(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.filmschoolrejects.com%2Fimages%2Ftaken-poster-dark-fullsize.jpg&hash=74c2954d66199977fc56c8a55d9e6146ff099b19)
Trailer here. (http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809834197/trailer)
Release Date: January 30th, 2009 (wide)
Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Anjul Nigam, Xander Berkeley
Directed by: Pierre Morel (District B13)
Premise: A former government operative comes out of retirement and uses his extensive training to rescue his daughter from a slave trade operation.
The trailer for this looks good.
It's an alright movie. The Jason Bourne idea of a hero appeals to me on a basic level so I am finding these movies pretty enjoyable. Taken adds nothing new to the mold, but Neeson's character is a little more compelling than Bourne. He is driven to some insane ends to find his daughter who was kidnapped while vacationing in Europe. The film has the character do some morally questionable acts that I don't think Bourne would have even done, but Taken never brings these things to the next step. It never makes a deeper context out of this character's inert anger at finding his daughter. Everything just leads to another action scene.
I stll enjoyed this film because the plot puzzle of finding his daughter and the fighting scenes were enjoyable enough, but tv shows like Burn Notice come out with just as good plot puzzlers every week. I think what we have to expect with the film versions of the super spy is just better special effects and more thorough action scenes.
Oh, I've seen this because it's already been released in numerous countries and good quality versions of it exist online.
It was so stupid. Bourne Identity meets conservative American dad. Really cartoonish villains and awful mystery solving skills. Apparently the way to impersonate a French cop is to speak American English to everyone you meet. The fights are ok, they're coordinated by some boys from the 4-16 production, a real solid stunt group. But this is a film that has no idea what it's talking about, I like spy movies because they make me feel smart simply by agreeing with the screenplay, but this one is one of the dumbest things I've seen, which defeats the purpose of the spy movies. This movie is a lot closer to something like Kiss of the Dragon (without the kicking), which was also written and produced by Luc Besson and Mark Kamen. It's kinda like a paranoid dad fantasy - if you're 60 and your daughter is rocking out in Europe and you're not okay with it, then this movie is for you.
oh yeah.. i saw this movie a month ago and then forgot about it.
Sounds terrible, I'm in.
props to the poster designer for capturing liam neeson's voice with font.
This movie has had tv spots every ten minutes on almost every cable channel I've seen for the last two weeks. If I see Liam stab that guys thighs with nails one more time I'm going to puke. Nobody wants to see Oscar Schindler running around as Jason Bourne, especially when it's rated PG-13.
Quote from: private witt on January 27, 2009, 05:41:36 PM
Nobody wants to see Oscar Schindler running around as Jason Bourne
A less true thing has never been spoken.
(not saying this particular movie will be good... just that you're wrong about this statement)
Quote from: RegularKarate on January 27, 2009, 05:47:48 PM
Quote from: private witt on January 27, 2009, 05:41:36 PM
Nobody wants to see Oscar Schindler running around as Jason Bourne
A less true thing has never been spoken.
(not saying this particular movie will be good... just that you're wrong about this statement)
Okay, maybe I would like to see that, but ONLY if he was still in Schindler's List costume.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg136.imageshack.us%2Fimg136%2F7862%2F18906265mf4.jpg&hash=884f36f34ad9870415278b80c80614b309c72b22) (http://imageshack.us)
Sounds like something Spielberg would make NOW.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thevine.com.au%2Fresources%2Fimgdetail%2F310708022555_taken-detail.jpg&hash=1e9a4de5ef1151df822e4952b260014c42f8be46)
"I pardon you!"
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg222.imageshack.us%2Fimg222%2F174%2Fkinseydn4.jpg&hash=db697f94a6af9f998328c2c41b159449b4c71c85) (http://imageshack.us)
I don't know who you are, but if you sleep with my daughter I will find you, and I will film you.
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fen%2Fthumb%2Fa%2Fa7%2FQui_gon_jinn_from_movie.jpg%2F220px-Qui_gon_jinn_from_movie.jpg&hash=76b6bebcca6b0dd1908225545e479a8fec2ab8a3)"Thrust with more force."
"I don't know who you are, but if you don't let my _______ go, I will find you, and I will kill you."
Optional scenarios for 'Taken':
Daughter (the current one)
people (Biblical version)
Linux (freeware version)
Allspark (energon cube version)
ark/stones/holy grail/skull (Dr. J version)
Anyone care to add?
