The Kidnapping of the President

Latin American terrorists abduct the President of the United States while he is on a state trip in Toronto. The Secret Service have to devise a plan to get him back alive. This Canadian political thriller features Captain Kirk - I mean William Shatner - in a starring role as the head of the American Secret Service. It's always kind of fun watching him in contemporary roles and in this one he even gets to utter an f-bomb which was a bonus. He's pretty good value here and the main reason I am guessing anyone would actively seek this one out. Starring alongside him is one of those reliable 70's stalwarts, Hal Holbrook, who gets to play the President. The film itself really starts out pretty well and by the half-way point it has set in motion a pretty intriguing scenario. It would only be fair to say though that in the second half it kind of peters out a bit and the varied action and events of the set-up culminate with a situation that can best be described as a man in a van. Still, it ultimately is decent enough fare and the Toronto setting I quite liked. It certainly had the potential to be better though.

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The Kidnapping of the President

This movie looked like it was rushed to release for some reason. Definitely not a well made movie. So unbelievable. The scenes where the President (Holbrook) were downtown and walking among the people were a farce. There would not be a chance for the common folk to be within 30 yards of the President in that situation in real life. If it wasn't for the blood and profanity, this was shot like a TV movie. It could have been decent if it was done differently. Holbrook's (President) talents were never realized in this movie. Shatner's acting is okay. The production values in this movie leave a lot to be desired. Overall, I think most people would be better off not wasting time to watch this affair.

President Hal Holbrook fashioned after JFK is kidnapped by Roberto (Miguel Fernandes) a Che Guevara type who wasn't really killed by the CIA. The kidnapping takes place in Toronto and doesn't go any farther than a rigged van. Only William Shatner can save the President as VP Van Johnson struggles to give him complete control. Ava Gardner rounds out the A listers. In spite of all the stars, like the van, the film went nowhere. It was one for the era and doesn't stand the test of time. On multi-packs Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity.

When the government was helping create a film industry here in Canada, it followed this pattern b film with a named actor. This time the name actor is William Shatner, and the b action film is about terrorist grabbing the president. Unbelievable at the time, but after 9/11 James Bond plots become more believable every week. It is entertaining, and I like Shatner in it, I forgotten abit of the ending. Entertaining, but a B film. 5/10

This is a great flick. Full of explosive action, it's the kind of flick you never heard of, you watch it, and you wish you had heard of it sooner. Shatner is ultra cool as he plays the head of the FBI. There are plenty of great explosions, tons of action and a pretty tense storyline. The end is a bit predictable, but still leaves you cheering. Hal Holbrook plays perhaps the most believable president in film history. Most film presidents in this situation are either a wimp or a hothead jerk. Holbrook walks the line in between gracefully. Obviously the story revolves around a president getting kidnapped. The Kidnapping itself is a bit implausible. Worst of all Shatner wimps out and basically hands the President over to the thugs. But do not worry, he more than makes up for it later when he tosses around a kidnapper and the 'F word' all in the same scene. Ya gotta love the guy.

Starring William Shatner as a Secret Service agent, the President is successfully kidnapped and the search for him and the kidnappers is on. A decent film, far better than Vantage Point which had a similar idea behind it, the acting and pacing are decent as is the ending. Worth seeing if it were ever on.