Perhaps the best thing about Taken is that the film is reminiscent of the old arcade beat-em ups. The film sets up its plot for the first thirty minutes (or opening cut scene) and then becomes Liam Neeson pressing punch, throw and kick buttons for the next hour and a half. It also is a great reminder of how great action films can be when handled well.
Taken opens with Bryan Mills (Neeson) trying to reconnect with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) much to the chagrin of his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen, who starts off as the ultimate bitch in the opening scenes.) The preliminary conflict arises from Bryan’s instinctive unease with his daughter’s planned trip to Europe for the summer. Bryan, under specific conditions, finally agrees and his daughter (along with her friend) is off to Paris. A “cute guy” they meet at the airport follows them home, makes a call, and then has guys come over and kidnap the two girls. Bryan makes his way to Paris and begins pressing his punch button left and right.
Taken Movie Review
The main problem with this movie is Maggie Grace. Instead of playing Kim like a spoiled, seventeen year-old girl she embodies the role more to the age of fourteen. This isn’t “angst, angst, angst” like we’re used to with everything involving teens these days (partly thanks to a stupid vampire movie.) Instead, Grace is whiny, annoying and at times laughable. She’s supposed to storm out of a room upset and hiding her tears. Instead, she stomps out of the room quickly and let’s everyone know she’s mad at daddy. It doesn’t kill the film, but it’s a pretty notable flaw.
The next problem isn’t really much of one, but it’s humorous to think of afterward. We’d basically have no film if everyone would listen to Bryan or had been honest with him. Take for instance the scene mentioned earlier with Bryan, Kim and Lenore. Bryan explicitly says he doesn’t want Kim to go. Instead of saying ‘that’s unfortunate, Dear’, Lenore, like her daughter, whines that Bryan’s wrong and should let their daughter go. This is before he drags the truth out of them that Kim and her friend aren’t going to look at museums but rather follow U2 all over Europe during the summer in hopes of Kim achieving her goal of being a pop singer. Small nuance that is, again, fun to think about when the film is over.
Of course, if they had listened to Bryan we’d have been without the hour and a half of awesome that follows. Bryan arrives in Paris and begins to unleash the wrath of Hades on everyone – this is where this flick really shines. Neeson plays the character with such subtlety that makes you feel this is a man going to tear through any and everyone for his daughter. And boy does he! Without spoiling everything, there’s a sequence where Bryan enters the villain’s lair and does one of the most bad ass things you’ll ever see an action hero do before dealing out punishment. After discovering he’s been followed, Bryan typically speeds up then drives past his pursuer and flips him off. Now true, it’s insanely awesome to watch Neeson put on the ‘infinite health’ cheat code and take down everything and anyone. However, what makes Bryan Mills standout a little bit above most heroes are the scenes where he’s not kicking anyone’s teeth in.
In a society dominated by action films too concerned with the next big explosion or how big the lead girl’s tits are, it’s refreshing to have a film like ‘Taken” that’s subtle in its approach and doesn’t go way over-the-top. The film hearkens back to those 80′s action movies and yes, even the beat-’em-up games that used plot as an excuse for a rampage. This particular adventure happens to be led by a class actor, who, with the help of a pretty neat script, elevates it a little above the standard fare.
Rating: 
I’m not much of an action movie fan generally, but I really liked Taken. It knew what it was, ran with it, and lots of bad guys died in lots of really satisfying ways.
The one thing that bothered me, though, was the film’s insistence on reminding us over and over and over that Kimmy was, and remained, a virgin. Like what happened to her would have somehow been less awful if she’d be sexually active.
I would have to say this movie ranks up there with Push for being terrible. I am so glad that I didn’t pay for this movie. The storyline was terrible, the action was over the top for an old man, the acting was sub par.
If you went in looking for something stupid to waste your time with dumb action than this is the film for you. If you went in wanting more than a Steven Seagal movie, you will be sorely dissapointed as I was.
This movie deserves in my mind, a straight to DVD release.
I guess that is what you get for putting Liam Neeson’s name/face on something.
Another small thing, the believability of about 90% of the movie was horrid. He just knew which croatian hooker to speak to, to find his daughter?? COME ON PEOPLE!!
