I recently saw HOSTAGE and I loved it. There are not too many heavy action movies that grab me, I often get the feeling that gratuitous violence is just an afterthought. Make no mistake this movie is violent. However, I have seen enough news videos showing hostage situations to know that the story line could have been taken from headlines.

Bruce Willis was excellent. I have had conversations with people concerning several scenes that show Willis with tears in his eyes. The consensus seems to be that this shows weakness on the part of Jeff Talley, (Bruce Willis). I can only say that if I had seen a child blown away or my family was being held hostage that I would definitely cry. The crying here does not show weakness, instead it shows love, compassion and a burning anger. Willis is in top form here, and he is just perfect as a former hostage negotiator who is driven by anguish, desperation and a need to redeem himself. Earlier, as a Los Angeles police negotiator Talley failed to save a mother and child from death. He is so grieved that he changes his job and location to become police chief in a ritzy low crime LA district. He soon finds himself in a hostage situation once more when three teens impulsively decide to steal a car from a wealthy family. Their plans explode after being discovered on the property. Still they attempt to carry their actions through by holding a man and his two children hostage, only to find themselves held captive in a house that has become a fully enclosed no-way-out compound after the burglar alarm is tripped. To make matters worse, the hostage is a man who holds the key that can lead to the downfall of a large illegal business. The nefarious illegal business bad guys want their man alive at all costs. They contact Talley and show their deadly bargaining hand. Now Tally has to negotiate like he has never done before.

This movie has received some pans. However, you know from the outset that you are going to see a shootum up movie and that's what you get, a no-holds barred, edge of your seat, action flick. The movie is rated R for violence. The cast includes Michael D. Roberts as police officer Ridley. Years ago, Roberts played the colorful informant, Rooster, on the 1975 television show Baretta.

If you like HOSTAGE, I recommend YEAR OF THE DRAGON(1985), starring Mickey Rourke. I have to laugh, a friend saw this video at my house year ago, and gave me a dubious compliment, "This is a d**n good movie, I'm surprised that you have it." Mickey Rourke, like Bruce Willis, has been in some forgettable movies in the recent past. I am anxious to see both of them in the recently released movie SIN CITY. I wonder how they will fare?

Year of The Dragon can be seen and purchased from Amazon. It is rated R for sex and violence.