Movie Review - Taken

The Bad Guys finally learn that To Give is waaay better than To Take...

Movie Title
Taken
Year
2008
Genre
Action Thriller

Story
Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is a divorced ex-Black Ops (or another similar type govt agency) Agent who gave up his life of danger and patriotism for the well-being of his teenage daughter Kim (Maggie Grace – who looked very familiar because she was the highly irritating Shannon Rutherford from LOST) & estranged wife Lenore (played by a very tired looking Famke Janssen).

As part of her birthday celebrations, Kim and her best friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy) had planned a trip to Europe as U2 Tour groupies but because she is still under-aged, she needs Bryan, her biological father’s consent. Hence, he gave it reluctantly and with certain conditions, like – call him when she arrives at the airport, hotel, etc. It was during one such call in Paris that he hears Kim & Amanda in the process of being abducted by human traffickers.

Using his past experience and contacts, he traces the call to Paris where he only has 96 hours to find Kim before she disappears forever.

Acting
Liam seems tired and old but he still kicks @$$. Well, if we could believe Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones, we could accept this.

Overall
Reminiscent of Harrison Ford and Jackie Chan movies where at first glance, it doesn’t look like the good guy has any chance in defeating the bad guys. However, in this case, Neeson is a whole lot more meaner and menacing than Ford or Chan. Overall, quite a good action flick if you can manage to suspend your belief of certain parts of the movie – like how Bryan seems to be able to get away with wreaking so much havoc in the heart of Paris & how Kim manages to get back to a normal life without being traumatized by the loss of her best friend – Amanda.

Rating: 6/10