Taken (Review)

[MidnightSensi]

**May include a little spoiler, but, I can't talk about the movie without it*


I was recommended "Taken" from a friend and had heard some good things about it from those who saw it in the theater, so it was added to NetFlix.

Taken is about a retired CIA agent who is forced to track down his daughter who has been kidnapped on a trip to Europe. I was immediately reminded of Man on Fire, a movie that executed this story fantastically, but this isn't even close. Liam Neeson does his best to get through the shortfalling dialog, but its futile.

The girl is kidnapped to be taken into the sex trade. This is one part of the movie that killed it for me, because if you want to make a movie PG-13, having it be about the sex trade probably isn't going to deliver much impact. To deal with something so vile, it can't be tiptoed around. This movie does, you see some girls that have been given opiates, some ugly places, but it doesn't gut wrench you like it should. Instead they deliver casual torture, shooting someone who probably didn't get to get shot, all in a package suitable for a 13 year old. I think the MPAA has really lost their mind. Torture is okay, shooting some girl is okay, but don't show any boobs or any collateral damage or grit and we're cool. Maybe its a whole other topic, but if your going to shoot someone in a movie, don't make it almost comical that shooting people doesn't become a big deal. When people get shot, there is lots of blood, and shock, and cries, and cops, and things I can't even imagine.

It's a movie that maybe originally intended to say something dark and chilling about a world we don't know, but ultimately leaves you with nothing.

Everything is so fast paced, so noisy, so lacking impact, that its difficult to care. Then on top of that, you add in this impression that Europe is unsafe, and that brown people will steal your virgin daughter (played by a girl that looks older than me) and her slut friend as soon as they land. Once they leave America, Liam must go through a whole list of foreign people (anyone with brown skin will do) to find his daughter again.

Dream dad comes and kung-foos his away around Paris (without a single visit from a cop, even after attacking people at an airport .... because airports have no security ) until the movie ends... except for a final scene that is so tacky you might throw up a little.

What the movie does have is action, so if you want something to watch, and have an occasional laugh at, you could do worse. If you want something to make you think, or care, this isn't it. This movie would have been better suited for a bunch of drunk people sitting around a couch yelling obsenties at the TV.

 

[Adam]

I'd suggest that you edit the top of your post to mention that you include spoilers. At least, I consider what she was put into after being taken as a spoiler - but I didn't read the reviews, so maybe that's common knowledge.

I was disturbed by the concept and the images. PG-13 or no, the idea of that "business" and the horror that occurs is enough for me to translate those scenes into a fuller picture. Because of that, I won't watch it again. I really enjoyed the action, as you said, but I also thought that the writing was good.

EDIT: Thanks for adding that note at the top!

 

[MidnightSensi]

I'd suggest that you edit the top of your post to mention that you include spoilers. At least, I consider what she was put into after being taken as a spoiler - but I didn't read the reviews, so maybe that's common knowledge.

I saw the sex part of it in a preview so I thought it would be okay, but its hard to talk about the movie without that bit, and also might help people determine if they want to see it or not (that's a delicate topic), but I guess it is a spoiler. Thanks.

I was disturbed by the concept and the images. PG-13 or no, the idea of that "business" and the horror that occurs is enough for me to translate those scenes into a fuller picture. Because of that, I won't watch it again. I really enjoyed the action, as you said, but I also thought that the writing was good.

I guess I'm admittedly desensitized to that. While they showed hints of what was there, there wasn't enough "space" for it to sink it, and because it was so brushed over to earn a PG-13 rating (well, brushed in the sex department, not the violence department ...) it made it seem almost comical to me. Even Hostil delivered the terrible impact of a similar story better, because at least it took a break to show a bit of how this horrible stuff affects people. I'm not saying I wanted to see girls raped and tortured, but I didn't feel any weight to the movie. Perhaps because of the script or the superhuman kungfoo

As far as the writing, I just disagree. Stuff like "I'll take down the Eiffel Tower to find her" just came off as horribly tacky to me.

