Plot: What’s it about?
The hallways of this high school are abuzz, as all the large events loom dead ahead and of course, everyone is jazzed about them. The kids can’t wait for their vacation break and soon after that, prom will arrive and then graduation, the biggest event of them all. Most of the students are excited and pleased with their high school careers, but not everyone is and at least one person is quite displeased. That person is Jason Copeland (Rick Schroder), a former student who was kicked out & failed by his teachers, after he had run out of chances. As he feels he has nothing to lose, Jason leaves behind a note and heads off to school, perhaps for the last time. He has taken some firearms and an iron will, determined to exact his revenge at all costs, even if it means killing innocent people and perhaps losing his own life. He soon takes control of the school, with a room full of hostages and ammunition to spare. Can one student (Freddie Prinze, Jr.) and a police negotiator (Henry Winkler) manage to defuse the situation in time?
I suppose I have a soft spot for all cinema based in high school, as I’ll be easier on most movies out there, so long as they’re based in those hallways of youth. After a rash of school shootings a while back, it seemed like teen flicks had lost their edge and shied away from touchy issues, which was a real let down. Although Hostage High was released back in 1997, it is still a welcome one and while some might find it hard to watch now, I found it to be a worthwhile effort. I know what you’re thinking here, as we have Henry Winkler, Freddie Prinze, Jr., and Rick Schroder in a movie about school violence, but it isn’t as bad as that sounds. I won’t claim it to be a classic or even close, but it has some moments and for fans of high school cinema, it is a cool little flick. I am unsure if it was made for television or not, but if so, it pushes the limits to be sure and with this kind of subject matter, it had to do so. So if you’re in dire need of high school based cinema, I recommend Hostage High and while it isn’t a classic, it is well worth a look.
The main name in Hostage High is Freddie Prinze, Jr. and while this was one of his earlier works, I doubt he considers it to be his finest hour. With a very youthful look and not too polished presence, Prinze is decent here, but seems a little unprepared. He was still a couple of years away from his breakout role however, so some slack should be cut, although some will argue he didn’t improve much in the meantime. I won’t argue that Prinze is a great actor, but when given the right roles, he can win over an audience and sell tickets, which is what counts. He seems locked inside of teen films at this time, but he has started to wander outside of those limits, which is a good sign. Other films with Prinze include She’s All That, Head Over Heels, Wing Commander, Down to You, and I Know What You Did Last Summer. The cast also includes Rick Schroder (Lonesome Dove, Crimson Tide), Henry Winkler (The Lords of Flatbush, The Waterboy), and of course, Katie Wright (Idle Hands, Late Last Night).
Video: How does it look?
Hostage High is presented in a full frame transfer, which seems to be an open matte version. I am unsure why this was done, as the trailer shows the film in widescreen, which just sort of slaps us viewers in the face, I think. In any event, the image looks decent otherwise and is comparable to a made for television picture. The print shows minor grain, but no other real flaws and while not too sharp, it looks solid enough. I found colors to be bright and never in error, while flesh tones were natural throughout. No real tricks in terms of contrast either, as black levels look well defined and detail never suffers. This should have been anamorphic widescreen and even though it looks stable, I’m knocking the score due to the lack of the intended version.
Audio: How does it sound?
As this is a tense, but dialogue driven picture, I had limited expectations, but hoped for a pleasant overall audio session. The end result is more than solid, but due to the material, it never flexes much audio muscle. This disc uses a Dolby Digital 5.1 option and it kicks at times, but perhaps due to source material limits, sometimes seems a tad thin. Even so, the sound effects have some power when needed and the rears do get some use, though nothing too powerful. The dialogue is spot on and never falters, so I am giving this one a nice, solid score. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, a Spanish language track, and English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The main extra here is an audio commentary track with producer Steve Natt and actor Henry Winkler, who offer a talkative session. The two men discuss how they became involved in the project, as well as their thoughts on the subject matter, characters, and of course, stories from the film’s production. I didn’t find this to be too informative overall, but it is a relaxed and enjoyable track, so in the end, I have no complaints. This disc also includes a selection of still photos, some talent files, and the film’s trailer (which is in widescreen).
