Review of Taken (2004) by Stafford V — 20 Sep 2014

Former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) tries to have a closer relationship with his 17-year-old daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). She lives with her mother, Lenore (Famke Janssen), and her wealthy stepfather, Stuart (Xander Berkeley), in California; he feels embarrassed about her stepfather spoiling her, and wishes to spend time with her.

While working as security at a concert with former colleagues, Bryan saves a pop star Sheerah (Holly Valance) from an assailant as she exits the stage and begins for her limo outside of the stadium. Sheerah, grateful about being saved, agrees to tutor Kim after Bryan says she aspires to be a singer.

Kim asks Bryan for permission to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy). Bryan balks at the two girls travelling alone, but relents when Lenore -his ex-wife- complains that he is overprotective.

He gives Kim an international cellphone, and makes her promise to call every day. At Los Angeles International Airport, he learns that the girls are not staying in Paris, but are following U2 during their European tour.

Arriving in Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Kim and Amanda meet Peter (Nicolas Giraud), a scout for a kidnapping gang, who offers to share a cab with them and so learns where they are staying. Kim believes they are staying with Amanda's cousins but, upon arriving at the apartment, learns that the cousins are actually in Spain, and becomes slightly nervous.

She retains herself in a quiet room while her friend presents loud music on her stereo not too far away. While talking to Bryan on the phone in the bathroom, Kim sees Amanda being kidnapped by intruders.

Bryan instructs her to go to the nearest room and hide under a bed. He explains that when the men find her, she has to shout out their physical descriptions. Kim is pulled out violently from under the bed, and she complies with her father's instructions before the phone is found.

Bryan warns the person over the phone that they have this one chance to release his daughter, or else he will begin hunting them down and killing them. He's told "good luck" and the connection is terminated.