... Leading the way to towards this new re-incarnation of the actor is Taken a gripping action thriller with more guns and fights than a James Bond movie could ever aspire to.
Taken begins rather preposterously with the 17th birthday of Kim (Maggie Grace near on ten years above that age), long ... Read review
Steven Spielberg's alien abduction opusTakenis what happens when you cross-breedClose ... more
Encounters of the Third KindwithThe Waltons. Obviously flushed with the success of the TV mini-seriesBand of Brothers, Spielberg's Dreamworks studio has created an equally epic 10-part story chronicling 50 years of habitual abduction over several generations of three American families.Beginning with the most notorious alien cover-up in US history, the 1947 "crash" at Roswell, New Mexico,Takenintroduces the "Greys" and the families they routinely abduct, probe and, in a couple of cases, impregnate over the course of the ten hour-and-a-half-long episodes. The three families are: the Keys, from which first Russell, then his son Jessie, then grandson Danny, are all abducted; the Clarkes, who are descended from a liaison between lonely put-upon housewife Sally Clarke and one of the Roswell crash survivors; and the Crawfords, the ruthless G-men who are committed to uncovering the purpose behind the alien visitations at any cost.But even though the Greys' actions are at best ambiguous and at worst hostile,Takenis basically a soap opera, lacking the sinister undercurrent of eitherDark SkiesorThe X-Filesdespite its science-fiction trappings. Nevertheless, this is an engaging series which has decent performances--most notably Joel Gretsch as psychotic Owen Crawford--special effects and an engaging enough storyline to make it entertaining, if somewhat disposable, TV. --Kristen Bowditch
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Produced by Steven Spielberg this epic saga weaves together the stories of three families ... more
over multiple generations and their crucial roles in the history of alien abductions. Set against the backdrop of actual historical events 'Taken' creates an evocative tale of mankind's encounters with extra-terrestrials.
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Thriller - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Timothy West, Neil Morrissey, Tara Fitzgerald, Annette Crosbie, Pauline Quirke, Rob Brydon, Denise Van Outen, John Thomson, Kevin Whately, David Suchet
Production Year: 2002 - Thriller - Director: Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Matthew MacFadyen, Keeley Hawes, David Oyelowo, Peter Firth, Jenny Agutter, Lisa Faulkner
Advantages: Makes you see lead actor Liam Neeson in a different light Disadvantages: Maggie Grace playing a 17 years old? PLEASE!
...re-incarnation of the actor is Taken a gripping action thriller with more guns and fights than a James Bond movie could ever aspire to.
Taken begins rather preposterously with the 17th birthday of Kim (Maggie Grace near on ten years above that age), long distant father Bryan (Neeson) arrives to the party clutching a karaoke machine to help his daughter practise her love of singing. In the ultimate dick swinging contest however, Step ... ...I chose to delay watching Taken by nearly a month after receiving a preview disc, I had not heard of Taken and simply assumed this was some sort of low budget thriller that was not going anywhere. I could not have been more wrong, although for the most part in English this is really a major French movie, with in incredibly big budget.
There are so many thrillers out there that go nowhere, and have no real impact on your emotions. Taken ... more
All the way back at the end of the 1980's someone looked at the 35 year old Liam Neeson and decided that he would make the most excellent action hero. Next Of Kin, Darkman, Suspect, The Dead Pool, and Under Suspicion all went in the right direction to shape this career. But then it all went wrong, Neeson started appearing in romantic movies, comedies, and political dramas; the hard man image lost now allowing Neeson to progress as a credible actor. You could argue that this was a good idea, Schindlers List, Rob Roy, Michael Collins and Kinsey all gave the actor some considerable acclaim. Strangely though as the actor moves slowly towards his 60th birthday someone has decided to return the action mantle to Neeson, and prepare for a bucket load of action blockbusters featuring the actor. Leading the way to towards this new re-incarnation of the actor is Taken a gripping action thriller with more guns and fights than a James Bond movie could ever aspire to.
