Taken
Review
by Sean Lynch
Ever
wondered what would happen to Jason Bourne twenty years from now after
he settled down, had a kid, a messy divorce and then retired
to a one
bedroom flat?
Wonder no more - because someone's taken that exact idea,
hired the guy behind the Transporter
films (Luc Besson) to write it and delivered one of the most stupidly
fun vigilante flicks since Charles Bronson was blowing away bad guys in
the '70s.
Sure, director Pierre Morel's action-driven thriller
isn't going to win any awards - but action fans just won't be able to
resist the charms of a movie in which the lead character shows such
utter disregard for the lives of the poor old "evil henchmen".
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 30 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.
3 out
of 5
Taken
Australian release: August 14th,
2008
Official
Website: Taken
Cast:
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Xander Berkeley
Director: Pierre Morel
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