Taken (2009) ***1/2

Do you remember the Death Wish movies? You know, Charles Bronson having a family member killed, raped, etc. and then proceeding on going on a rampage killing every thug on the block. You know that kind of movie that usually starred a Bronson, Seagal, or a hyped up Governator. I thought those kind of films were dead, replaced with this fake revenge tales that are more sappy than anything. Taken is like a cousin to those '80's revenge/action films that exploded onto our movie screens. It's not quite the same and I can't put my finger on it as to why.

The film stars Liam Neeson as Bryan Mills, a father who has retired from his old job to try to make some kind of relationship with his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace). He reluctantly agrees for her to go on a trip to Europe where she winds up being kidnapped into white slavery. This is when Bryan Mills puts his training into action: he is a former operative for the C.I.A. And he is pissed.

Now when hearing the plot you'll be reminded of that 1985 action masterpiece Commando, starring a certain Austrian politician. But it's not the same film and the reason for that difference is Liam Neeson. Let's be honest, if this film starred Chuck Norris or Steven Seagal it would have been direct to $5 bin fodder that only hardcore action fans would want to see. But Taken stars Liam Neeson, who now proves that he can give credibility to any role he chooses. Neeson could try for an oscar with every role he takes (I'm looking at you Phillip Seymour Hoffman) but he tends to do a popcorn flick in the middle of his high brow work. Come on, the guy was Darkman, Oscar Schindler, Qui Gon Jinn, and soon to be Abraham Lincoln. It's Liam Neeson that makes this film great.

The script starts out very good and tends to go a little overboard the closer we get to the ending with a few cliches coming through. The direction is OK, though we do get some of that C.S.I. crap that we should be getting sick of by now. It's a solid action picture that isn't too long and originally doesn't make you take it too seriously. It's Liam Neeson that makes you do that. It's a great popcorn flick that won't bore you by being too long or pretentious. It's a classic action flick.