MovieChat Forums > Hostage (2002) Discussion > lame.

lame.

posted 21 years ago by fullercramden
17 replies | jump to latest

OK, I'm pretty well versed on John Woo's films, both pre and post-American films, so I understand that you have to suspend disbelief to a certain extent when viewing his films, but come on, this storyline is atrocious, unbelieveable, and recycled.

The kidnapper's character's "insanity" is completely contrived and unrealistic, as is basically everything else in the film.

Again, don't get me wrong, I love 'the killer,' 'hard boiled,' 'a better tomorrow' and even 'face off,' but jesus this film is by far the worst in the series, possibly contending with frankenheimer's (RIP).

fuller

[–] djensen1 21 years ago

Very stylish and tense, but in eight short minutes I must have sputtered in disbelief about four times.

SPOILERS

Why do the cops burst in prematurely? Why do they let the kidnapper pull the trigger twice? Why aren't the metro cops called off by the feds? How does Clive know where he's going before the cops get a fix on the cell phone? Why do the cops let a kidnap victim visit her kidnapper alone in the hospital?

The dollar amount/phone number was clever, but how believable is it that the kidnapper could block the redial function?

[–] ttakalo 20 years ago

Well, the cops get the general area of the phone right after he gets in the car. And in the hospital there was a cop right outside the room, you only see him through the window just after the woman has entered the room. Besides, the kidnapper wasn't in any condition to hurt anyone.

I'd say the biggest problem is that the assaulting SWAT cops just stand there after the kidnapper pulls the trigger the first time. However I try to think about it, I don't understand why they aren't all over him.

[–] MercedesCLK_GTR 20 years ago

I agree. John Woo is one of my favorite directors, but this one was definetly his worst work to me. Not to mention I don't really like the "Short" genre either. There is just so much you can say in 10 minutes.

It's good when I'm drunk it makes me miss at the people I shoot at.

[–] Chalcosoma 16 years ago

"There is just so much you can say in 10 minutes"

That's exactly what makes the short genre interesting. It's all the more interesting what they wíll say when there's only so much time. Hard choices have to be made. That makes it difficult, and that makes it interesting. To me at least.

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All that we see or seem. Is it but a dream within a dream?

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] Treytable 20 years ago

You don't get it.

It's about the car.
I guess you have to own a BMW or have ridden in one with a good driver to understand it.

But then again, Hostage is the worst of the eight.

[–] fullercramden 20 years ago

what? are you saying that it's OK that the movie sucks because the BMW in it is really cool?

[–] martinme 19 years ago

You have to look at it the way it really is. The movie is about the car. BMW was showcasing the newest version of their roadster and having owned BMW's for five years I love all the films. John Woo does well in this movie what BMW wants him to do, show off their new Z4 roadster. The idea is that the best part of the movie is the car flying through the streets.

[–] fullercramden 19 years ago

True. Clearly, Hostage is all about the car. But, Wong Kar Wai's film or Gonzalez-Innaritu's (sp?) film managed to tell a story about characters, not about a cool silver BMW doing stunts. That's a great BMW film. It showcases their vehicle, but it is a good short film. Hostage is just rubbish. But then again, John Woo has been making rubbish pretty much since he came to America.

[–] Buff70 11 years ago

Trey -- I take it you're just kidding with this comment ?!

"It's about the car...."

[–] a_forbes 19 years ago

"this film is by far the worst in the series, possibly contending with frankenheimer's (RIP)."

Okay, I was fine with what you were saying up to here. Frankenheimer's entry was great! The man knows exactly how to film a car chase!

"Welcome to Obviousland--land of the obvious!"

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] neocam007 18 years ago

well it at the end of the day wee advertised film for the car....and dont get me wrong i think it is an ace wee short however i personally like star its lethal.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] podracer96 17 years ago

The Driver doesn't care. He saved the hostage's life when it could be saved. But at the hospital, once the kidnapper was dead -- and I don't think the Driver knew she was gloating over her kidnapper -- the Driver left.

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The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe.

[–] JimmyZappa 16 years ago

Woo didn't write the story though.

I thought it was good for what it was. It's one of the four shorts films I liked. The other four I thought were okay with one of them making no sense to me at all.

Stuff like this reminds me of "Movie Poop Shoot.com" from Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.