 

[Seth=L]

I enjoyed this movie, I felt gripped. Maybe I am just a shallow 13 year old.

 

[Lordoftherings]

"Taken" on Blu-Ray.

I just watched "Taken" on Blu-Ray couple days ago.
Wow! Many bad guys get disabled or end up dead, and deservedly so.

This movie kick butts seriously. And soon the action started, it doesn't let go.
I enjoyed it big time. Video and audio are perfectly fine too.

"I will find you I will kill you"

LOTR

 

[The Dukester]

I watched this the night it came out on video. I mostly enjoyed it considering the subject matter. My opinion on it glossing over the subject matter is that it was in no way laughable, either concerning the subject or the way it was presented. My opinion is that to show much more detail would be distasteful and unnecessary. For people who live in denial or unawareness that this actually happens, it shows enough for them to gasp at the thought. To those more in tune with the facts of today's world, it was enough to remind you that much worse happens and personally, I don't want or need to see it on the screen.

The acting I thought was good, although as mentioned, there were some pretty ridiculous lines. The film was shot well with a fast but not too hard to follow pace. It is pretty predictable from the outset, so don't think you will have to wait for the last few minutes of the film to figure out what's going to happen. HOW it happens is the only surprise. It is unrealistic to think that the events could happen as shown, without any intervention by the police, etc. You just can't go around leaving that many dead bodies and walk away, but hey; this is Hollywood.

Another thing we are left to ponder is yet another case of whether or not taking justice into our own hands is justified when premeditated and willful regardless of the events that caused us to go into attack mode. Is it right to go around killing people like that? What is right is that Liam's character loves his daughter enough to use all means at his disposal and then some to find her. Although many times the killing is in self defense, many are not and we are left with the question of whether vigilante killing is acceptable or not. For me, I can't say that two wrongs make a right, but I can say that I'm glad I have not had to experience anything like that. It's a real shame that anyone has and my heart goes out to them.

 

[rmk]

I liked it ... A LOT! .

But I am a very unreliable source these days. Some good explosions, gun shots and a car chase (or two) is about all it takes.

 

[jostenmeat]

Spoiler

I was also disappointed with this movie. In addition to Adam's comment regarding spoilers, even after the AH mods implemented spoiler tags at my bequest, I still normally avoid movie threads until after I've watched it, like in this case. People ought to be more careful, IMO. Oh whatever! I'll just keep avoiding these threads until after I've seen them. OTOH, some frequent posters are pretty good about that, like j garcia, so it depends. Thanks for the review Midnight. Just use spoiler tags for now on, cheers. (I ended up picking on you, but it's not just you, it's everyone, please take no offense).

 

[MidnightSensi]

K, I'll bite, what is the spoiler? I guess the

Spoiler

sex trade

is kind of a spoiler, but its on the back cover of the movie. You know some girls

Spoiler

get kidnapped

from the get go...

Please inform me, 'cuz I like to write these things and I don't want people to feel that they can't read them before seeing the movie!

 

[jostenmeat]

K, I'll bite, what is the spoiler? I guess the

Spoiler

sex trade

is kind of a spoiler, but its on the back cover of the movie. You know some girls

Spoiler

get kidnapped

from the get go...

Please inform me, 'cuz I like to write these things and I don't want people to feel that they can't read them before seeing the movie!

Good point, MS, but ya know some people avoid the back covers, and even the previews themselves.

Since I never go to the movies anymore, and skip thru all my BD previews, I might be considered such a person. Anyhoo, without looking at the cover back, or any online synopsis, maybe any of these typed things apply:

Spoiler

casual torture

foreign brown skinned villains

attacking people at an airport

girls being given opiates

No boobs

sex trade (but as you noted, it's written on the back cover?)

retired CIA agent

believe it or not, I didn't know ANY of the above before viewing. So, I'm doing well to not ruin any movies before viewing, aren't I?

EDIT: just making a point. I agree with you that this movie is bad enough, where . . . who's to care if we know the above.... but as you can see, some people DO REALLY like the movie. My take on it...

