Great Pacing and Action

Rating: 7/10 (15 March 2009)

Probably one of the best movies in awhile and certainly the best action movie in a year or two, Taken is a lean and exhilarating movie that sets itself up very well. Liam Neeson is first rate and mostly believable as "Preventor" Mills. Director Pierre Morel sets up the characters and situation with the right amount of time, depth, and history to give us something to latch on to. Then, the movie launches and it really launches. It's going full speed for at least 50 min or 2/3 of it's runtime. The action and fight scenes rival the best of today's movies including Bourne and James Bond. (spoiler) You have to suspend belief a little bit with a late 50's Neeson taking on 8 younger men in a room, but that's about where it ends. Taken has great focus and direction and is a highly effective action movie, one of the best in recent memory. Recommended.