Movie Info:
Writers:Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen
Director: Pierre Morel
Cast: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Leland Orser, Radivoje Bukvic, Mathieu Busson, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Nicolas Giraud, Maggie Grace, Jon Gries
Rating: PG-13
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Info:
Theatrical Release: January 30, 2009
DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99
I never start a movie review out this way, but…I just have to say, I loved this movie. Since watching it, I have said that to just about everyone I know. Highly recommended doesn’t cut it. Taken is a must watch film. Action buffs will enjoy it, as will thriller lovers. It has all the elements of a kickass movie and I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed watching it. In fact, I might watch it again when I am done with this review.
From the first viewing of the first trailer I knew I was in this for the long haul. All it took was a small bit of dialogue courtesy of Liam Neeson and I was hooked.
“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills; skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”
Watching Taken gives you a cross between James Bond and Jason Bourne. While I don’t really think of Neeson as an action star, he made this performance look effortless and the movie was simply amazing. Not to sell the rest of the cast short, they also did a good job. I never felt like there was any person in this that couldn’t hold their weight. Everyone got the job done well and provided this new director with an excellent movie to put under his belt. Despite being new, if this is representative of Pierre Morel’s work, he will have a name that everyone knows soon enough.
Taken on Blu-ray was a great way to approach the summer movie season. There is tons of action, some suspense, great acting, and a thrilling story. You couldn’t ask for anything more. I only hope the rest of the Blu-rays I review this summer are as good from start to finish as Taken.
The Taken Plot
Bryan Mills (Neeson – Batman Begins) is a former CIA operative that retired to mend the relationship with his 17 year old daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace – Lost). He’s moved to Los Angeles in hopes of forming a real relationship with her before it’s too late. While Kim seems receptive, yet somewhat hesitant to her father’s relationship, her mother Lenore (Famke Janssen) and new rich stepdad, Stuart (Xander Berkeley) don’t seem to be as thrilled about his presence.
While Bryan does not actively work with the CIA anymore, he occasionally does side jobs with his old work buddies. The guys talk him into doing a job guarding a pop star named Sheerah (Holly Valance). When he saves her from danger, the two share a moment. She thanks him and offers to set Kim up with people in the music business, as Kim wants to be a singer.
The next time Bryan sees his daughter it is because she wants to talk to him over lunch. In reality, he is set up by her and Lenore. Kim wants to go to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy – Harper’s Island) and some of Amanda’s relatives. While Bryan does not want to let her go, he eventually concedes when Lenore informs him that he will lose Kim if he doesn’t give her at least some trust and freedom.
Bryan takes her to the airport and is livid when he finds out that she is really going to be following U2 all over Europe. He lets her go anyway, with the stipulation that she calls when she lands in Paris and every night before bed. Naturally, she forgets to call when she lands because they (Kim & Amanda) meet a man at the airport. After sharing a cab, they arrive at the Parisian flat to learn that Amanda’s relatives will not be there and the two girls are on their own.
Kim receives a call from dad, when she fails to call him. While arguing with him in the bathroom she watches in the other room as Amanda is forcibly kidnapped by a number of unknown men. Bryan instructs her to stay calm and to hide, knowing she will be taken. He offers the man abducting her the chance to leave her alone, but the man declines. From there, Bryan is on a mission to find his daughter alive before it is too late.
He travels to Paris intent on making every single person involved pay for their crimes and to find his daughter alive. Luckily for him, his CIA training will come in handy when investigating an operation he knows little about save for the voice of one of the men saying the only words that he heard him say, “Good Luck.”
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Replayability:
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Directing:
Audio/Visual:
I rarely complain about the Blu-rays that Fox delivers. Part of the reason is because they seem to go above and beyond to create some excellent looking Blu-rays. Taken is a brand new film, so it should be flawless and that’s exactly what it is.
There are no compression errors or deformities on this transfer. The 1080p, 2.35:1 aspect ratio looks beautiful. The colors are strong, deep, and realistic. The camera has been utilized to get the most from every single shot. The level of detail is astoundingly high. Action films can be hit or miss, especially on Blu-ray, but this is no doubt, the best of the best.
Along with the gorgeous video is a stunning audio track. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless track is perfect for Taken. This is a film that is going to make your surround sound work! You can expect even the subtle sounds to come through with distinct clarity. The dialogue is crisp and easy to understand and everything else is explosive and dynamic. For instance, there is a scene where Bryan is guarding at a concert. The music, despite being in the background is a powerful force in the scene. It seemed incredibly realistic to what you would expect if you were actually at the concert.
In other scenes you might hear the blowing wind as clear as day or someone drop a dish in a restaurant in the backdrop. All of these small noises lend themselves to the greater picture. As usual, Fox out does themselves with this beautiful transfer. In addition to the English audio, Spanish and French Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks are available, as well as subtitles in English and Spanish.
Visual:
Audio:
Bonus Features:
Taken offers a nice selection of bonus features. There isn’t anything too groundbreaking here, but there is some good stuff. Taken gives you the option of watching the theatrical cut or the unrated version. Most of the movie-specific features are included with the unrated version. This includes the two commentaries and the Black Ops Field Manual.
The first is a French commentary with English subtitles that features the director, cinematographer, and Michel Julienne. This commentary spends a good deal of time talking about the basic story, the visual contrast, the action sequences, and the range that Neeson needed to have to pull off the role effectively. The second commentary is in English with the writer, Robert Mark Kamen. He talks a lot about how his connections helped him get this writing gig. He talks about the writing aspects mainly, which is to be expected and ends up offering a pretty solid commentary.
The Black Ops Field Manual provides some picture in picture windows that have you tracking the progression of the mission. To do this you are given a body count ttacker, a tracker for injuries, the distance that Bryan has traveled (in kilometers and miles), and the mission time that remains. Some pop up trivia is also available in this area.
“Le Making Of”: This twenty minute making of is pretty basic. You learn about the making of the film through some behind the scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew. Some clips from the movie are also included.
“Avant Premiere”: This is just a short, five minute look at the premiere of the film. A few small interviews have been included, along with the premiere footage.
“Inside Action: Side by Side Comparisons”: At over ten minutes, you get a chance to see a number of scenes that go from raw footage to the final versions that you see in the film.
Other than that you have some trailers and a digital copy of the film to round out the special features.
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Bottom Line:
Taken is a must see movie. Sure, a million action movies have had similar plotlines, but with Taken you have a film that is not afraid to pack a punch. This is a no holds barred action flick with superb acting. Neeson did a great job here and the rest of the cast should be proud, as well. This will easily be one of the better Blu-ray offerings this summer. In fact, the only place this Blu-ray falters is in the area of special features and even then, they are still pretty alright. The bonuses could be better, but the movie is so good it really doesn’t matter. This comes highly recommended.
Overall Rating: 
Technorati Tags: Blu-ray Review, Taken, Liam Neeson, Sex Trade, Spy, Action Film, Thriller, Excellent Movie
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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.
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