Taken begins rather preposterously with the 17th birthday of Kim (Maggie Grace near on ten years above that age), long distant father Bryan (Neeson) arrives to the party clutching a karaoke machine to help his daughter practise her love of singing. In the ultimate dick swinging contest however, Step Father Stuart (Xander Berkeley) produces a prize stallion as the birthday gift from him to Kim. With poor finances in place Bryan can only look on, while ex wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) looks cheerfully on at this brazen show of one upmanship. Bryan is soon given the chance to award his daughter the ultimate gift however, permission to travel to France for a summer of historical study. While he does not want to allow Kim this pleasure, he knows in the pit of his stomach that this will win him back into favour. Bryan takes no chances however giving Kim a state of the art phone to stay in touch with him. Arriving in France, Kim soon finds herself in trouble and the only person she can turn to is her father. As a group of armed men burst into the apartment she shares with her friend, Bryan can only give his daughter the best advice he can to get her help, but painfully he must listen on the telephone thousands of miles away as his daughter is taken.
Abducted, drugged and sold into the sex trade, nobody could have realised that Kim's father was an ex secret agent, heading for France he is in no mood for discussion.
I'm absolutely mortified that I chose to delay watching Taken by nearly a month after receiving a preview disc, I had not heard of Taken and simply assumed this was some sort of low budget thriller that was not going anywhere. I could not have been more wrong, although for the most part in English this is really a major French movie, with in incredibly big budget.
There are so many thrillers out there that go nowhere, and have no real impact on your emotions. Taken pulls on your heartstrings from the offset, watching a relationship ruined through rivalry; then following with the abduction of a child, surely every parent's worst fear. Both aspects are given such detail, making the story win you over from the offset. The fact that Kim has been taken to sell into the sex trade makes things worse, there are no pink soft shades in this movie, and it's harsh, gritty and brutal. As the movie proceeds things get more and more uncomfortable as you are shown the lives of the girls sold in this very way.
Having emotionally won you over, and endeared you to a character that in fairness due to the casting of Neeson in that role a lot of people would find it difficult to warm too; the next of the movies offerings to address is the action. Looking at Taken you cannot help but realise that Neeson was sadly overlooked at some point as a suitable casting for James Bond. Carrying out many of the movies stunts himself, the fight sequences are incredibly well choreographed, think Bruce Willis in Die Hard with an Irish accent. While being the ultimate fighting warrior in the movie, with the ability to snap bones with a single slam; Neeson's character is very much aware of his own mortality. Understanding that the character as well as the actor is getting on there are no large jumps in chase sequences, it's all Neeson can do to give chase to be honest, when it comes to jumps the character of Bryan sums up the probability of failure and thinks "Sod it" before moving on to the next best option. Add to this that Bryan is not the usual bullet swallowing action hero, one shot and he knows he is "in a ditch", instead manoeuvring his way through the movie with nothing more than a sore head and a few flesh wounds.
Where the movie falls down in my opinion is in the casting of the lovely Maggie Grace; best known as the sister from hell Shannon in the series Lost, the casting of the actress to play a seventeen year old is rather like me a man in my late thirties being cast as a schoolboy, and while I'm sure I'd look just grand in short trousers cap and school tie, it would not be what the viewing public would want to see. I can sort of understand the casting, because you need to find someone who after various drug related incidents would look older than their years, and by the end you forget her age; but at the beginning you cannot help but think "What!"
As Taken continues the storyline becomes more and more compelling, zig zagging around between tense storytelling, action, and very real horror; with some wonderful location shooting around Paris, and some great minor roles including an appearance from "Naughty Girl" Holly Valance, Taken movies into first place in my list of thrillers movies of 2008.
Advantages: Good pace and action, keeps you entertained, good length Disadvantages: It's not about to win any awards.
