Masterminds (1997)

great crappy movie
this movie is far far far away from being a masterpiece, but i've loved it since i was a kid. the only problem is, it's almost impossible to find, anywhere. they really need a dvd version!

Good for Stewart fans, suspensful, but not outstanding.
Masterminds is a hostage suspense story similar to Toy Soldiers. In this case Patrick Stewart is the culprit, ostensibly setting up security for a private grade school. Vincent Kartheiser is a teenage computer wiz who dropped off his little sister at the school, then stayed behind to pull a prank with the school's new computer system, getting trapped inside - hidden. There's plenty of action & suspense, but the plot's slightly confusing - it's not clear what Stewart's team is really up to, and some of it seems far-fetched even for this type of movie. In other words, it will keep you interested, but is hard to follow. Fans of Patrick Stewart probably won't be disappointed, except for the fact he's the bad guy. Brenda Fricker is good as the principal, the rest of the cast competent but not outstanding.

UGGH
I might say that it was not that a great movie, nor even a good movie at that. First we have antagonists who are most likely mercks, but lack the skills to prove that they are. Even their leader, considering his role, is not appropriate to be a British SAS. Also, they are very "soft", to consider that they are equipped with dartguns. I got irritated also that there were many times that the protagonist will surely be caught but the criminals were so stupid. The film also lacks of realism, not much crowds outside the gate, considering that these are children held hostages. Mines exploding very near policemen, but they were not much affected by the blasts, etc. Well I need not go on. For me, don't waste your money buying this movie. If you want, just rent it.