Liam Neeson kicks some serious butt in this one… its a high octane action thriller, and once it gets going, its along the lines of a toned down “Bourne Identity”.

Neeson embodies everything a father would want to do for his daughter if she was in danger, but he has the skills to carry it out… as a former spy… he knows how to track down and take out the bad guys… all by himself.
It might be a little violent with adult themes for the younger viewers (rated PG-13), but it has the edge that makes it a strong action thriller with Neeson trying to find out who kidnapped his daughter and what has happened to her.

Its a dirty job, and until he’s going to save her, Bryan (Neeson) is a father on the outside looking in with his ex-wife and daughter living with the new rich husband.

Neeson is solid in this intense role, and while he carries the film, he does get some good support from Famke Janssen, who plays his ex-wife Lenore… Maggie Grace does a pretty good turn trying to play the young teen daughter who grows up too fast, and Xander Berkeley does wll in the small role of rich new husband/step dad Stuart.

But the strength of this movie is the action injected storyline, quick pace, editing and cinematography that keeps you watching.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

It takes a little to get going, but it has to set up the character relationships (for audiences that haven’t been seeing the trailer since last summer).   Once the movie gets going, its great… I give it 7.5 out of 10 because while the movie has a lot of great points, it becomes a little predictable… but still worthwhile.

“Taken”

(2009) (rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language) (1 hr, 31 min)

Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley, Maggie Grace, Katie Cassidy, Leland Orser, David Warshofsky, Jon Gries, Gérard Watkins, Holly Valance

Director: Pierre Morel
Writer: Luc Besson (”The Transporter” (2002), “The Fifth Element” (1997), “Léon The Professional” (1994))

Genre: Action/Thriller/Crime/Drama

The Plot: A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been forced into the slave trade.

So what did you think?  Please post a comment!

“Taken” poster courtesy 20th Century Fox/Europa Corp.

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