What do they know?

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2009)

Critics continue to be disengaged from the general public. Taken is a classic example. Overall the consensus among viewers is that Taken is an enjoyable thriller with a slightly different twist on the "agent" taking on the baddies. Liam Neeson is fun to watch, and the pace move along nicely. Its one of thew few movies of a year of bad movies that leaves pleasant memories behind.
Mind you, I am a fan of the previous work done by this crew. District B-13 I found was a great movie, with amazing action scenes. Having said that, when I began Taken I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What ensued was a father in hot pursuit of his kidnapped daughter through the seedier side of France. The movie preaches no message, and makes no pretense that it is anything but a "fun" movie. So why is it that critics cannot sit back and see what we see? Trust the viewers on this one. If you're in the mood for a great action flick, Taken will be right up your alley. If on the other hand you are a struggling artiste trying to glean the deep philosophical meanings of films produced by similar tortured artists, you might want to take a pass.