Sometimes even the best intentions aren't good enough. The Hostage is a movie that wants to be an intense, character driven, action filled thriller. It has a good cast, good directing, and good writing. But it has about 1/10 the budget that it needs. By the looks of the sets, editing and overall production value, I think my car cost more money than this film cost to make. And thats a shame because this really could've been a good film. Ted Prior plays Ted, an ex-mercenary who takes one last job 'for the good of his daughter'. The job includes taking part in a hostage plot with 4 other mercenaries that can pull in $60 million. Of course something goes wrong and they end up in a face off with the cops and the FBI. This is where Cynthia Rothrock comes in. She plays Nelly, a hotshot FBI negotiator who is called in to handle the situation. I know what you're thinking...'This is the perfect situation for CR to kick butt and take names!'... Well, it ain't happening in this film. CR spends just about all of her time on the phone and the one time she picks up a gun, she doesn't really use it. CR is barely a supporting character in this movie. I think they wasted her. Cynthia Rothrock does a good job in her role but to tell the truth, the role isn't that hard. They could've dropped anyone in there to just chat on a cell for for a few minutes. Ted is the main character and I guess he's supposed to be a 'bad guy with a good heart'. But I find it hard to feel for a guy who shoots cops, and kidnaps innocent people just so his kid can live in South America. The other mercenaries are forgettable except for the leader, Jack. He's a chubby little guy who looks so out of shape that it's very hard to believe he's in charge of the 'strike force'. Like I said before, the production values on this film are simply bad. There's no other way to say it. The lighting is uneven, and the audio sounds either too distant or too loud. That's too bad because it detracts from some solid action sequences between the mercenaries and the cops. Okay, enough bad stuff. Here's whats good about the movie. Dana Plato does a very good turn as Ted's sister-in-law, Leslie, who tries to talk sense to him. All of the actors do a good job but it's Plato who does the most with her character. Best Fight Scene:
Well, Since CR doesn't have any fight scenes, I'd have to chose the shootout in the bedroom between 3 cops and a trapped bad guy. The Hostage Photo Gallery
Last update : 09-06-2006 08:35
|
|
|
(0 vote)