Taken 2008 by AverageMansReviews

Taken 2008 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: there is flashing effects/colourful effects/shooting/stabbing/impaling/torture/electrocution/human trafficking/drugs/vehicle crash/medical/hit-and-run/references to immigration

One gets taken: briefly; Bryan Mills [Liam Neeson:] he is an ex-CIA Agent that has retired to be there more for his daughter; Kim Mills [Maggie Grace:] she is 17 and would like to go to Paris; France with her friend. Her mother mother Lenore " Lenny" Mills [Famke Janssen:] which she is Bryan's ex-wife, is all for it. But her father is concerned, but after some pushback he gives her permission as long as basically she has contact with him over the journey; but something unforeseen happens.

Generally speaking: the framework and pacing of this 90 minute film is good, okay it does take a little bit of time to warm up, to be more precise actually to be incredibly precise when Kim/Grace gets taken; but after this; this film has a strong idea of what it is doing and it is going to be a bumpy ride; so you may want to put a seatbelt on; it may not be the quickest film but it is always moving and when you are doing the investigation/Intel gathering it doesn't need to be the most quickest either, it is much better to give these kind of scenes/sequences broadly speaking space and time to at minimum fulfil their purpose and it does take time for an example to look around.

Action and comedy; the action sequences ranged from information and/or Intel gathering to path of destruction and anything in the middle; they are entertaining and for the comedy; I should point out that this is not a comedy so they're all little, very little fragments of comedy such as well Bryan gives someone the single digit salute; to tell this person that is telling him or implying "I know what you're doing, so stop it and go away."

Character developments and performances; they are good versions of what they are meant to be, but it is the performance of Neeson, Grace and Jenssen; that either lead the cast as Neeson on one hand is an overprotective parent and on the other hand naturally switches back into this ex-CIA Agent and takes care of business for his broken family, whilst the other two perform three-dimensional versions of that broken family and this developing situation, but for the rest of the cast this is all good.

This film receives: 10/10, this film is top-notch entertainment; it is a modern classic as it relates to action films and in my opinion this film showed that Neeson could be an action film star and of course if you are a fan of Neeson and you haven't seen this project it, you need to see it at least once and for myself; I was at the impression that I had already reviewed this project under this name, but it looks like I was wrong as I have looked up and down in my record, I can find the two sequels, but not this one but it is done now. This film also has some awards accredited to its name; such as 2 Winners that includes Golden Schmoes Awards 2009 Golden Schmoes Best Line of the Year "I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills 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." 2 Nominees that includes from the same award ceremony/event Biggest Surprise of the Year.