Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

Solidrariol Am I Missing Something?

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

FirstWitch A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

shoobieK57 I just saw Hostage today at an advanced screening and I liked it! It seems to have all the elements of the Bruce Willis action movie, so one might think it cannot surprise anymore. Then again, you rarely see a bad Bruce Willis movie. It has the opening failure of the perfect cop, and the almost "post traumatic stress" side to the character who then moves into a smaller town, but carries his burden along with him.But this time, Bruce Willis doesn't seem all that perfect, he is scared, his voice is shaking in several situations and even cries. He still saves the day, but he's a lot more... human. And the guy is pretty good at this, too.Then there are the really powerful scenes that shake your soul! Young actor Ben Foster is involved in many of them and does a terrific (literally and figuratively speaking) job! There are also some unexpected resolutions and some even less expected symbolic shots.Bottom line is, Hostage is a good pick not only for the action/thriller fan, but also for any movie goer.

chrislef21 A year after a hostage situation, which sees a man holding his wife and son at gunpoint goes tragically wrong, former L.A. negotiator Jeff Talley (played brilliantly by Bruce Willis) is now chief of police at a small town in California. However it's not long before his previous skills are called upon. Three teenagers set out to rob wealthy businessman Walter Smith, but events take a turn for the worse when a local police officer is shot dead by one of the boys, as she arrives at the house in response to the silent alarm, triggered by Smith's young son Tommy. Traumatized by the death of his officer, Talley leaves the case to the Sheriff's department and heads for home. Soon enough though he is back at the scene though as, unbeknownst to all involved the now unconscious Smith, embroiled in money-laundering for a crime syndicate, had encrypted bank details to a DVD, and eager to retrieve it and having seen Talley on the news, they kidnap his wife and daughter and insist on him re-taking charge. The tension mounts throughout the movie as things inside the house go from bad to worse, and Talley is not only fighting to save the hostages, but the lives of his wife and daughter too. Bruce Willis is on top form in this great action thriller, and there are some remarkable performances from the rest of the cast too, especially Jonathan Tucker as 'Dennis', and young Jimmy Bennett as 'Tommy Smith'. Ben Foster is outstanding as 'Mars' one of the teenage boys, who is far more psychotic than even his associates realise. This is a terrific movie and manages to keep the pace going throughout.

Troy Putland Bruce Willis does what he can do best, and that's be John McClane. And John McClane he becomes. Comparisons are drawn instantly because differences are hard to find. Jeff Talley (Willis), now a humdrum cop after a bodged negotiating job, must negotiate his way through a new hostage crisis. A middle class family are being held in their house by some lower class youths looking to score themselves some money, and get at those they deem better than them. Tensions run high both inside and outside the house. Jeff's family is being held hostage as well, which thins out the main story. Things go awry when one of the youths, played by Ben Foster, goes crazy. His change in mentality is absurd, even if a little entertaining. It doesn't fit Hostage's composition. At least McClane's around to sort the mess out.

bowmanblue If you're looking for an all out action (dare I say 'Die Hard?') type movie then 'Hostage' is not going to tick all the boxes you want it to. It's not what you'd call 'classic Bruce Willis,' i.e. him running around shooting one bad guy after the next (excluding the last quarter of an hour or so). Instead, you get a more 'muted' performance from the balding action man. However, that's not to say that he doesn't bring an air of A-list to what is technically a B-movie.Our Bruce is a burned-out hostage negotiator who has taken a job as a simple sheriff, but his easy life takes a wrong turn when a gang of thugs breaks into a mob boss' accountant's house, taking the hapless pen-pusher's children hostage while the very same mob kidnaps his wife and daughter. Therefore he must use his head (and his negotiating skills) as opposed to his gun to save both families.Like I say, it's not all out action on the scale of Die Hard, but, if you're a fan of Brucie then this is definitely one for your collection. Lately, Mr Willis has made some right duffers of movies and popped up as little more than extended cameos in others. Hostage is definitely not one of those. It is a very definite Bruce Willis affair. If you're looking for an out and out thriller that offers enough thrills and spills to keep you amused for nearly two hours, then this is the one for you.Watchable, enjoyable, possibly forgettable, but fun.