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List Price: $29.98 | | Label: Twentieth Century Fox
Salesrank: 151
Released: May 12, 2009 |
| Our Price: $12.95 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Genre: Action/Adventure
Rating: PG13
Release Date: 12-MAY-2009
Media Type: DVD
Description of Taken (Single-Disc Extended Edition):
What could be a skillful but ordinary action flick gets a surprising emotional heft from the presence of Liam Neeson as the hero. Bryan Mills (Neeson) has given up his career as a spy to form a relationship with his estranged teenage daughter--but when, on a trip to Paris, she's kidnapped by slavers, Mills uses all his connections and skills to turn the city of lights upside down and rescue her. Like most of the movies that writer/producer Luc Besson has a hand in (such as La Femme Nikita, The Transporter, Unleashed, and many other French action movies), Taken drips with lurid violence (a bit toned-down to get a PG-13 rating, but there's still plenty of it), deranged sentimentality, and stereotypes of all kinds. But this doesn't stop his movies from being effective thrill-rides, and Taken is no exception. Taken pays just enough attention to the illusion of procedure--making it seem like Mills knows all the right steps to track down his daughter--that the movie cheerfully seduces your suspension of disbelief, despite many plot holes and scenes where Mills doesn't get scratched despite bullets flying in all directions or pretends to be a French policeman despite not speaking French or even adopting a French accent. What holds it all together is Neeson; his gravitas and emotional availability make his character--the usual action fantasy of impossible competence and righteous fury--somehow seem real and relatable. --Bret Fetzer
Stills from Taken (Click for larger image)
Taken (Single-Disc Extended Edition) Reviews:
Excellent Action Thriller. 
2009-12-05 - I really liked this movie. It was intriguing from the standpoint as a "what if", that the kidnappers made the mistake of stealing someone's daughter whose father is an extremely dangerous and capable ex-spy. A man who will be "a nightmare" to the kidnappers. Someone with the experience, know how and total lack of conscience when it comes to dealing with people like the kidnappers. He is willing to break all the rules to get his daughter back. And becomes vindicated to both his daughter, his ex-wife and her husband as being someone of value.
I was surprised at the choice of Liam Neeson as the lead but he did an excellent job as the ex-spy father. One can imagine what it would be like to have a child kidnapped. What would you do, especially knowing the odds would be against survival. But to have the tools that Neeson does as an ex-spy, it becomes intriguing to watch him use those tools and the extent he will go and having the capability to go there.
I look at some of the negative reviews to see if there is something I can convey that would help someone to avoid this type of movie. If you do not believe that there are in fact, people of extraordinary skills when it comes to killing, accepting pain and surviving then skip this movie. If because your child became spoiled, brattish or similar, that you would disown them, leave them to die or suffer then skip this movie. If you would not do anything to save your child regardless of what they have done to you, how badly they have treated you then skip this movie. If you are expecting a an accurate documentary on any aspect of this movie or that it should be a treatise on certain subjects, then skip this movie.
Good entertainer 
2009-12-05 - Byron Mills is an ex soldier who moves to California to be closer to his daughter. Now he has a quiet existence and works moonlighting as a part time body guard for a pop stars. His daughter goes to Paris with a friend and within hours of arriving is kidnapped by Albanian pimps, and Neeson has 96 hours to find his daughter before she completely disappears forever. This springs him in to action and this is where the action starts. Many action scenes and bodies later, you have a satisfying conclusion. This movie ended quite accidentally on my DVD queue because I generally steer away from movies about the skin trade and terrorism, two genres I feel have been killed mindlessly. I watched this movie and was pleasantly entertained. Okay, this is not the most fantastic storytelling but the 96 minute running time passed quickly for me. Liam Neeson finally delivers a audience friendly movie which is instantly derided by critics. They would rather have you make mindless drivel which is only understood by them than a movie that endears you to the masses. If your movie becomes a success, they will then start accusing you of selling out. I think this movie will be enjoyed by all; you will be taken not by the script but by the treatment. 3 1/2 stars 111909
Great Action Movie
2009-11-30 - My wife had wanted to watch this movie for a while, but I had my reservations about Liam Neeson as an action hero. Let me just say that I was extremely surprised by this movie (in a good way). Liam Neeson was an absolute bad@$$ and I loved every minute of it. He gives a great performance in this movie and it seems like this role was tailor made for him. His cool, calm demeanor really fit the character. If I was a bad guy and I heard the speech he gave to the kidnapper on the phone, I'd be crapping my pants LOL
This movie takes us back to old school action that isn't 90% CGI like it is nowadays. Once the action starts, it seems like it just doesn't stop until the very end. I don't want to ruin anything, so I'll just say anyone who hasn't seen this movie yet should at least give it a try. And for action movie junkies, this should be a must-watch. TAKEN is definitely one of my favorite movies in recent memory.
A must have movie...
2009-11-24 - My husband LOVES to talk through movies and this is the ONLY movie where he didn't speak one word through! This has to be Liam Neeson's best performance ever.
Charles Bronson-esque old school action flick for the 21st century
2009-11-16 - When I watched 'Taken' I was immediately reminded of the types of no-holds-barred, no-apologies action flicks that Charles Bronson starred in with Cannon during the 1980s -- films like Murphy's Law and Kinjite Forbidden Subjects. Quick runtime? Check. Heavy on action, thin on characters and plot? Check. Heavy violence? Though tamed a bit for a PG-13, yes.
But seriously, if you took this script and made this movie in 1984 with Charles Bronson it would be a Bronson classic. Neeson stars as an ex-CIA agent whose worst fears and paranoias from the job come true when his daughter and her friend are kidnapped by thugs from a European sex slavery ring. Neeson doesn't (beep) around in this one -- he goes right in and nails anyone and everyone even remotely involved, gets the job done, and as the saying goes, makes it home in time for corn flakes.
In short, if you love action, especially the Bronson/Seagal action flicks of the 80s and early 90s, this is definitely gonna be up your alley.
