Liam Neeson Punches Everyone in the Face.

January 30, 10:54 PMBoston Movies ExaminerSteve Breski

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You never know who might be the daughter of an international spy.

Coming to theaters today (Friday January 30th), everywhere, is Taken. Taken is the latest brain creation of writer/director Luc Besson. You may remember him as the creator of Leon: The Professional, The Fifth Element, Taxi, La Femme Nikita, and Wasabi. Known for his uncanny portrayal of professional hitmen and all around badassness, he’s back at it again with Liam Neeson taking command of his no holds bar ex-operative role. To put it plain and simple, throughout the film Taken, Liam Neeson single handedly beats the sense out of every single bad guy he comes in contact with. Also, an unsuspecting mother of two. Some would regard this as just another sloshed together shoot ‘em up action movie, staring a vague hero with a backstory of espionage and kicking terrorist behind. Well, think what you want action movie poo-poo-ers, but this movie is anything but the above statement. This film delivers, straight up.


The movie starts out with Liam Neeson as the film’s main character, Brian every-spy. He’s the father of a newly turned 17 year old daughter Kimi. He’s also an ex “preventer”, as he describes. Pretty much a retired military commando operative. We see him bring her a karaoke machine as a birthday present hoping to aid in her dream of becoming a famous singer. The ex-wife instantly explodes all Brian’s joy and surprises Kimi with a pony. She also surprises Brian with the request that he sign a permission slip to let his underage daughter go on a trip to Paris with Kimi’s equally naive 19 year old friend Amanda. At first he resists then turns around and surprises her with his approval. Under the condition that she call him every night on a cell phone provided by him, she leaves. Conscious to the fact that his daughter might possibly become abducted by international      human smugglers, he waits. Now as you’ve most likely already seen in the trailers, she inadvertently get kidnapped. As quick as a judo chop to the throat, Liam Neeson springs into action and assaults Paris full force in his quest to find his beloved daughter. This is basically where the movie becomes completely awesome. Neeson runs, jumps, steals, shoots, and drives his way all over the place literally punching everyone in the face that stands in his path. Boy is it rewarding to watch, I kid you not. Skillfully directed by Pierre Morel, the violence unfolds on screen with fluidity not normally seen in run-of-the-mill out to save the hostage movies. I’d go as far to say that Liam Neeson out-kicks Matt Jason Damon Bourne, and this film was definitely a more genuinely enjoyable watch than Quantum of Illegally Produced Water.



Here, you can see the violence unfold in a quick two minute montage.

Obviously in the end you’re awarded with what you expect to happen, and the villains are the villains you’re expecting to get shot in the face, but still, this movie is a blast. The pacing is relentless and the supporting cast is just what you would expect from any Besson masterpiece. Did I also mention it’s filled with some great one liners? All in all this movie gets you pumped up to beat the crap out of anyone that may want to kidnap a member of your family. Oh, and seeing someone get their cranium bounced off of a solid object never gets old. Ever.