I saw this last year, and it was fun, short and right to the point. The kidnapping scene is very nicely done and the rest of the movie is strong enough to make you want to stay until the end. It won't stick with you for a long time, but it will be a good 90 minutes or whatever.
I'd wager the reason it won't stick with you is because there isn't one unique thing about the picture. It's '24' with Liam Neeson instead of Keiffer Sutherland, which is essentially just a prime time soap opera anyway.
Quote from: private witt on January 29, 2009, 02:22:18 AM
I'd wager the reason it won't stick with you is because there isn't one unique thing about the picture. It's '24' with Liam Neeson instead of Keiffer Sutherland, which is essentially just a prime time soap opera anyway.
I'm not trying to offend you here, but are you new to the world of cinephilia? I've noticed that you spend a good deal of time crapping on movies that are intended as nothing more than a good time.
Just to let you know... you don't have to do that to prove that you appreciate more artistic endeavors... and if for every Tati's Trafic, you also enjoy an Anderson's Death Race, it's okay.
Everyone hates shitty movies at first. It isn't until you get sick of everyone here praising overrated period pieces that you finally start to appreciate the underrated dreck. Then you start hating the underrated dreck thanks to GT. Then you go back to overrated period pieces. Then you post in the Criterion thread. Then you watch PT's Death Race. Then eventually you just hate anything that gets praise or makes money. Then you take a break.
Quote from: RegularKarate on January 29, 2009, 01:09:25 PM
I've noticed that you spend a good deal of time crapping on movies that are intended as nothing more than a good time.
I think I've crapped on the formulaic marketing more than anything. I'm sure there was a great script at one point that was dissected and put back together with only the most bland elements that get the highest test audience marks left. And there a lot of films that are so bad they're good, but c'mon, you think 'Taken' is one of them?
I was in the bathroom blow drying my coif and I heard the commercial for this come on and it sounded pretty fucking awesome. Liam was all like, "I'm not the type of person you wanna mess around with. I will find you and I will kill you." in that awesome Liam voice.
Maybe Liam should just do an audiobook of himself reading the script.
Quote from: Stefen on January 29, 2009, 03:19:10 PM
I was in the bathroom blow drying my coif and I heard the commercial for this come on and it sounded pretty fucking awesome. Liam was all like, "I'm not the type of person you wanna mess around with. I will find you and I will kill you." in that awesome Liam voice.
Maybe Liam should just do an audiobook of himself reading the script.
he does have a great voice. i'd let him narrate my life.
a couple years ago i volunteered to read The Polar Express to a 2nd grade class. they all enjoyed my peformance. right after, the teacher put on liam neeson's audio book version. the kids fell asleep. :shock:
in their defense, neeson overracted a bit, especially on the ho-ho-hos. (https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.dmusic.com%2Fv7%2Femoticons%2Fshrug.gif&hash=bb7c49d7094260fb9dbad0cded7f80712e854e43)
Here's what gets me: 'Taken' was rated PG-13, according to the MPAA, "for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language". This was the same rating given to 'The Whale Rider' for "brief language and a momentary drug reference".
Personally I don't think there should even be an MPAA, they're responsible for stripping the balls of a helluva lot of what would otherwise be great films, but what the fuck kind of militarized culture do we live in where you simulated torture/death on TV or in a PG-13 film, but showing a nipple during the Super Bowl is a quarter of a million dollar fine?
Quote from: private witt on January 29, 2009, 04:02:53 PM
but what the fuck kind of militarized culture do we live in where you simulated torture/death on TV or in a PG-13 film, but showing a nipple during the Super Bowl is a quarter of a million dollar fine?
we're living in a Dr. Strangelove world.
Quote from: private witt on January 29, 2009, 02:38:59 PM
And there a lot of films that are so bad they're good, but c'mon, you think 'Taken' is one of them?
No, I think Deadfall is so bad it's good. I think Taken looks like it could be an entertaining movie.
I just think it's a little obvious to hate everything that's formulaic. Sometimes it's okay to just enjoy the formulaic stuff... not because it's "So bad it's good", but because it's just good.
I agree. I think what PTA does is formulaic. He's not doing anything that hasn't been done before, he's just doing it better. Liam Neeson's new torture porn vehicle will end up in the same place as the rest of the disposable mall fair.
Quote from: Stefen on January 29, 2009, 01:25:44 PM
Everyone hates shitty movies at first. It isn't until you get sick of everyone here praising overrated period pieces that you finally start to appreciate the underrated dreck. Then you start hating the underrated dreck thanks to GT. Then you go back to overrated period pieces. Then you post in the Criterion thread. Then you watch PT's Death Race. Then eventually you just hate anything that gets praise or makes money. Then you take a break.
