Blu-ray Review: Taken

Taken
Written by: Luc Besson & Robert Mark Kamen
Directed by: Pierre Morel
Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser, Radivoje Bukvic, Mathieu Busson, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Nicolas Giraud, and Maggie Grace

Blu-ray specs:
1080p High Definition 2.40:1 Widescreen
English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
Spanish/French 5.1 Dolby Digital
English SDH, Spanish Subtitles

Bonus features: Includes both the Theatrical and Extended Cut of the film, Audio Commentaries from the Director, Cinematographer, Car Stunt Supervisor, and Co-Screenwriter. Le Making Of featurette, Avant Premiere featurette, Inside Action Side-By-Side Screen Comparisons, Black Ops Field Manual, Digital Copy of the Extended Cut of the film.

From the box:
When his estranged teenage daughter is kidnapped in Paris, a former spy sets out to find her at any cost. Relying on his special skills, he tracks down the ruthless gang that abducted her and launches a one-man war to bring them to justice and rescue his daughter.

Click the Rawr! for the complete review!

Taken is better than it has any right to be. From the first time I saw the incredibly effective trailer, which is basically one scene from the film rapid cut with glimpses of Liam Neeson committing random acts of violence. The effectiveness of this comes completely from Neeson's delivery of the lines featured on the cover of this Blu-ray release: "I will find you. I will kill you." His delivery makes you want to stand up and cheer.

That's pretty much the feeling you get throughout the entire film. You might hate yourself for doing so, but you can't help but love the movie. It's a lot of fun watching Liam Neeson go all Jason Bourne on his quest to rescue his daughter. The difference here is that Neeson seems to do it with a bit more gravitas than Matt Damon. There is more of a sense of purpose here.

The acting here is pretty standard. No one really stands out over Liam Neeson. It's his show and he relishes it. I can honestly say this is my favorite movie of his (granted I haven't seen many). Maggie Grace spends most of the movie crying (not even that well either). I didn't even realize who she was until a week later when discussing it with a friend.

The action is top notch and gloriously shot and it makes the guilt for loving a movie as seemingly throw away as this easier to bare. The script is by the numbers but Neeson and director Peirre Morel make the most of it.

The film looks great on Blu-ray, that's too be expected. The bonus features are a little blah. Nothing really special here. The film comes with an extended version except I'm not sure what exactly extended about it. I read there was some more violence added in but I couldn't tell where or what it was.

Taken is an exciting film that is well worth the price and certainly a nice addition to any collection and while it isn't a brilliant film, it's one of the funnest you'll see this year.

Taken is available on Blu-ray and DVD now.

RAWR(for more)

Movie Review: Taken

Neeson plays an ex-operative for the government, whose past is merely hinted upon in buddy stories shared with his former associates, whose sole presence in the film seems to be to provide the audience with some background on his character. We see a father who missed out on his daughter's upbringing, a daughter who now lives with a rich stepdad and mother. Dad lives on a meager government stipend, and can hardly compete.

Of course, the overly-cautious government spy doesn't want his little girl going to Paris with only another hormonal teenager for company, and we can't help but see the inevitable when she gets kidnapped by sex slavers. Getting past this, the action picks up at a frenzied pace.

Neeson is excellent portraying the cool, slick operative, whose unapologetic and ruthless efficiency leaves many bodies in his wake. He's got some serious presence. The writing is pretty sound, and the audience is assured enough of the operative's experience that they can almost take it for granted when he infiltrates the network of slavers so quickly, and cuts a swathe through its ranks. The fight choreography is believeable in its breakneck pace, skipping too much fancy footwork for practical, lethal finality. Although, seeing Liam Neeson shoot a man in the foot was extremely amusing.

Taken is a very satisfying evening of entertainment. Most will leave the theater thinking:
"That was BAD ASS!"

RAWR(for more)