Ransom (1996 Film)

This is a superb thriller with expert direction from Ron Howard and a first rate cast. Mel Gibson is excellent as always along with a terrific turnaround performance by the criminally underrated Gary Sinise. Originally Alec Baldwin was supposed to play Sinise's part which I'm curious how that would've been. I think him and Gibson would've been great onscreen together but Sinise nails it perfectly. This is a terrifically thrilling, intense and intelligent kidnapping thriller that is the best of them. Usually can't go wrong with Ron Howard.

This film is definitely better than the gripping original 1956 version of "Ransom," starring Glenn Ford, and in several ways. While the original was very dramatic and well made, the ending was quite disappointing, and never seeing the criminals who abducted and held for ransom his son actually detracted from the story line. The possibilities were excellent, and these were exploited in the Mel Gibson version. Whatever you think about Gibson's personal challenges, forget them as you watch this film because he is at his dramatic best here, as he takes an incredibly controversial stand in refusing the kidnappers' demands, at the possible expense of everything he holds dear in life.The casting for the film is truly excellent, and Gary Sinese is superlative in his role as the policeman-turned-villian. Outstanding story line! The ending of the film was very well done, and will satisfy the viewers who believe that in dealing with criminals who harm children, "what goes around MUST come around!" This was lacking in Glenn Ford's original version of the story, where there was no visible accountability for the criminals' actions. Of particular dramatic value is the believability of the inevitable conflict between Gibson and his wife, well-portrayed by Rene Russo, when Gibson announces on the media that he will not meet the kidnappers' demands, and that between Gibson and the public in general.While being very violent in places, this film has a welcome place among my favorite dramas, and is well worth owning.

Still love Mel Gibson and his movies. Don't understand why I haven't seen this one on tv in years and I can't stream it. (???) I recently saw "Ransom" with Glenn Ford and I thought about Gibson's movie and decided to buy the DVD.

A bit of action and a bit of a thriller. A child gets kidnapped in this movie and is used to extort a couple million dollars out of the father of the boy who has a multi-million dollar business. I was going in to this movie quite happily but it dragged on a bit for my liking so I was asking myself when this was going to end in high anticipation when the last thirty minutes were left. I can't fault Mel Gibson's acting in this production and neither can I fault any of the others who had their role. No spoilers here. Still worth a watch even if it was made in the late nineties.

The movie is excellent. However, first time I ever buy a brand new Blu-ray that has NOTHING in the box but the one disc. And also very disappointing is the format...when they play it over the TV at least you can SEE Mel Gibson and the actors...liked the "looking at a fish tank thru a window" commentary. Really HATE this format! Why can't they do the same they do to play it on TV??? Ridiculous...oh well, the storyline is great and Gibson, as always does not disappoint!

This is a great Mel Gipson movie! I feel like I never heard much about it, but if you are a Mel Gipson fan, you should add this one to your collection.

If your a parent and on the over protective side with your kids as I am then you will easily get my message throughout the film. Your parental instincts take over and by now you have located the toy guns and stuff that you shoot the bad guys with. This film is intense and will have you hugging your kids all night. Film ends well so dont let the comments I made ruin it for you. Great cast, keeps you on the edge of your seat from beggining to end. Its a wake up call for us all who have children. Smooth transaction as usual through Amazon. Thanks to everybody involved from taking the order to its shipping. This has become my one stop shop and I havent been disappointed to date and my relationship continues as well as my family members who shop there.

Ransom is a great movie, and a lesson well learned for those who don’t keep an eye on their children. PLEASE BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS WITH YOUR CHILDREN, PARENTS!

Tom Mullen has it all, a happy family, success and wealth. One day during a conference at the park, his son goes missing.By the time he arrives home, he receives a video-taped message of his son, who has been kidnapped.He is willing to pay the ransom, but he calls the FBI in secret.When the drop goes bad, Tom tries another tactic against the criminals, using the money as a bounty on their heads...A wonderfully high concept movie, this was released when Gibson was one of the biggest stars in the world, and this has to be one of his most adult orientated movies of the nineties, as the majority of his non-directed movies focused more on his charm and wit.For the most part, it's a solid movie, with great performance from the four central characters, and Howard keeps the tension taut throughout the movie.As Hollywood blockbusters go, it's refreshing to see something as dark and as sinister as this, and some of the scenes here are very disturbing, and Sinise proves he can play one disturbing bad guy, as well as a wholesome good guy.It falters off into generic action territory come the end, but all in all, it's nice to see a movie as high profile as this, not spoon feeding the audience.

Kidnappers snatch the son of multi millionaire airline magnate Tom Mullen (Mel Gibson) and demand $2 million ransom for the boys return. Initially it seems a straight forward case of pay the money and all will be well. But with a murky incident from his past hanging heavy on his shoulders, and an overriding feeling that no matter what he does, his son will not be returned alive, Mullen turns the tables on the kidnappers. He instead now offers the ransom money as a bounty reward to anyone who finds the kidnappers, dead or alive.Perhaps with Ron Howard in the directing chair it's no surprise to find that the premise here is toweringly safe. To a parent the snatching of ones offspring is the worst nightmare imaginable. Thus armed with a considerable Hollywood budget and a cast list not to be sniffed at for any big production, Ransom ultimately ends up as a hugely efficient thriller guaranteed to keep sane adults interested. But it really should have been so much more, for although Howard does a stand up professional job, both he and his writers are guilty of not pushing it a bit further to keep the viewers perched firmly on the edge of their seats. What saves Ransom from a standard script devoid of some much needed jolts, is the absorbing performances of Gibson as the stricken and conflicted Mullen, and Gary Sinise as the snarly on the edge kidnapping kingpin, Jimmy Shaker. Their cat and mouse game, in either direction, gives the film its dramatic edge. For although the exasperation that comes from other quarters, Rene Russo's fraught wife and mother-Delroy Lindo's (excellent) FBI team leader; does need to be played out; as does the switch back and forth to the falling apart dummies in the kidnap gang, a film of this type needs serious drama. Thankfully then, that comes in spades from Gibbo and Gary.A great concept that is executed with almost mechanical precision from some of Hollywood's go to film makers. It just lacks a darker edge that the premise had promised, particularly in a rather redundant final reel. Still it's got some tough scenes {Gibson possibly doing the best show of believable male grief in the 90s} and its lead characters are never less than intriguing. 7/10

any one who has not seen this movie is in for a great treat it keeps you on edge of your seat from start to finish 10 out 10 and a great price thanks amozon 10 out 10 simon the blue ray kid

Brilliant tense film with Mel Gibson in one of best performances and Gary sinise makes a fantastic villain with a young lieve schrieber as one of the kidnappers

I’ve seen an earlier version of this, starring Glenn Ford. I think that the plot was really intense, and really drew you in. It’s a brave father who refuses to pay for the return of his kidnapped son, ask Paul Getty....