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Good movie but grossly overrated

Absolutely the worst movie.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I spent most of the film worrying that Brian Dennehy was about to drop dead from a heart attack. He's obviously a big man, but in this film he runs everywhere! Whether it be chasing terrorists through Frankfurt, or just running around outside while his wife discovers that their daughter has been kidnapped in Germany by a bunch of terrorists. Don't get me wrong, Dennehy's a good actor and very convincing here, but this film spends a long long time getting around to tracking down the terrorist. Probably quite realistic in that sense, and I suppose the film does a good job of showing what a father would do in order to rescue his daughter, but I could have done with more rampaging and gunfights than folks standing around discussing the moral aspects of torture. Quite frank(furt)ly, you might enjoy this film, but you'll have to condition yourself for a slow time, as most of the action happens in the last ten minutes. People rate this more highly than I do, and you might too, but I just needed a bit more morph to keep me going.

This movie starts off very well but unfortunately ends as one of the most questionable flicks I have ever seen. It suggests that something like that could happen in reality. It is full of wrong assumptions. And that may lead to wrong conclusions.A mixed American and English crew of an airplane is kidnapped in Frankfurt, Germany by German terrorists who want to exchange them against imprisoned comrades. They videotape the hostages and set a deadline. The American parents of one stewardess cannot bear to sit still at home and travel to Europe. They think the authorities are not interested in their daughter's safety and the husband decides to engage some „specialists" who convince him they can rescue the hostages.So far I did not have any problems. The terrorists were clearly inspired by the German Red Army Fraction (RAF), also known as Baader Meinhof Gang. The sorrow of the parents had me feel for them and I could understand that they clasped at any straw they were offered, even if it smelled like some illegal and dangerous action. But the moment the rescue team leader agreed to take the father with him and make him part of the team so to speak the film instantly sank to the bottomless depths of stupid and morally dubious movie making. The father's being included in the action is explained at the end but it is a cheap last minute twist that does not stick. Not by a mile.The rest of the movie is Vigilante revenge stuff of the worst kind. It cumulates in the father's accidental killing of the main terrorist's brother whom the rescue team has taken hostage in return. That man is, as everybody knows, absolutely innocent. The killing happens at the very end of this movie. The ending is presented as a family reunion and a happy finale. The fact that the father would probably have to stand trial for manslaughter and has the blood of an innocent man on his hands is suppressed entirely.What really disturbs me is the movie's innuendo that this is the best way to deal with terrorists to obtain the wanted results. I do not know any evidence that would support this theory. It may sound cynical and you can call me a coward but if the safety of the hostages really is what is wanted most then your best bet is to give in. There is a discussion between the parents about the father's motives. Has his activism really to do with is daughter? Or isn't it more about himself? Unfortunately this line of argument is abandoned quickly. In my opinion a missed opportunity as Brian Dennehy and especially Joanna Cassidy are brilliant and make an interesting couple.A last word about the RAF which really existed in the 1970ies and 1980ies. Considering all I have read about these dangerous fanatics, they are rather badly misinterpreted. In this movie they seem to be some spoiled rich people's kids who are fairly easily scared. This means underestimating their sectarian fanaticism and the formidable group pressure they were able to build up. In a long chase sequence we see the father pursue one very nervous terrorist who leads him directly to the hiding place of the hostages. From what I have read and heard about the RAF, the terrorist most probably would have shot the father dead at point blank range without batting an eyelid in the first stages of that chase.

I first saw this a few years ago when I could not find anything good (and new) at the rental store one day. I recall being surprised at how good it was and recently purchased it on DVD on eBay.Brian Dennehy plays a high school sports coach. His daughter is an airline flight attendant who is working her first flight to Europe. Upon arrival she immediately becomes a kidnap victim - along with the rest of the crew of the plane she is on.Feeling negotiations and diplomatic solutions are going nowhere, he (Dennehy) decides to take a more personal approach to solving the problem.

Sometimes movies made for TV, like this one, are by far much better than movies made for theaters. A Father's Revenge is a fantastic thriller and Brian Dennehy is a marvelous actor. For years I have been trying to buy this movie with no success. If you ever have the opportunity to see this marvelous film, don't miss it!