Customer Reviews

Captive [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I saw this film years ago, and bought the soundtrack because I can't get a UK format copy. It is a superb film - subtle, intriguing and beautifully-shot. Oliver Reed gives a controlled performance and the other actors create an air of mystery; the soundtrack balances the imagery beautifully. Don't miss it...a classic.

First off, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy that this movie is FINALLY released on DVD (I have been relying for YEARS on a VHS former-rental, praying it wouldn't die)!

Captive is not a movie for everyone. It is the story of the poor little rich woman (actually, her father is a real jerk - Oliver Reed) who is kidnapped by a few "domestic terrorists". They really are not "terrorists" so much as they see they misery this woman lives in and "free" her from her bounds using sensory deprivation and other means.

You have to remember, this movie was made in the 80's, so the clothes and the atmosphere are purely 80's. Actually, I had purchased the soundtrack for this movie from the 10 for a dollar cassette bin (Yes, I am a child of the 80's) and the soundtrack written and performed by The Edge from U2 moved me. It is sensual and visual. I wanted to see the movie and found it at a local rental store. I fell in love with the complete absurdity of the movie and ended up purchasing the cassette when the store went out of business.

This movie is experimental to say the least and the story does lack in a lot of areas, but the phrase I used - complete absurdity - is what makes this movie so great!

If you like off the wall, late-night movies from the 80's, this is the movie for you!

It had a mindless storyline, bad acting, bad lighting, poor directing, poor sound, you can't understand a thing being said. This movie is a complete and total waste of time, money and misplaced misery.

One word - AWEFUL. So aweful in fact that having forced myself to watch the entire film I then threw it in the trash. The one thing that could have really shone in this dire film was Oliver Reeds performance, who had so little screen time, that he may have not have bothered to have been featured at all. Poor guy. Other than the good grace of Oliver Reed's brief presence, it had a pointless plot, useless acting; poor film quality and a non-sensical ending. A waste of time and money.

Captive is arguably one of the greatest foriegn films I have ever seen. The Edge was outstanding in Capitvating the mood of the movie through the strings of his guitar.