Rent Hotel Mumbai (2018)

Recommended - Hotel Mumbai review by SG

A harrowing and graphic account of the events of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 centred at the Taj Hotel. Well made and gripping throughout and without the Hollywood schmalz. Highly recommended

Was living in Singapore at the time and people visiting the hotel for a conference died! - Hotel Mumbai review by CP Customer

Interesting film highlighting the tragedy of the raid on the Hotel Oberoi and the shock waves it sent around the world at the time.  I had to travel to Tokyo and Hong Kong shortly after and  security in the hotels I stayed in was very tight compared to previous visits such was the impact of the attack.  Not a film for the faint-hearted!

Violent! - Hotel Mumbai review by JP

I am not usually squeamish, but this film had so many violent and brutal scenes. If you do not like watching people getting slaughtered, do not rent this one. I am not saying it's not a well made or important movie, but be aware that it is definitely not for some people.

Delicate Balance - Hotel Mumbai review by FS

On one level, this has all the trappings of a conventional disaster movie: disparate group of characters trapped in a horrific situation while all hell rains down on them, but, because this is based on real events in which real people died, if this were all it was, it would be open to the charge of being exploitative. It goes much further, however. It resists the temptation to make the appallingly cold-blooded, but essentially poor, young, brainwashed jihadists simply cut-out villains . It also gives full recognition to the incredible courage and heroism of the hotel staff, which, for me, was the point of the film, and I'm surprised that Mr. McCormack didn't acknowledge it in his review. In fact, I found that I was much more concerned for the fate of the staff than of the guests, and, given the casting of Dev Patel, I'm not sure that wasn't the director's intention. Thus, the delicate balance: as a disaster movie, it works brilliantly, a real emotional white-knuckle ride, but, in giving both jihadists and hotel staff equal importance to the guests, who would have been the main focus in a simple thriller, the film becomes something more thoughtful and important.

A hard watch you can't stop watching - Hotel Mumbai review by HM

The terrible true story of a terrorist attack on a hotel in India. Characters are brought alive to the viewer but suffer slaughter and terror. Hard to watch as it feels like walking amongst the wounded and dead at the scene of a bombing. You can't stay aloof as a mere spectator, it feels as if you are there and may have sickened some viewers. The cold blooded terrorists demonstrate a total commitment to their religion and cause, taking instructions from a faceless and ruthless leader. All are targeted, men, women, children and the old. No mercy for us infidels.

I was riveted to the screen and felt as though I had been through an emotional wringer! Tough entertainment, but brilliantly done.

An interesting if uneven film about the horror of the Mumbai terrorist attack - Hotel Mumbai review by TB

This is a really mixed bag of a film. But it does have one massive, massive positive which makes it all the more frustrating that the film as a whole wasn't better: the staff of the hotel, where the terrorists eventually fled to and held, slaughtering many of them in the process, are put front and center of the story. Repeatedly, their bravery, heroism, cunning and care is shown. They saved countless people from certain death and it is absolutely right and welcome that this is seen.

In that sense, it is in many ways not a Hollywood film at all. The actors are also very good as well. Armie Hammer and Dev Patel were great, as well as some of the smaller bit parts.

There is also a welcome focus on how many of the terrorists were scared young men who were indoctrinated and given huge promises of greatness, but who also came from unbelievable poverty and destitution. In one moment, a couple of them marvel at the fact that in this hotel, there are proper toilets, not just somewhere they have to squat to relieve themselves. But they are also shown as vicious and dangerous, murderous thugs.

Unfortunately, as much as the tension and attack are brilliantly staged, a good part of the film is just not that well made. Once the initial attack has been set-up, the film loses momentum, flitting back & fourth, almost unsure of what it wants to do. As a result, there is a real sense towards the end of wondering what the film is trying to achieve.

And the fact that this genre of film has in the last few years basically been dominated by the outstanding work of Paul Greengrass (most notably with Captain Phillips,) also means that this film is in many ways trying to occupy the same ground without copying.

But I still would recommend watching this. It is in parts harrowing, plus there is also a welcome segment once the main story finishes, of showing the real staff who were there and how they dealt moving forward after this atrocity.