ENTERLINE MEDIA Acess Hub

Access Gate
ENTERLINE MEDIA Main
DVD articles/ news
DVD Reviews
Movie reviews/ articles
Movies Archive (2000 to 2003)
TV show reviews
TV Archive (2000-2003)
Interviews
Movie Review; HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
DVD Review- STARGATE SG-1: CHILDREN OF THE GODS Final Cut
DVD Review- PRISON BREAK: THE FINAL BREAK
DVD Review: ECHELON CONSPIRACY
DVD Review: PUSH
DVD Review: THE UNBORN Unrated
2009 Movie Preview: Remakes and Sequels
DVD Review- STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN LI
Movie review: TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
DVD Review: THE PERFECT SLEEP
DVD Review: FISSURES
Movie Review- TERMINATOR: SALVATION
DVD Review: THE CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI
Movie Review: STAR TREK (2009)
2008 Movies In Review
2008 DVDs in Review
DVD Review: L.A. CONFIDENTIAL Special Edition
TV show review: DOCTOR WHO Season 4 Part 1
2.46- random rants Fall 2002
2.47

TAKEN (2008)

movie review by David Blackwell

 

93 minutes, rated PG-13

aspect ratio:  2.35:1

STUDIO:  20th Century Fox/ Europa Corp/ M6 Films/ Grive Productions

Theatrical RELEASE DATE:   1-30-2009

 

STARRING Liam Nesson (Bryan Mills), Maggie Grace (Kim), Famke Janssen (Lenore)

WRITTEN by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen

DIRECTED by Pierre Morel

Bryan Mills (Liam Nesson) is a retired spy who moved to Los Angeles to be near his daughter, KIm (Maggie Grace)- who is now 17.  He vows never to miss a birthday of hers and wants to reconnect to her.   He buys her a karaoke machine as a present while his ex-wife's boyfriend buys her a horse.  He allows Kim to go to Paris with her friend Amandabased ona few conditions like giving Dada  call every day.  When she talks to Dad, he hears her being kidnapped.  He vows to the kidnappers (evil Albanian sex traffickers) that he will kill them if he doesn't get his daughter back.    Bryan goes to Paris to find his daughter and a high body count mounts up. 

TAKEN is a popcorn action film.  The characterization is thin because it is all about the action in the film.    It is a pulse pounding action film as Bryan tracks down the ones responsible for tracking down his daughter.  The first 30 minutes builds the story to the event that throws Bryan into action.  He uses the skillls he learned a spy as he has only 96 hours to rescue Kim before she disappears for good.    Don't focus on the bad writing and acting of the Kim character.   Just sit back and enjoy the ride as Bryan takes out bad guys left and right.    TAKEN could have been a character driven action film, but it just goes for the gut and delivers a lean action film.    IT is the type of film that will do well on DVD and Blu-Ray.   Liam Nesson is crackling as Bryan.  He makes us believe in the skills the ex-spy has and teh determination of a father to rescue his daughter no matter what.     If you want your action fast and furious, TAKEN is a fantastic choice for enjoying 90 minutes of popcorn action entertainment.

this movie review is (C)1-30-2009 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to Lord_pragmagtic@hotmail.com