Review: TAKEN (2009)

I know this is a little bit late but I absolutely had to share my thoughts on TAKEN starring Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace.

If you like Jason Bourne, then picture this.

Jason Bourne is about 20 years now. His daughter that he loves more than anything in the world has just been kidnapped. Do you see it? Yes? No? If you are having some difficutly picturing this, then TAKEN is the movie to see because that is basically the premise of the movie. Hell that is how I would have pitched the movie.

I never thought of Liam Neeson as an action star but I was clearly wrong as he is amazing as the super spy dad kicking some ass and taking names.

Two things in my opinion make this movie awesome. The story and the director.

First, the story of Taken is clearly smarter and more thought out than usual. Luc Besson and Robert Kamen didn’t put in the usual fluff you would expect in this kind of movie. There was a certain degree of authenticity that was just refreshing. I don’t want to give anything away but the dinner scene with Liam and the couple says it all.

Second, the director Pierre Morel, the brilliant eye behind the visual entertaining phenomena District B13 really put the magic touch on this movie as well. The action sequences are less about special effects than they are about crazy physical stunts and bone crushing fights.

All and all, a must see.