I'm amused, but I can't follow the thought here. How do I get people to hate the "underrated dreck"?
I was just funnin ya. I meant you tend to see fluff with more of an open eye than most of us do.
Quote from: Stefen on January 29, 2009, 11:51:08 PM
I was just funnin ya. I meant you tend to see fluff with more of an open eye than most of us do.
I knew you were funnin me so I was hoping for a funny answer.
Of course, I like fuff movies. I don't give a shit to criticize them. Just because Roger Ebert tries to review every film doesn't mean everyone else should. The critics who pick and choose what films to go in depth about have a better idea of what is appropriate.
Gene Siskel used to review bad films in the 80s with one or two word reviews that would destroy the film. A lot of times it was really funny, so why not do that more often? Reason is because advertisement is tied so much to newspapers that no major newspaper can afford to, but I would like the tradition to return.
Stefen, can I be your protege?
Quote from: Stefen on January 29, 2009, 01:25:44 PM
Everyone hates shitty movies at first. It isn't until you get sick of everyone here praising overrated period pieces that you finally start to appreciate the underrated dreck. Then you start hating the underrated dreck thanks to GT. Then you go back to overrated period pieces. Then you post in the Criterion thread. Then you watch PT's Death Race. Then eventually you just hate anything that gets praise or makes money. Then you are taken to a break.
fixt.
if you'd ended the post that way, it would be the best post of 2009 (so far)
oh, and taken is awesome, saw it months ago, liam rocks, it's a good old fun at the movies.
Did it teach you anything about the world as all great art should?
This was pretty fucking awesome. These Luc Besson written/produced flicks are usually really shitty, and this is no exception, but it's so much fun seeing Liam Neeson run around looking like a badass and curbstomping fools that I couldn't help but love this.
Spoilers....
Liam's plays a former Preventer. Ever heard of one of those? Yeah, neither have I. He's retired, but still hasn't forgotten his bad ass training. One hilarious scene has him doing security for a pop-star and he asks the pop-star, "My daughter wants to be a singer? Any tips?" and she's like, "Yeah, get another hobby" BURNnNN! Then, as she's coming off stage, some knife wielding Disney watching fan attempts to stab her in the tits and Liam beats the shit out of him. Breaks his arm, neck, nose, basically any bone that can be broken, he breaks, then the pop-star is all up on Liam's nuts. He's the fucking man.
Anyways, his little slut 17 year old daughter decides to backpack across Europe following U2 on their European tour (HAHA) and Liam warns her to not get kidnapped. Sure enough, her first day in Paris and her dumb ass gets kidnapped, but not before she's able to talk to her father and tell him what's happening. He's all like, in the calmest manner possible, "Now listen carefully, this is important. In a moment they are going to find you and they will take you. You have 10 to 15 seconds and I want you to put the phone down and yell anything you can to distinguish them, hair color, height, accent, anything that can help me locate them and find you." then the dudes come and take her and pick up the phone and Liam talks tough guy shit to the guy and is all like, "I will find you and I will kill you" and the dude on the other end is all, "GOOD LUCK" haha pwnt. LET THE HUNT BEGIN!
This is when Liam turns from Angry suburban dad to killing machine mercenary and starts his quest to find his slut daughter who, studies show, if not found within 96 hours, will end up chest deep in sleazy international business men penis. The stakes are high and time is short! 9 hours later Liam's in Paris and on the scene of the kidnapping. He must have some kind of mental telepathy/psychic abilities because just by entering the room, he's able to replay in his mind exactly how the kidnapping went down, all the way to the meticulous little details like which chair got kicked over and how they broke into the room. AMAZING!
Eventually he plays duck, duck, goose and finds one bad guy, which leads him to another bad guy, who leads him to another higher up bad guy, who leads him to..... you get the picture. As Liam is playing bad guy stepping stone, he's leaving a trail of dead bodies around him. Guys getting run over by trucks, shot in the face, bludgeoned to death, electrocuted, water boarded. Even his buddy, who turns out to be a bad guy, ends up getting his kind-hearted wife shot in the arm when he doesn't give up the information Liam requests. The dudes like, "I'll never give you the information you want!" and Liam turns the gun to his wife and without hesitation, pops a cap in her arm. COLD BLOODED! The best part is, immediately afterwards, he's like, "Tis just a flesh wound! But next one's going between her eyes!" and the guy coughs up the info. Fucking awesome.
