I remember watching this programme when it first came out in 2002. I was originally drawn towards it because it was executive produced by Steven Spielberg. I love pretty much everything he has been involved in. I was also drawn towards it because its sci-fi which I am a big fan of. It was advertised very well and I gave in. My mum, sister and I all sat down (with popcorn of course!) and patiently waited for it to begin. And wow, it was worth the wait every week…
- -Story Line- - The story is about extra terrestrials. Apparently intrigued by how the human body works, they treat them race like lab rats, taking them when they fancy and doing what they please with them. Taken has a totally different layout to the storyline than most. It's no OC, with a day by day account where you can get attached to one person and perv over the other. Instead it focuses on three families over FOUR generations (five decades) and how the aliens affected their lives.
Clarks - Starting off with Sally Clark. Locked into a nightmare marriage with a man who is never at home (not that she wants him to be). She runs a home without his aid whist holding a job and taking care of two children. When a 'visitor' posing as a human is discovered in her shed she soon takes to him and not long after finds out she is pregnant.
Keys - Russell Keys is a WWII veteran who believes him and his men were taken whilst still in action. He is haunted by constant flash backs of these moments and battles to find the truth
Crawfords - Owen Crawford is involved with the air force - They are slowly discovering that there is life off this earth and are trying to cover it up whilst also finding out all they can.
These three families start off as above but soon you find you are watching several different story lines which slowly start to link together…
- -Main Characters- - Joel Gretsch as Owen Crawford Andy Powers as Eric Crawford as an Adult Heather Donahue as Mary Crawford as an Adult Dakota Fanning as Allison Clarke Catherine Dent as Sally Clarke Anton Yelchin as Jacob Clarke as a Child Chad Donella as Jacob Clarke as an Adult Emily Bergl as Lisa Clarke as an Adult Adam Kaufman as Charlie Keys as an Adult James Kirk as Jesse Keys as a Teen Julie Benz as Kate Keys Steve Burton as Captain Russell Keys Desmond Harrington as Jesse Keys Matt Frewer as Dr. Chet Wakeman
- -What You Get- - I managed to buy the box set in summer 2006 for only £22! There are plenty of different places to get it but of course it's cheaper online.
The box is folded and when opened out and placed on the floor has 6 A5 sized places each containing a disc. When folded closed again the other side of the cardboard there is a family tree off all the main characters form the three families and how it links. This really helps if for some reason you forget who belongs where. You have the answer right in front of you! Each disc has a main character that dominates the episodes on that disc and a rating for the episodes on that disc too. For example, even though the over all rating of the series is a 15, discs 1 and 5 are rated a 12. Discs 1 to 5 have two episodes on and disc 6 has all the taken extras.
Disc One - Roswell 1940s -50s (Rated 12) EPISODE ONE - Beyond The Sky Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Tobe Hopper EPISODE TWO - Jacob And Jesse Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Breck Eisner
Disc Two - The JFK Years 1960s (Rated 15) EPISODE THREE - High Hopes Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan EPISODE FOUR - Acid Tests Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Bryan Spicer
Disc Three - 1970s - 90s (Rated 15) EPISODE FIVE - Maintenance Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Felix Alcala EPISODE SIX - Charlie And Lisa Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Thomas J. Wright
Disc Four - The present part one (Rated 15) EPISODE SEVEN - God's Equation Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Jeremy Kagon EPISODE EIGHT - Dropping The Dishes Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Jeff Woolnough
Disc Five - The Present Part Two (Rated 12) EPISODE NINE - John Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: John Fawcett EPISODE TEN - Taken Writer: Leslie Bohem Director: Micheal Katleman
Disc Six - Bonus Feature (Rated PG) Inside Taken
- -Other Info- -
Genre - Sci-fi/Drama Running Time - Approx 14 hours and 45 min Overall Rating - 15 Episodes - 10 Subtitles - English Languages - English n 5.1 EX/C2.0 Dolby Surround
- -My Opinion- - This is a series that has you gripped from the very start and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end. The special effects are sometimes something to be desired at times but bearing in mind that it was a few years ago and the rest are fantastic, they get away with it. On a rare occasion the story line can confuse you but what is more annoying than anything is the 'previously on taken' as once you get past episode four as there is so much to remember! I personally found it interesting and smart the way that all the stories linked together.
You can watch it several different times (my count is 4) and still manage to see new things. It also never fails to move you…even if you know what is going to happen next. This programme was also when I was first introduced to Dakota Fanning who I am now I really big fan of. She is an amazing actress who makes you will the story forward.
Yes there is a big commitment of time if you chose to watch it but it really is worth every moment of your time. I would recommend this to everyone, especially those who likes sci-fi!
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