Click here for the review of Taken

SPOILERS must be tagged with the "SPOILER" tag!

Haven't seen the movie, but I thought that the main trailer for this film was fantastic.
The whole trailer is Liam Neeson talking on the phone, at first sounding like a father scared for his daughter, and then as he talks you slowly realize he is a terrifying man on the hunt for vengeance.

All I want to know is if Liam Neeson says dammit in this. Does he?

The trailer was put together extremely well... it saddens me to read your review, I was almost excited about this one! I might netflix it one day just to see one of my favorite actors tear some shtuff up.

No, dammit!

The review has confirmed my fears that this will be another Besson rush job. Recently his screenplays have been getting from bad to worse. Ever since Kiss of the Dragon things have been getting worse and worse. Just when I had forgiven him for Angel-A and Revolver I happened upon the terrible Bandidas which couldn't be saved if Spielberg was behind the camera and the two leads were in the nude throughout the whole thing.

At least from the previews of Taken it looks like Neeson will retain his good image - he looks super-cool.

Hrm. I always hope these smaller studio flicks are fun. It seems like it's been a long time since there was a great big studio movie that wasn't from a pre-established concept, novel, comic book, tv show, etc. How does a movie like this survive in the current climate? But if its preposterous, that could lead me away.

well, I saw this film last august (yes, it was released months ago in latin america) and thought it was pretty good. yes, it feels rushed and yes, the screenplay is far from airtight, but it was a pretty intense, pulse-pounding experience. it provides with more style than substance, but I can't say I wasn't thrilled by the action sequences or Liam Neeson's performance. it's OBVIOUSLY a paycheck role, but unlike other actors of his caibre, at least he tries to do something with the material. (instead of sleepwalking through the movie.)

I agree.

I saw this a while ago and thought it was a thoroughly entertaining piece of trash with a fun performance by Liam Neeson. At 93 minutes it's very well paced unlike so many "thrillers" that have 20-30 minutes of padding.

I am very surprised that this received a PG13 as the version i saw was pretty hardcore and quite brutal and all the better for it. I saw James alluded to this. I've heard rumors that the US version as been edited down to PG13 from the UK R version.

That said, I agree with James' rating of 2.5 stars.

Rob

I'm currently watching Nip/Tuck on FX right now... 33 minutes into the episode. And I've seen the damn TAKEN trailer like 40 times. Driving me nuts!!

In its defense, it does have a fantastic trailer. Almost made me want to see it until I heard how mediocre it is. Though 2.5 stars is enough to make me rent it.

It is not mediocre - It's just not great - but it's very entertaining

Liam Neeson is very good and I have a feeling that the US version has been edited to reach PG-13

All that said. It's a DVD rental

Rob

Patrick, I don't know you, but I like your blog
Thanks for the effort, I enjoyed the articles on watching movies and film critics

Is it easy to write a blog as yours is very elegant in terms of style?

Rob

completely agree. haven't seen a film in which Liam Neeson gives a bad performance. as mediocre as Star Wars Episode I is, for example (yes, mediocre, NOT bad), he definitely gives the most realistic, believable and sympathetic performance. Now, I don't know about what "version" of the film I saw here in Peru, but it was pretty brutal, so I guess it was the R-rated one. (funnily enough, here it was rated the equivalent of PG-13 - "14 years old or older" - but the Saw movies are given that rating here, so who knows.)

Liam Neeson can elevate a movie a half star just by having his face in it. Is it creepy to say I don't mind just looking at his face? A great actor.

i agree, I've watched Darkman and Rob Roy far too many times
Rob

I love a good thriller and I've been looking forward to this, and will most likely see it at some point, but I'm disappointed (although not shocked) to hear that the film lacks intelligence. Not that I was expecting a mind-bender, but if I want mindless man vs world violence, I'll stick with 24 or Bourne.

Alas, Liam makes me compelled to check it out eventually.

I don't know if it was just me, but when I first saw the trailer for Taken [which I will have to wait for DVD to see] it somewhat reminded me of Frantic. I guess from the idea of a kidnapping/disappearance and one man running about piecing it all together. Seems enjoyable but I think Besson needs to calm down a bit!

Not really. i've seen both and while they are thematically similar this is much more hardcore.
I have no idea how the version I saw got a PG-13 certificate
Rob

I think Besson needs a break. I see his name attached to films so often these days that I'm surprised he hasn't been labeled as the French version of Harvey Weinstein.