source: The Terrorists

Trailer—Ransom

Ransom

Ransom

I watched this movie because I love thrillers and love Sean Connery, so how bad can it be? IMO bad but not the worse. First off the term 'thriller' should not be used for this film as there are hardly any thrills. I could get past that if the story was at least exciting or made sense. I'm sure on paper it's easy to follow but I have no idea why they took the plane hostage, who's on who's side or why Sean Connery took this script? I feel like a child who needs someone to explain what I just watched, which shouldn't be since the entire movie takes place basically at 2 locations with very little action. If you're looking for a time killer then watch it just to see Sean Connery in one of his worse films but if you're looking for a real thriller stay away.

I thought the story flowed nicely and as I watched it I had the feeling it may be one of those good sleepers I had missed in the past. Really most of the actors were weak...but Connery and especially McShane were good. I have to say the ending made no sense at all...and when that happens you wonder why you watched the movie. Did I miss something or were both Connery and McShane(Deadwood) after the same guy. If so why did they fight in the plane....I may have missed something but weren't they basically on the same side? Were the hijackers on the plane all working for the Britsh? Just an absolutely bad ending to a movie that actually had some potential.

Sean Connery continued to travel the globe as yet another Scottish-accented foreigner in this competent thriller that rather unfairly usually gets short shrift from commentators, since Connery is of course excellent and has certainly made much worse films than this ('Shalako' anyone?) . After a credit sequence superimposed over the usual shots of London the action proper promptly relocates for the remainder of the film to Oslo (identified merely as 'Scandinavia'), which provides an atmospherically snowy backdrop shot by the venerable Sven Nykvist. The conclusion is highly confusing but you keep watching. The highly patrician John Quentin is imaginatively cast as the principal terrorist, while the score by Jerry Goldsmith easily ranks with his best.

Not very good. RANSON, aka THE TERRORISTS, should have been a tightly wound suspense story involving the commandeering of an airplane by group of thugs, but instead director Caspar Wrede presents everything in such long shots that any tension is lost. When it should be claustrophobic and in your face, it's chilly and distant. Sean Connery is the negotiator who, of course, does not play by the rules and Ian McShane is the lead "terrorist." Neither one is particularly compelling. Connery is clearly collecting a paycheck. The cinematography is, shockingly, by Sven Nykvist! There have been better films of this ilk...THE TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3 for sure. Seek that out.

I bought this movie only because I was curious what would Sean Connery do in Swedish movie... Well, it turned out to be British movie filmed in Norway, but the story takes place in Sweden. But that wasn't the big surprise... After watching "Ransom" I was really surprised that I've never heard of this movie, because it was really good - intelligent, surprising and entertaining - what more could you expect from a thriller?? I was even more surprised when I saw how low the rates are in IMDb - perhaps some people were expecting lots of explosions and car chases, but instead it is brilliantly handled thriller which really worked for me :)

I was wondering when all the action was going to start. After all, this film concentrates on a hijacking thriller and with the exception of one passenger who resisted, no violence whatsoever goes on during the 90 minutes of this film. Sean Connery plays a hard-nosed by the book chief assigned to end this situation where a British Ambassador, dying from heart disease, is held captive by terrorists and as they make their escape, they're warned of impending doom. Along comes some cohorts to hijack an airplane and threaten to blow it up with the 100 passengers and crew on board. Ian MacShane plays the devilish heavy here, but is really a heavy? Routine fanfare.