 

[MidnightSensi]

Good point, MS, but ya know some people avoid the back covers, and even the previews themselves.

Since I never go to the movies anymore, and skip thru all my BD previews, I might be considered such a person. Anyhoo, without looking at the cover back, or any online synopsis, maybe any of these typed things apply:

Spoiler

casual torture

foreign brown skinned villains

attacking people at an airport

girls being given opiates

No boobs

sex trade (but as you noted, it's written on the back cover?)

retired CIA agent

believe it or not, I didn't know ANY of the above before viewing. So, I'm doing well to not ruin any movies before viewing, aren't I?

EDIT: just making a point. I agree with you that this movie is bad enough, where . . . who's to care if we know the above.... but as you can see, some people DO REALLY like the movie. My take on it...

Cheers.

I guess I'm just tired of movies where

Spoiler

a pipe is always predictabily loose

Next review will be spoiler tagged.

 

[GlocksRock]

I thought the movie was great, the blu ray had excellent picture and sound, and I was on the edge of my seat nearly the whole time.

 

[j_garcia]

I felt it was a good action flick. Not a lot of depth and a little too many Bourne similarities in the action arena though. Worth a rental IMO though.

 

[ragged]

I liked it a lot. I wouldn't mind seeing him in that kind of role again. But seriously, who lets their 17 y/o daughter travel across Europe following U2?

 

[billy p]

We enjoyed it. I chuckled telling my daughter that she would've been SOL if that happened to her...lol. I mean really, it was a bit over the top but a decent flick worth renting!

Regards, Bill

 

[rmk]

I understand the criticism offered but come on fellas … Taken is an action movie that was a little slow at the start but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. The slightly wooden acting, predictability, plot holes and violence didn't bother me and were offset by what I thought were great action sequences.

Maybe I just liked seeing an old guy kick ass.

 

[MidnightSensi]

I understand the criticism offered but come on fellas … Taken is an action movie that was a little slow at the start but once it got going, I really enjoyed it. The slightly wooden acting, predictability, plot holes and violence didn't bother me and were offset by what I thought were great action sequences.

Maybe I just liked seeing an old guy kick ass.

The start was just ganked from "The Bodyguard" haha. Predictability and violence didn't bother me so much, and I actually thought he did a good job provided the horrible script he was given. But, everyone elses acting was horrid..

I guess since I'm the minority, who thinks this movie was absolute rubbish, here is how I viewed the movie:

Spoiler

Ganked scene from "The Bodygaurd," then daughter wants to go on tour with U2 (U2?! Come'on, 17 year olds don't listen to U2... ), as soon as they land they are excited to meet a random french dude (because mom or dad didn't even give the "don't accept invitations from random strangers" speech?), only to be kidnapped by scary foreign people while she happens to be talking to dad. In a flash, he extorts a private jet from his ex-wifes new squeeze, and lands refreshed to blow everything up, kill people, never sleep and display absolutely no emotion. Then, obviously after a big line of coke, still has enough energy to cause havok at Charles de Gaulle airport while evading all police, fires a gun off into his friends wife who made him dinner, destorys a quary, burns down a building, zaps a thug (gotta love 220, hope he brought his converter), finds a loose pipe (jackpot!), and kills countless bad dudes while avoiding a tens of thousands of rounds, then takes a taxi home (but at least he got a hug), then takes daughter to singing lessions with international pop star.

I guess my problem with it ultimately is I would have rather seen a Jason Statham movie like Transporter or Crank that doesn't allude to saying something but ultimately gloss over anything in exchange for some action...it just is non-stop sensless action to enjoy.. But this movie was buttered, Fox pictures, mass-consumable action/violence that alludes some kind of depth.

 

[Flag-Matic]

I enjoyed the movie.

 

[Socio]

I thought it was great; I planned on watching half of the movie then running some errands and watching the rest when I got back.

My errands never got done as I could not stop watching.

 

[ivseenbetter]

It was a good flick. Flick being the keyword. It isn't real...but I didn't want it to be real. It was real entertaining though.