 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hostage
- Review Date: June 19, 2005
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Very violent hostage drama.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is an exceptionally violent movie with extreme, intense, and graphic images and many kinds of weapons. Characters are in severe peril, including children and a young girl who is bound and threatened with rape. Many characters are wounded or killed. Characters drink and use drugs and use some very strong language. A strength of the movie is strong minority and female characters.
What's the story?
Three combustible forces come together in one fortress of a mansion in this bloodbath of a hostage drama. First is Jeff Talley (Bruce Willis), a former big-time hostage negotiator who was shattered by a tragic failure and gave it up to become a small-town police chief. Second is three strung-out teens who decide to steal an SUV but end up in the house when things get out of control, taking the owner and his two children hostage. Third is a group of ruthless professional bad guys who have no interest in the boys or the hostages but will do whatever it takes to retrieve a DVD with some very important files that is hidden inside the house, its location only known to a man who is unconscious.
Is it any good?
HOSTAGE has a nice set-up. The contrast between the impulsive, hot-headed amateurs and the implacable, cold-blooded professionals as they interact with the hostages and the increasingly compromised Talley take this story above the usual guns and explosions multiplex fodder.
The film also has some good performances, especially Ben Foster as the most volatile of the boys. It has a sensational opening credit sequence. But the dialogue is stock UPN-drama and a promising premise disintegrates quickly into standard guns and explosions fare.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about why Talley responded the way he did to the tragic outcome of the first hostage situation in the film. How can a negotiator gain the confidence of someone who may be disturbed or irrational?
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AGE
Great for grown Ups!
Good movie, well worth seeing. Teens should not see this movie unless accompanied by an adult. There is a lot of tough content including rape, drugs, theft, and murder.
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AGE
OK for tweens,not any younger.
Ehh. It was a really good movie but pretty awful language in it throughout the whole thing. I wouldn'tlet my children under 12 see it.
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AGE
SURPRISE..SURPRISE....
This movie took me by surprise it wasn't what I expected. But ended up being good, and I thought the ending was perfect!!! But that one character I never liked him---not even in six feet under!!! LOL
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AGE
I couldn't even watch the end of this movie
This movie does offer some suspense...
but it's crap. Bruce Willis gives a mediocre performance, it's a pretty slow paced movie, and there's way too much swearing(it got on my nerves). Bottom line... It's boring
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AGE
rent it
this movie was fine but a little to confusing for me but the action in this film kept me entertained. The violence is really suspenful
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AGE
I was mystified
An awesome movie to have in your movie collection
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AGE
Very dark and intense crime thriller
Strong violence involving hostages. Some drug use. Graphic language. Terrific and entertaining movie
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| Studio: | Miramax |
| Director: | Florent Emilio Siri |
| Cast: | Bruce Willis, Jimmy Bennett, Kevin Pollak |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 113 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 11, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | June 21, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong graphic violence, language and some drug use |
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