MOVIE REVIEW - Taken

It's a new year, and time to start looking ahead to the movies of 2009, and Taken with Liam Neeson is out this week. Taken is a little 90 minute action movie, that I went into with very low expectations and man am I glad. Taken hit me between the eyes, and has kind of turned into guilty pleasure of sorts.

Taken is the story of Brian (Neeson), his daughter and his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janson). Lenore and Brian haved divorced, and she goes on to marry a new man who is one of the stinking richest men you'll ever see. Brian is a retired "preventer." He spent a few decades working internationally for the U.S. Government preventing "bad things" from happening. In essence he's is a highly trained operative whose good at about everything.

Brian's 17 year old daughter is kidnapped in Paris while on a very ill-advised, mother-approved vacation. She and her 19 year old friend are sold into an Albanian prostitution ring. Brian then swings out of retirement and into action. He goes to Paris to get his daughter back and right the wrong.

Taken is predictable, far fetched, and a little too convenient for most of us. But Taken doesn't tank... it somehow holds it's head above water and I'm not sure how it did it. First the cons. You'll be stunned on how fast our hero can get things done. Also he never loses a single fight, (and there are dozens. ) Dialogue and a story line at the movies outset the borders on the silly, plus character development that is so rushed, they try to give you a life's story in 3 scenes.

Now the pros. Taken wastes no time getting to the point, which is a pivot point for this movie. There's plenty of action, and enough side plots to make it interesting. Neeson's character is intriguing, and the movies absolute strength. You keep learning throughout the film just how dedicated he is to getting his daughter back. And there are a few stunning moments on just how determined he is. Really good decision there. Finally, Taken doesn't work without a real presence like Neeson. This role in lesser hands would have been the fatal blow.

Taken will miss with some who will poo-poo it because of it's troubles, and that would be fair. But I found myself enjoying it the more it went on. For some reason the movies troubles melted away with me, and I was just hoping that this movie didn't have some lame Hollywood ending that can be so typical of January releases. Taken really gets smart and doesn't wear out it's welcome, and signs off in 90 minutes.

Taken. Troubles? Yes. Good night at the movies? Yes again!

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