|
The plot is paper thin, and you
can imagine that it was pitched, financed and sold with one simple
sentence: A former government operative comes out of retirement and
uses his extensive training to rescue his estranged daughter from a
slave trade operation.
But for obvious reasons with movies such
as this, plot is of little consequence. It's all about how clever the
director can make the fight scenes, and in that regard, Taken is a shotgun full of cheesy fun.
Liam Neeson (does anyone else remember he mentioned he was "retiring" around the time of Phantom Menace... because it seems he has forgotten) essentially reprises his role as Ras Al-Ghul from Batman Begins,
playing something very similar to the ruthless vigilante who doesn't
care much for the human cost involved in order to "right the wrongs".
The
guy is pretty darn charismatic here, filling in the shoes of a role
Harrison Ford would have surely played if he were fifteen years
younger.
Even when the film hits a point (roughly when the
body count reaches fourty or so) where you start ask yourself "I know
he is trying to stop bad people doing bad things... but surely you
can't kill everyone who stands in your way?", Neeson still seems to come off as likable and within reason... almost.
He
is a man with a plan, he is confident and there is no way in hell I'm
going to say a bad word about him for fear he will snatch my gun from
me and use me as a toothpick.
Yes, it's all a bit silly. Yes,
it's totally unbelievable (honestly, is there no system of security at
customs these days?). And yes, it glorifies violence and vigilantism to
a crazy degree - but come on - how can you not enjoy a movie like this
when bad guys are getting dispatched in such inventive ways and at such
a quick pace.
Aussie viewers should keep an eye out for former Neighbours
star Holly Valance, who seems to be slowly climbing the Hollywood
ranks. Ironically, the failed Aussie pop star plays... a successful pop
star.
It's a fun B-Grade action flick in an era when audiences
think they are to cool for such things - but you know what - sometimes
movies like Taken are just what the doctor ordered. DVD EXTRAS
No DVD extras on the preview disc we recieved, one can only assume Liam Neeson's character blew them away with some kind of shot gun.
Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: N/A
|
