siri does what he can with the audio commentary, but he's a fairly soft-spoken gentleman, and I couldn't find it interesting enough to listen for longer than a few minutes. Perhaps the reader will have better luck. Then, there's a twelve-minute featurette, "Taking Hostage Behind the Scenes," which is mostly promotional, with the cast and crew doing their best to sell us on the film. Pretty typical. Better are six deleted and two extended scenes, all in widescreen with optional director's commentary. Beyond that, there are eighteen scene selections, with a chapter insert; Sneak Peeks at six other Buena Vista films; English and French spoken languages; and Spanish subtitles, with English captions for the hearing impaired.
Parting Thoughts:
Willis is intensely earnest the whole way in "Hostage," even when his character's life seems like hell. Seriously, this poor Chief of Police he plays should get out of the law enforcement business altogether because grief seems to follow him everywhere. Still, Willis manages to be the best thing in the picture, and largely because of him I was willing to overlook the plot's ridiculous loopholes and exaggerations. It's an action movie, and you get action. Besides, as unlikely as it seems, the plot hinges on obtaining a single DVD, and I love DVDs. How can I complain?
Average user rating (1-5):
[release]15930[/release]