Taken

I'm a huge Liam Neeson fan, and I was really happy to see a movie that once again allows him to shine.  Taken is a fast-paced thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat during the film, and leave you exhausted and elated by the time it runs its course.

Not Just a Pretty Face

You may have gotten used to Liam Neeson as a peaceful character after his roles as a Jedi Knight in Star Wars, Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia, and Daniel in Love Actually, but you see his character's darker side in Taken.  Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) seems like a retired dad trying to spend some time with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace), but when she is kidnapped, he falls back on the spy skills he has honed during his years working for the CIA.  Although his work caused his divorce from his wife Lenore (Famke Janssen), it is now what enables him to hunt down and track those involved with his daughter's abduction.

Fast and Furious

This movie relies on fast-paced action to keep you involved, mixing in car chases, fistfights and full-out brawls with to-the-point dialog that is Bryan's trademark.  It also covers the very hard topics of kidnapping and the slave trade, and presents them through the eyes of an angry vigilante father who also happens to be a trained killer.  Expect a lot of violence, noise and scenes not appropriate for children from this film.

I don't usually buy into thriller, so I was surprised at how gripping this movie was.  It was well-directed, featured a great performance by Liam Neeson and the supporting cast, and had a strong story that kept Ginny and I involved right until the closing credits.

Taken is a great movie, and is definitely worth seeing.


Rating: 8.0/10.0