I'm fairly certain that Taken wound up on our Lovefilm list because I thought it might interest my husband. Maybe I'm making that up. However, I definitely don't think I meant to wind up watching it by myself in my pjs on a Saturday morning. In case you're wondering, I don't suggest this as Saturday morning viewing but it is worth a look. THE PREMISE Directed by Pierre Morel, Taken is an action story with heart (a little heart anyway). Bryan Mills ... ...threat in the most humane way possible. Overall Taken is an entertaining film. The pace moves well. The action flows nicely and the characters fall into the categories with which Hollywood has made us comfortable. Just stick to cartoons on Saturday morning and save it for an evening. ...
Mountainlilly 16.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
Advantages: Entertaining if you like lots of action and random killing Disadvantages: Poor plot that doesn't add up
Taken is the latest movie starring Liam Neeson. It takes the theme of a father's love for his daughter and an inborn need to protect her from danger. Liam Neeson is the father, Bryan Miller and Maggie Grace plays his daughter, Kim . It quickly becomes apparent that Bryan is separated from his family. He is riddled by guilt due to the fact that his Government job kept him abroad so often that he neglected his wife and child. Desperate to make amends ... ...his ex wife, her new lover and his daughter. As his daughter turns seventeen he turns up at her lavish birthday bash to present her with his gift, a karaoke machine - because his daughter always wanted to be a singer. He is overshadowed however by her step father's present - a horse, it seems that he just can't do anything right.
Bryans career was working for the Government as a sort of James Bond style spy. Over the years he has amassed skills ...
micksheff 09.11.2008 (12.11.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
Advantages: Suprise action hit of the year Disadvantages: Low profile
'Taken', if it was a horse, is what the bookies call a 'steamer', an unfancied nag that flies in the betting as the race nears, its odds collapsing to a really short price just before the off through word-of-mouth, why this movie has lots of reviews on ciao already after not exactly troubling the awards ceremonies. I know it was heavily hyped at the time of its cinema release here, pretty much trailed on Talk Sport every hour I recall, and so cynics ... ...seemingly desperate hype. The last movie hyped that much was Mother-in-Law with Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez. I rest my case. But to my surprise its 8 out of 10 rating on Imdb.com, although rather high, reflected the general public view that this is indeed not a bad little action thriller, Liam Neesons first hit for a while and one you guys should check out. Neeson (respect going out to his family and friends for his tragic loss), delivered one ...
thedevilinme 11.10.2009 (12.10.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
Advantages: Very tense film Disadvantages: If you dont like fast, action packed films this isnt for you.
Taken is a well put together film and is a "edge of your seat" experience. The main character is a ex spy, and a dad. His daughter gets Taken, and the chase starts. Hurting close freinds, and killing anyone in his path, he goes through the mission to find is daughter in a very forceful and spy way.
The daughter is taken into a prostitute business, as she gets taken on holiday with a mate. Just before that get kid napped, the daughter has a chance ...
Advantages: Good Characters, Lots of Action Disadvantages: None
Wanted to see this film when it was at the cinema but didnt get around to it, went straight out to get it when available on DVD and wasnt dissapointed!
I love a revenge film anyway but this was one of the best i have seen, Liam Neeson plays a very good character who is desperate for the approval of his daughter
You are made aware that Neeson has been involved in body guard work in the past and is more than capable of handeling himself
When his ...
cescy15 17.06.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
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I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you. After listening to this dialog i decided to watch the movie.
Actors did very well in the film Liam Neeson did a very nice job and this is his best performance ,he old but his acting is super,this movie success because of all round performance by all actors.The movie is directed by Pierre Morel there is no fault beside that escape that we will talk and editing is also super.Liam Neeson lifted this film to new height his acting super his face expressions are wonderful and when his daughter is taken away then he know that he cant to any thing at that time we can see ...
akaykumae535 19.02.2009 (28.02.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
Advantages: Entertaining, thrilling and some rather good fight scenes Disadvantages: same as other 'thrillers', predictable and slow to start.