Eventually he finds his daughter and during the course of the 96 hours it took to locate her she's become addicted to drugs, banged more dudes than your mom and took 2nd in a prostitute beauty pageant. ALL IN 96 HOURS!
It was what it was and what it was was a kick-ass action flick with an unassuming action star. I love these types of flicks. Where an actor you never took as a badass comes off as a complete badass. Made me want to watch Collateral. Any other flicks with nerdy actors being awesomely badass? Suggestions please.
Quote from: Stefen on February 02, 2009, 10:36:16 AM
Anyways, his little slut 17 year old daughter decides to backpack across Europe following U2 on their European tour (HAHA)
Hollywood sure knows what bands 17 year olds are into these days.
Quote from: private witt on February 02, 2009, 11:29:40 AM
Quote from: Stefen on February 02, 2009, 10:36:16 AM
Anyways, his little slut 17 year old daughter decides to backpack across Europe following U2 on their European tour (HAHA)
Hollywood sure knows what bands 17 year olds are into these days.
I don't know, I'm in college and meet a lot of freshmen who like the band a lot. Unlike other aging bands, U2 always has an aggressive campaign with their new albums to attract new and younger fans.
what do you mean stefan that an actor never came off as badass? what about rob roy?
While it never got me to the level of Breakdown where I ended up screaming back to the screen, I did get caught up in this and think Neeson was perfect for the focused father. The action was raw and didn't pull punches. But what could have kicked up the level of intensity, though, was that all the baddies are nameless, faceless casualities on his pursuit of his daughter. If there had been a main overload or the man on the phone turned out to be the endgame for Neeson's character, maximum revenge justice would have been reached. But as it is, it works as an action version of Hardcore.
I can't trust you anymore.
Quote from: MacGuffin on May 15, 2009, 03:34:33 PM
If there had been a main overload or the man on the phone turned out to be the endgame for Neeson's character, maximum revenge justice would have been reached. But as it is, it works as an action version of Hardcore.
it did seem anticlimactic at first, but the more i think about it the more i like it. it makes perfect sense that whoever was involved in the kidnapping (and actually had the audacity to pick up a cell phone and speak on it) would be just a grunt.
the setup scenes were pretty bad (the concert, bbq, birthday party), but once it gets going it's a lot of fun. Liam Neeson is the king of elevating mediocre material, this could've easily been a steven seagal movie.
Quote from: MacGuffin on May 15, 2009, 03:34:33 PM
While it never got me to the level of Breakdown where I ended up screaming back to the screen
breakdown is fucking king
I'm wondering why that film (breakdown) doesn't get its due...maybe a special edition Blu-ray in the future.
This was a lot of fun and pretty intense with a big screen HDTV and surround sound. Really really enjoyed myself.
Quote from: SiliasRuby on May 16, 2009, 11:59:59 AM
I'm wondering why that film (breakdown) doesn't get its due
i remember seeing that at the drive in paired up with Con Air. we had all gone wanting to see Con Air (which seemed like the kind of movie my 13 year old self would salivate for) and didn't care much about breakdown. needless to say breakdown blew us all away and i still revisit it pretty often today. (plus mr. friendly's in it!)
wow I have a Breakdown story too : the first time my parents let me babysit my little sister who was 3 (I was 12) I rented Breakdown. I was pretty nervous about being home alone etc and can easily recall most of the movie even if I've never seen it since.
this was just stupid. why didn't they have a real teenager play the daughter instead of 25 year old shannon from lost? she looked like a grown up in a raggedy ann costume. and why did she run like that? it's like they thought if they made a 25 year old run/act/dress like a 12 year old, it would somehow even out to her appearing like a 17 year old.
when she first got kidnapped i thought, hmm, i'm interested to see how this guy tracks these people down. oh what's that, one phone call to his fbi buddy and we know the kidnapper's name, birthplace and location. ok, well, this got a little easier, i suppose, but this should still be kinda tough. oh nevermind, liam neeson is going to catch seven one-in-a-million breaks (this hooker is owned by the same guy that took shannon, this girl has shannon's jacket, etc). and he finds her like 4 hours after she was taken. fucking lame.
also, holy shit, was the mom the worst mom ever or what?
Quote from: abuck1220 on May 18, 2009, 09:18:17 AM
also, holy shit, was the mom the worst mom ever or what?
this movie is the ultimate fucked over divorced father's "i told you so" fantasy
well, it would've been if he got to bone the singer superstar at the end.
They didn't have that 'I fucked the music star' deleted scene anywhere on the Blu-ray version either, I double checked.