
I saw this movie in opening weekend. I was reluctant to go see it since the very first trailer. I did not like the concept much. But, I saw the movie because my parents chose to see it on one of our movie weekends and I had no choice but to tag along. The theatre was crowded and the chair I was sitting in was very uncomfortable. But I held on. (what else was I going to do). I don’t have much to say about the beginning, so I won’t say much.
I do, though, have much to say about the means of the daughter getting kidnapped in the first place. Bryan Mills, a retired secret service agent, who is played by the talented Liam Neeson, is divorced from his wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) and lives in California. They have a daughter Kim (Maggie Smith). Well… Let’s just say that Kim is a retarded bimbo. We see her rebuff her poor dad, beg him to let her go to Europe to visit some museums with her friend, and then get pissed when he says no. Well, after a guilt trip, he agrees and then later finds out that her and her friend are not going to be touring museums, but following U2 (i believe it was U2, at least) in their European Tour. *sigh* That was strike one for me.
Well, when the trio gets to Europe and is waiting for a taxi, the bimbo Kim and fellow bimbo friend decide to talk up with a complete stranger, let him take your picture, SHARES a taxi with him where they are the first to get dropped off, tell him that they are the only ones in the house (idiot) and invite him over later. Well, its safe to say we all know what happened next. He got some friends, broke into the house, and kidnapped the girls *insert kidnapping scene from trailer here*. I was not amused.
Then, onward young good sirs, and dash to her rescue. I won’t say anymore to ruin the movie for you.
I hated the whole concept of her getting kidnapped. I hated the movie. HAHA. It was unappealing to me in the least. This old man got out of the most unbreachable situations and got himself into unescapable situations and magically managed to escape *surprise surprise*.
I can’t say much for the cinematography or directing for I was so engrossed in deciphering all the major flaws and ridiculous scenes it completely slipped my mind to even spare a thread of my mind power to recognize its worthiness.
Now, there were moments when I thought, “OMG, this guy just turned bad ass and this scene is so perfect!” but was left teetering on the edge of expectancy. The one scene where I thought Liam Neeson could do some good was in the “torture scene.” I thought, he can really do some damage her, and it won’t look so damn unrealistic. BUT. It failed. It was short. It was abrupt. It was undercooked. Blanched in water for three seconds and served to be eaten. My teeth cracked under the underdone-ness of this scene.
D-
The concept was bad, bad bad. What gave this movie hope was the dimming light of fleeting entertainment in some scenes. Too bad that light was very rare.
Allis Richardson.
Posted in Film, Taken, Uncategorized
Tags: Action, American, Famke Janssen, Lian Neeson, Maggie Smith, Movie, Mystery, Taken, Thriller
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