Liam Neeson in the role of his career!

Rating: 8/10 (2 February 2009)

This film starts off to show that generic relationship between an ex-wife (Famke Janssen) and a loving father (Liam Neeson) who are unable to co-exist but share an interest -- their daughter. Bryan (Neeson) quits his career as a "preventer" to be closer to his somewhat distant daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). Kim plans to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy, who you'll recognize from "Click") but needs permission from her father in order to go. When Kim is 'Taken' by an group of Albanians, Bryan goes on a mission to kill everyone involved in order to get back his daughter.
I was literally on the edge of my seat from the moment of Kim being taken (which is what is shown in the trailers/spots) until the very last frame. The movie is action packed, and while it endorses a massively high body count, the kill scenes start to feel copied after it crosses the twenty mark. There are twists, there are some unknown actors and rising star actors in the feature, but for the most part it's an average action/thriller with a big name star.
Liam (who people will recognize from "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" as the wicked cool 'Qui-Gon Jinn') drives the movie as the sole participant and basically only known actor. I'm going on a limb and saying this is his best performance of his career, thus far. The action is well done, the pace is at a great, quick speed and the ride is fun for everyone able to be admitted.
There's "eye candy" for all genders and all ages. There's some quick, clever, subtle, witty retorts that some will chuckle, some will laugh out loud and some will sit there confused. There's a missing element of romance, but this is as I've stated, an action movie. There are a few key scenes that will not be forgotten.
Overall, I think it's a great film. The supporting cast could've been selected better. The kill scenes could've been varied instead of using the same MO for 20-30 men. It does just dip into the world of "unrealistic" and has a "Commando" vibe on how one man is able to take out 60 men without being much more than flesh wounded. For some, like me, that will infringe the film's rating and overall opinion.
If you don't look at it in that aspect, you'll enjoy it very much. I'm sure I'll be picking up the DVD when it hits the shelves at my local department store and may just end up going to view it once or twice more at the theaters. Who knows? I do know that, anyone who enjoys action in the least will have a good time watching Taken.