Taken

Without Neeson, this would be an incredibly run-of-the-mill film, one that has been seen plenty of times before. But with his presence on screen, the film seems to get a second wind and immediately provides entertainment. The French production is pleasing, with its distinctive style of crime thrillers evident at every turn. Here, Neeson kick-started his career as the older guy you don’t want to disturb from his routine, or he’ll deal with you like a small, insignificant fool. Watching him search for his kidnapped daughter in Paris is thoroughly enjoyable, and you easily root for him to kick those bad guys' asses. It’s just a pity that there wasn’t a main, charismatic villain; this aspect was noticeably missing. The action is fairly decent, though I wouldn’t go so far as to claim it’s one of the best action movies. The epileptic editing style akin to Bourne could have been avoided during the fights and shootouts. The film definitely entertained me, and I enjoyed it, but in terms of the genre, it’s not really a revolutionary viewing experience. Definitely not. I rate it 7.5/10. (01/11/2021)

I can't believe I overlooked such a treasure for 3 years! It's been a few hours since I watched the film, but my excitement hasn't waned. Liam as the unstoppable father absolutely blew away all the heroes I've known up to this point. I finally felt like action was worth something again, and for good reason. The kidnapping itself was an incredible experience. I'm amazed! 5 stars. (02/04/2012)

Ultra-badass Liam Neeson in an action deluge from Luc Besson’s production team. Basically it’s all designed to let the ever wonderful Neeson teach the evil kidnappers a damn good lesson. The six-inch nails stuck into the knee of one of the kidnappers speaks volumes (in fact I remember picking up a nail like that at a building supplies fair and thinking about how much it would hurt if I jabbed somebody in the leg with it...). Pierre Morel’s second name is action and after District 13, this is another success in his rocketing career. (10/15/2008)

Perhaps the best European action flick I know. What Pierre Morel does here is unmatched. Liam Neeson is flawless, the setting is as raw and authentic as it can be, and the action is so fast, raw, and dynamic that it takes your breath away. The atmosphere is wonderfully, with captivatingly cold characters, and one of the few action films where the “toughness” is truly tangible and completely believable (phone call, dens, party, auction, boat). A masterful gem of pure action and a future classic in a few years. (11/16/2008)

A bitter tale about a paranoid dad who kills a couple of ugly Arabs and Albanians on a trip to Paris, so that his princess’s luck doesn't run out and she doesn't end up on the gerontophile stick of a wicked rich man. From a rather illogical and sometimes sentimental spectacle, Morel and Neeson create an incredible adrenaline rush full of brilliant action and rough one-liners. I haven't seen such perfectly edited and frantic action for a long time, and they use almost exclusively very economical choreographies. One then forgets that the story doesn't really make sense at all and is only there as decoration. (10/06/2009)