Ransom (Special Edition)

Rating:
Summary: Funny, suspenseful, AND action-packed
Review: This movie is one of a kind. Mel Gibson's acting job is equal to that of his role in Braveheart. The movie has an incredible cast and an exciting story line. Suspense, action, and humor are succesfully woven into the plot wihtout making the movie "corny" or ridiculous. This is one of the best action-suspense thrillers out there.

Rating:
Summary: Mercy
Review: Slick psychological thriller about the high-stakes cat-and-mouse game between a ruthless businessman and the kidnappers holding his son for ransom. Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) is the self-made head of a major airline who wears his aw-schucks affability like a suit of silk chain mail. When his boy (Brawley Nolte) is snatched by a gang of mercenary lowlifes, His true nature comes to the surface: Ignoring his tearful wife (Rene Russo) and the seasoned FBI agent (Delroy Lindo) assigned to the case, Mullen starts messing with the kidnappers, convicing that only he has the cojones to get his son back. Until the disappointingly conventional ending, in which the dad and the head baddie (Gary Sinise) go it mano a mano on the streets, this dark drama--based on a 1956 Glenn Ford picture of the same name--negotiates its narrative twists and turns with professional aplomb, even daring to make the hero an arrogant schmuck. As is often the case, the scumbags are far more interesting than the good guys, perhaps because they're not played by stars cocooned in suffocating personas.

Rating:
Summary: Mel, Gary & Lili are awesome...
Review: There's not much to this DVD other than the pleasure of owning the movie to see the superior peformances of Lili Taylor, Gary Sinise and --especially-- Mel Gibson.

As a tortured father fighting his own demons as well as a brutal kidnapper, Mel delivers his arguably best performance. Even Rene Russ, with all her Hollywood hair, cannot detract from the genuine strength, emotion and passion he puts into his role. Clever twists and turns defy believability at times, but you will be caught up in the drama and excitement of this captivating suspense thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Pass the time
Review: RANSOM is probably Ron Howard's most fully realized film to date. Howard helms a tense, literate script, without letting its potential maudlin come through. Mel Gibson, who has "ruined" his career with the 350 million dollar+ gross of THE PASSION OF CHRIST (Notice tongue in cheek, folks) shows us what a powerfully commanding actor he can be. His role as the tortured, yet committed, father is beautifully performed. Mel doesn't parlay his looks into establishing his popularity. The Australian is a very good actor, and in some ways, has never been recognized for the fact. Rene Russo is amazing, too. Starting off in a cool, I've got things under control aura, she melts into a desperate, crazed, and passionate woman who loves her husband dearly, but can't believe he's risking their son's life. Gary Sinise once again brings a mercurial sense of villainy to his role as the mastermind behind the kidnapping, and his coldhearted murders only enforce his psychosis; Delroy Lindo as the head FBI agent gives a sturdy, tense and compassionate portrayal; Lili Taylor is devastating to watch as she crumbles under the pressure of her part in the kidnapping, but her cold hearted willignness to kill the little boy is frightening; Liv Schrieber and Donnie Wahlberg as the brothers are convincing, in view of their relatively little time on screen.
I liked this film a lot because it touched my emotions in the way a thriller of this type should. Nail bitingly good, it's one of Gibson and Howard's best works.

Rating:
Summary: MUDDY OLD NON-ANAMORPHIC DVD-DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Review: The order page describes this DVD was anamorphic widescreen. It is not. Amazon refuses to make things good. We definitely would not have bought it. Now, we're stuck with it after having sold our original copy for next to nothing. We would have rated this a zero but it wouldn't let us. Two thumbs down to Amazon. I think a class action suit is in order against a business that has no class where their orders are concerned.