Atomic popcorn, i can understand you not liking this film, but to say that its “terrible” is a discredit to your profession. This was a fantastic movie even if you dont like action movies. As far as the storyline goes…how could it be “terrible”?? This is real life my friend, there are people like Liam Neeson who are real people and do this job everyday (obviously they use different methods/tactics/and “more” people) because this is really going on in the world. I am sorry that the world sex trade isnt enough story line for you. I think if you did a little bit more watching than eating popcorn in the movie, you would have a different opinion. Yes, i admit he did find his enemies very quickly, but things must me expedited for an 1 1/2 hr movie. Remember, that movies are not real time. youre more than welcome to review my blogs for some pointers. Happy movie watching!
Final note: Remember that movies are created for entertainment purposes only….were you honestly not entertained throughout this whole movie?? I think you should ask yourself this before critiquing in the future.
Thanks for your kind words Roger, I do appreciate them all. While I do know for the most part of what you speak of, I still think this movie was pretty terrible overall. Yes I was entertained but in a TBS made for TV movie type of way.
Thanks for swinging by our side of the internet.
We shall speak with you soon.!!
I agree. Schindler’s List, Dancer in the Dark, Gerry … I can’t tell you how many times I kick back, sip a nice jumbo soda, and laugh my way through those joy-fests. I hate movies that strive for art and make me think, don’t you?
So, rumors are this is a “real” talkback. I have my doubts, but what the hell, this will be cathartic either way.
Mr. Ebert, you claim that the statement that the movie Taken is “terrible” is a discredit to their profession. This are strong words, coming from the man who has given positive reviews to illiterate, brainless tripe for years, up to and including the latest George Lucas fiasco Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Your only possible defense for your position on Indy 4 would be to puff up your bloated face, shake with impotent rage, and whine “well, that’s a matter of opinion.”
And you know what? You would be right, dammit. While I can lay out the simple facts that Indy 4 (a) destroyed all the story rules of previous installments, (b) contradicted itself within its own story, (c) had dialog so bad that, when printed out, a grammar teacher would need a dump truck full of red pens to correct all the sloppy prepositional phrases, (d) ruined the core values of the main character, (e) started off with a cartoon rodent, (f) had a scene where a latchkey kid fences with a dominatrix whilst defending his testicles from jungle weeds, (g) depended on deus ex machina in every single act, and (h) HAD ITS FRACKING MAIN CHARACTER SURVIVE AN ATOMIC EXPLOSION IN A REFRIGERATOR, and then back up my arguments by showing you the recently released transcripts where Spielberg, Kasdan, and Lucas brainstorm the various nuances of the world and state specifically that they should not do all the things the fourth film ends up doing because it would SUCK … I still have to acknowledge that your opinion has value.
I’m not sure how MUCH value, since you seem to think because you’ve grown so fat on corporate greed or the sweet, sweet buttery popcorn you accuse this website of obsessing over, that you can make irrational statements like this in light of your own pathetic failings.
By all means, be a bad movie reviewer. It’s the public’s fault if they listen to your opinion. But don’t have the audacity and the arrogance to use your un-earned fame to piggy back on someone else’s review so you can say idiotic things.
All of their critiques are valid. The film does sacrifice any attempt at plot for video game action, and that action is filmed with no sense of style. They simply pressed [REC] and depended on the choreography to tell the story. Also, the sex trade is a pointless setting in terms of real drama because they never have the time to delve deeply into the world because they’re too busy filming shitty action sequences.
My point is, they have the right to say whatever they want about the film and, unlike the reviews I’ve seen from you, they back them up with some knowledge of how visual storytelling should work.
I hope I’ve stated my case clearly and rationally.
Censorship! Haha, I understand.
Sorry brother – I think your post itself shows what was said in the last few words you left!
Haha ^^ nice, is there a section to follow the RSS feed
There sure is. Just click on the very LARGE button the right side of the page that says Follow Atomic Popcorn via Email or RSS.
You could even click on the links below the review you just read that has the very large RSS icon to he left of it. Either way will get what you want unless you are here to put a link to your site.
Actually…I think this Roger Ebert is not the Ebert we know and love.
[...] Atomic Popcorn [...]
I don’t know about you guys, but I really dug this movie. Saw it twice in theatres, pretty awesome. Liam Neeson’s character would be one hell of a bodyguard to have around.
Kimmy was so annoying! She ran around as if she was 10 years old not 17. She had no idea how to play a 17 year old.
gr3at freaking movie,one of the best l.n. movies and this should be a wake up call that things like this go on all the time out there in the dark of this world ,I say listen to your parents if they are telling you something good,..it may save you from your own silliness that can get you taken by some of the freaks out there that will do anything for money like the villians that these actors pertray in this flick taken. i think there’s a similar movie called trade on dvd.