Review of Taken (1999) by Mitchell B — 22 Sep 2014

Taken is an enjoyable film for what it is. The plot is nothing new. Many other action films have similar plots like Commando. So, it all comes down to how well and different it is executed. I think Taken is executed fairly decently. Though, this is mainly due to Liam Neeson and his performance, like in the famous telephone scene. Without Neeson, this movie would not be nearly as enjoyable.

The acting is alright. No one did a bad job performance wise. The only character worth talking about is Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson. He is very likable, very driven, and kicks ass. There are times were he comes off very mean and extreme. However, I still liked him as a character, because of his situation. I'm glad he came out on top in the end. The rest of the characters are bland. Maggie Grace's character is the typical teenage girl that gets kidnapped. I did kind of feel for her, but not much, because I barely got to know her. Famke Janssen, I did not care for at all. She did nothing, and was very mean throughout most of the film. The villains, I thought, were kind of nothing villains. I did not find them intimidating.

The film does move at a good pace. The action scenes are fun and well-choreographed. The final fight I really enjoyed.

Overall this is a generic, but fun action movie. Its saving grace is definitely Liam Neeson and his character. I recommend this to people who are fans of action movies. Those who are not fans of action films, I would skip this.