Directed by:
Pierre MorelCinematography:
Michel AbramowiczComposer:
Nathaniel MéchalyCast:
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Olivier Rabourdin, Gérard Watkins (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
When his estranged teenage daughter (Maggie Grace) is kidnapped in Paris, a former spy (Neeson) sets out to find her at any cost. Relying on his special skills, he tracks down the ruthless gang that abducted her and launches a one-man war to bring them to justice and rescue his daughter. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (12)
Revenge tastes sweet and people have always enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction that comes with carrying out an execution. Unfortunately, Judge Lynch has not been practicing for a long time, so the eager population has no choice but to watch a movie where the hero takes justice into his own hands. Typical of this kind of production is Charles Bronson's Death Wish series. Taken is a straightforward action movie, where the main character gradually massacres three criminal gangs at a high pace to rescue his underage daughter from their clutches. Isn't that nice? Maybe it would be if the screenplay wasn't like a typical Seagal movie, which differs only by casting an A-list actor in the lead role. Unfortunately, the fact is that an actor of Liam Neeson's caliber is wasted on such a film because he has nothing to do there. He is not suited for the role and his character acting has almost no room to shine because the dialogues are shallow and the plot is silly. Tension in similar action movies builds up when the hero faces a charismatic and capable opponent, but here the villains are incredibly easy targets. And even the only one the angry daddy encounters at the very end is dispatched too quickly. Then there is also a message aimed at the American market, which is crucial for the film's commercial success. Loving American parents, where the world of values has not yet been corroded and decayed like in the desolate decadent Europe, are portrayed as the opposite of a cynical French meat trader, gangs of criminal Albanians, or a self-indulgent Arab magnate. Overall impression: 45%.
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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.
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A Macho version of Not Without My Daughter. This movie reeks of classic tough French guys’ movies “one man against hundreds" with Belmondo or Delon (it reminds me most -maybe too much - of Cop’s Honor). But the reek is a bit stale. The uninteresting prolog (twenty-five minutes) and the epilog chip away at any positive impression you may have had. In reality this is good, but not outstanding; it begins to be so only after it moves to Paris. And there’s far too much talking, when the characters don’t have anything to say. If only they would take action instead. Another negative aspect is Maggie Grace, or rather her role. She is so unlikeable that I am surprised that anybody would think it worth letting loose such hell in the peaceful city on the Seine. But there are positive sides as well. I haven’t counted them, but one is worth mentioning. Liam Neeson. Who would have said that at 56 years old he would turn into such a tough guy. After today’s viewing I know that if there’s one person whose daughter would be inadvisable to kidnap, it’s Liam’s. Everybody else is just a band of brewed tea drinkers. If he had just a little more style, I would have nothing to fault him for. Morel almost too obviously relies on the fact that almost nobody makes movies like this nowadays, and so in the end the viewer forgives him for a lot.
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About the movie "96 Hours", I heard only good things, but still I thought that there couldn't be anything that unique about an action thriller. But there is. And two words are enough to describe it - Liam Neeson. Liam Neeson has become an incredible action hero in his old age. Thanks to his charisma, we watch a man who we can fall in love with, but we still don't know what this sixty-year-old can do when it comes to action. He is incredibly good and believable. You are watching someone who could really be the action hero of the new age. A family man who has secrets, not equipped with muscles, but with abilities that make him the most dangerous killer. So what if he's a veteran? When a person has it in them, they simply have it. You believe everything Liam says. His calmness when he listens to his daughter being kidnapped in a live broadcast shows that you are simply watching someone who is a total professional. You are with him and you cheer for him. This is a great positive aspect of the movie, which surprisingly doesn't rely on a complicated plot. But Liam makes it a completely different spectacle. His actions are logical, and even though you know how it will probably end, you still wait to see what will happen and how he will actually reach his daughter. The fact that the authors chose Paris for the film helped a bit (it's not surprising since the script was written by Luc Besson), but the location is not decisive in this case. It could easily be Prague, since we're at it. "96 Hours" doesn't bring a plot that will amaze you, but you will meet a hero who will keep you in suspense and hope throughout the whole time, hoping that he will find his daughter and that everything will turn out as well as it can. He just has to kick all the scumbags' asses. Unfortunately, I missed the sequel in the cinema - I didn't want to see it until I saw the first one - but I'm afraid that Besson sat down at the table again just to squeeze a little more out of the successful franchise. However, I don't believe in its quality much, and as I find out from the opinions of critics and viewers, my concerns are justified. But the first one is a masterpiece of modern (meaning contemporary) action film. More: http://www.filmovy-denik.cz/2012/11/sahara-stormbreaker-syriana-andelsky.html
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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.
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