Film Review: Taken

Director: Pierre Morel

Taken is a French thriller produced by Luc Besson (the man behind Leon) which helped turn Liam Neeson's career round after he starred in number of films that failed at the box office. A sequel has already been filmed and is slated to be released on Friday 5th October 2012 in the UK.

Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson in kickass form) is a retired CIA operative who in retirement is trying to get closer to his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace), who he neglected during his years of work. She wants to go to Paris with her friend but Bryan is unsure of two young teenagers going abroad alone but finally agrees even though he finds out they want to travel around Europe following the rock band U2. On reaching Paris Kim and her friend are kidnapped by an Albanian human trafficking ring who intends to drug her and use her as prostitutes to make money so Bryan flies into Paris to get her back.

CIA Operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson)

Liam Neeson is impressive as the loving Dad who uses his skills to fight, kick and kill his way through Paris on the trail of his daughter. The action scenes are interesting to watch with the time frame of 72 hours to get her back before it becomes nearly impossible to find her adds to the tension. Unfortunately the plot doesn't have much in terms of surprises or twists that make it really catch you out with the corruption element being clear from the outset.

None of the characters around Neeson are particularly well acted and only serve as a platform for Neeson to smash his way through rooms of villains. The final 30mins is pretty much a relentless torrent of violence as Neeson kills around 50 people in the hunt for his daughter which is stretching reality somewhat. The storyline of his daughter being kidnapped in Paris will probably stop Republican voters in America from ever going there at all.

2.5/4 an enjoyable action film but has a thin plot and indifferent acting aside from Neeson.