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Taken
| Movie Rating: |
 | 7/10 |
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| DVD Rating: |
| 5/10 |
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| Overall Rating: |
| 7/10 |
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Movie Details: View Here
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Starring:
Liam Neeson
Maggie Grace
Katie Cassidy
Famke Janssen
Special Features:
Includes Both the Theatrical Version and Extended Cut of the Film
Other Info:
Video: Widescreen 2.40:1 Color
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1 [CC]
Spanish: Dolby Digital Surround
French: Dolby Digital Surround
Subtitles: English, Spanish, French
Run Time: 90 min
Rating: PG-13
Synopsis from DVD Cover:
Prepare to get Taken for the ride of your life! "Liam Neeson is an unstoppable force" (Premiere) in this action-packed international thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. When his estranged teenage daughter (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped in Paris, a former spy (Neeson) sets out to find her at any cost. Relying on his special skills, he tracks down the ruthless gang that abducted her and launches a one-man war to bring them to justice and rescue his daughter.
Quick Review:
So, I'll just say right now that if human traffickers ever kidnap me, I SO want Lima Neeson trying to find me. The great thing about "Taken" is that there's never a real slow down of the action once it gets started - but this is definitely one of those movies where one mustn't ask questions, choosing instead to just move forward without too much time spent on logic.
Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) has retired from a job he loved as a spy to be closer to his 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) after years of being tied to his job. He's making progress, but then Kim decides she wants to go on a summer trip to Paris, and despite being very hesitant, he gives his blessing. Well, turns out he knew best, because she winds up being kidnapped by sex slave traffickers to be sold off to the highest bidder, and it's up to Bryan to take on half of Paris as he uses every trick the Agency ever taught him to find his daughter before it's too late.
Yeah, so, I think a large part of this film's appeal is Neeson. As a father looking to bond with his daughter, he's kind of sad and instantly appealing, and as an agent, he is incredibly resourceful, and the things he gets done and can do are, again, the things you have to suspend disbelief for. It works here, though, because once you accept the premise of just how awesome he is, anything is possible. Also, once we're through the set-up bit in the beginning, the movie never slows down. Not sure what it is, but there's something liberating about Bryan's utter lack of diplomacy - he goes full-throttle the whole time, and he never pauses for consequences. It would seem that this would lead to more problems, but his penchant for barreling right through everything actually works, and it never bogs the action down with attempts at being covert. There's a weird tiny sub-plot about a pop singer that could've easily been lost, and there are many unanswered questions - Amanda, anyone? Did anybody even tell her family she was gone? But again, all questions are forgotten, at least until the film ends, because it's such a wild ride.
First off in the Special Features are two Audio Commentaries, one from director Pierre Morel and cinematographers Michel Abramowicz and Michel Julienne, the other from writer Robert Mark Kamen. Also included is Making Of piece called, of course, "The Making of Taken," a short piece on the Paris premiere of the film called "Avant Premiere," and a piece on the film's stunt stuff called "Inside Action." The Extras add a little bit of information, but not much.
In Conclusion:
"Taken" asks us to suspend a lot of disbelief and leaves a lot of unanswered questions, but Liam Neeson rocks and the action is exhilarating, so just ignore your pesky brain and enjoy the ride.
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