Quoting: Neeson is the vodka of James Bond's martini,

Rating: 9/10 (13 March 2009)

The recipe for Bonds Martini is as follows: From the book written by Ian Flemming in 1953 "Casino Royale"
3 parts Gordon's Gin and only one part Vodka
I would counter that Neeson is the Gin in Bonds Martini...
There are many decent and well made movies about an American Kickass Hero Archetype character goes over seas to deal death and destruction on the doers of evil. Most of the good movies give a valid motive based love or an unknown circumstance. The Bourne Movies fit the latter of these motives and are very affective at staying on the edge and bringing you deeper into the movie...
Taken is such a perfectly stepped vector of a storyline and maintaining relative believability it is hard to look away from the screen.
My first real taste of Liam was in "Darkman" when I was 15 and he took a fantastical unbelievable character and gave it depth and even humor. The choices Liam has made in the roles he has taken on have given him such a range of characters that doing one of the more overdone general genres makes this movie special. There are some questions I have in regards to how Laim makes his Parisian charge. If I had access to friends that are in the business of security and international military experience I would bring them along for the ride. Liam decides to use them only sparingly...allows us to focus on Liam alone in this Mission Impossible like movie.
I try to imagine another actor in Liam's role...like Steven Seagal, Sylvester Stallone, Arnie, Vin Diesel and so on but Liam is so far away from the the typical Action Hero and does such a better job than all these guys...
It comes down to great writing, and Directing. Pierre Morel being the Cinematographer for "Danny the Dog" and The Transporter movies knows what works in these types of movies. Direct no bullshit dialog with a time line that brings the viewer along each level getting more intense.
Don't stand in either of Liam Neeson's or Pierre Morel's way unless you are going to watch this movie. There may never be another one like this one again...at least not with Liam Neeson gaining years in it.
The Professional or "Leon" is Jean Reno and Taken is Liam Neeson! Everything in the sky has aligned to make a rare viewing experience of an over done genre. Enjoy this movie