If you don't consider it one then you're definition is WAY off. It is the essence of revenge movies. He can't get help from the authorities because they are either corrupt or inept and so he has to take matters into his own hands. He not only rescues his wife, but he ignores their threats and makes everyone involved SUFFER. The bad guys get what was coming to them with SATISFYING excess.
It's on Netflix Instant.
*sigh* spoilers..
Essence of revenge movies? What are you smoking? You're missing the point of what a revenge movie is, or maybe it's just my narrow view of what one should be.
I mean, when does he actually seek revenge on his wife's captures? He only goes after them to get his damn wife back, he doesn't even kill/torture them while at gunpoint he just locks them away and runs because he got what he wanted, his wife alive, not revenge.
He only figures out WTF is going on halfway through the movie, and at that point he's just trying to find his way to JT Walsh's farm. And I don't see how the authorities are corrupt or inept either, the one cop pulls them over because Kurt's character keeps stopping short to choke one of the bad guys and ends up getting shot, but that's the only guy I remember him making suffer unless you count slugging JT Walsh. Then he couldn't get enough money from the bank so he had to take a risk using singles to fool the guy. He WAS playing their game because of their threats for a while until then, if he could have gotten all the money I'm assuming he would give it to them.
I mean we're debating a fucking movie but yeah I'd be willing to bet he WOULD HAVE gotten revenge on them all if they did kill his wife or he couldn't find her without them telling him, but that's not what happened. Yeah Walsh's character gets whats coming to him in a satisfying fashion but that was more gravity's doing then Kurt Russell. I agree with a lot of what you say I just don't consider it revenge, it's a mystery/thriller/rescue flick with a twist of revenge but only because of what he has to go though.
Memento, Kill Bill, The Count of Monte Cristo, V for Vendetta... these are what I consider revenge movies, FWIW.
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