Movie Review: Taken 2009

Taken 2009

Action Thriller. Starring Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace.

Directed by Pierre Morel. (PG-13, 94 Minutes)

Review: Ted Beagleman, (Thundermail@cox.net) First Published Feb. 1, 2009

      It only takes a few minutes to get caught up in a web of high speed chase and vengeance coming from a man who gave his enemies full warning. Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson, is a retired military fixer, and clearly an elite tough guy. His only soft side is a daughter who grew up without him while he was roaming the world keeping his country safe from the evil doers. When his daughter and her friend are taken by a group of vicious Albanian thugs, Mills comes out of retirement and goes international to save his them.

     While many of the shoot’em up movies in this genre tend to border on the preposterous, Director Morel does an excellent job of developing the characters resulting in making some of Mills outlandish exploits seem plausible. Say what you will, but Neeson is always a good get when it comes to this type of movie.

      What does come off as a bit of a stretch is 26 year old Maggie Grace playing the part of the 17 year old daughter. Grace is both beautiful and talented, and did a good job at convincing us that she was a 17 year old, but every once in awhile she seemed to over do it. But it wasn’t enough of a distraction to cause a negative reaction.

      Looking for action? Here it is, Taken is one that I recommend. 

 Ted B.