Director: Pierre Morel
Producer: Luc Besson
Writers: Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen.
Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Arben Bajraktaraj and Leland Orser, And featuring Holly Valance
I had heard a lot about a certain gripping movie which was getting some good reviews so I had to go out and get it from a well known dvd rental place.
Anyway, the movie in question is the 2008 thriller called Taken, starring Liam Neeson, so last night I sat down with the wife to watch this 90 minute movie and see what all the fuss was about.
CAST?
* Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills
* Maggie Grace as Kim
* Leland Orser as Sam
* Jon Gries as Casey
* Arben Bajraktaraj as Marko
** BRIEF PLOT?
Ex-military man Bryan Mills, (Neeson), is estranged from his wife Lenore, (Famke Janssen), but still likes to keep in close contact ...
blissman70 24.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
Advantages: Great action sequences, good story line. Excellent performance from Neeson. Disadvantages: None.
If you enjoy watching an action film with plenty of bullets flying around and plenty of hand to hand combat, Taken is a must see film. After the first 20 minutes it is non-stop fights and shoot outs. If you are ever inviting some mates round for a few drinks and want to stick a film in the DVD player then I would seriously consider watching Taken.
The film stars Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills. Bryan has quit his job with US intelligence so that he can get to know his 17 year old daughter better. During the film it never really explains what Bryan Mills did, the only thing I suppose you could describe him as, is a spy, whatever his job was, it has left him extremely paranoid and he doesn?t trust anybody, it also trained him to be an expert in surveillance and a one man killing machine .
The film begins with a party at his ex ...
manimal 12.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Taken (DVD)
Contains strong violence and extended scene of torture
Video Category
Feature Film
Country Of Origin
United States of America
Plot
DISTRICT B13 director Pierre Morel calls the shots for this action-driven thriller. Liam Neeson (KINSEY, MICHAEL COLLINS) stars as a father who takes justice into his own hands when his daughter (Maggie Grace, THE FOG) is kidnapped. TAKEN also stars Famke Janssen (GOLDENEYE, LORD OF ILLUSIONS).
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Languages
Main Language
English
Subtitle Language
English
Technical information
Special Features
Making-of, Production featurettes
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital
Professional reviews
Review
Moves at the speed of a high velocity bullet (The Observer, 16/12/2008)
Pierre Morel’s directing style is ruthlessly efficient (Time Out London, 16/12/2008)
DVD Description
Liam Neeson is an unstoppable force in this adrenaline-fuelled thriller from director Pierre Morel. Bryan (Neeson) has taken early retirement from the CIA in order to live closer to his teenage daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). Bryan's government work kept him away from Kim for much of her childhood, and he's now trying to make up for lost time. When Kim announces that she's taking a trip to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy), Bryan is apprehensive about her travelling on her own. His worst fear is soon realized, as Kim and Amanda are abducted upon their arrival in France. Bryan immediately springs into action, using his well-honed CIA skills to piece together clues from a single, frantic phone call he received from Kim. He hops a plane to Paris, determined to rescue his daughter before she falls off the grid completely. With some help from his old CIA buddies, he tracks down the kidnappers--an Albanian crime ring known for selling young girls into the sex trade. He quickly takes matters into his own hands, plowing his way through Paris's underworld as the clock ticks down and the bullets fly. His search propels him into the upper echelons of a massive crime ring, putting him closer and closer to his beloved daughter.
Neeson is known for tackling extremely cerebral roles, so it is interesting to see him in full-on action-hero mode. In TAKEN he is no less than a crime-fighting machine--a Bourne/Bond hybrid with a deathly serious baritone. And while he spends most of the film firing Uzis and snapping necks, he still manages to deliver a moving performance as an estranged father fighting for what he loves most in the world. The film undeniably owes a lot to Neeson's acting chops. He manages to raise this rather thinly plotted, deeply violent film a bar above your typical action fare.
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