Taken

[ElPandaRoyal]

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.

[private witt]

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.

[RegularKarate]

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.

[Stefen]

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.

[private witt]

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?

[Stefen]

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. 

[hedwig]

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. 

in their defense, neeson overracted a bit, especially on the ho-ho-hos.

[private witt]

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?

[hedwig]

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.

[RegularKarate]

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.

[private witt]

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.

[Gold Trumpet]

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"?

[Stefen]

I was just funnin ya. I meant you tend to see fluff with more of an open eye than most of us do.

[Gold Trumpet]

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.

[private witt]

Stefen, can I be your protege?