Taken

Rating: 7/10 (11 October 2008)

At the age of 56 Liam Neeson oddly decided to take the lead role in an action movie. My first thoughts after seeing the trailer were accurately along the lines of "What the hell - did Clive Owen not answer his phone on casting day?" but alas here we are.
I don't know why Liam Neeson as an action star confused me, after all this is the guy, who in a single montage, trained Orlando Bloom to save the people of Jerusalem from the mighty Saladin, trained Obi Wan Kenobi and hell he even trained what is now the only credible Batman, so I suppose you have to give the man the benefit of the doubt that he can hold his own in the fight against evil Albanians.
Plot: Liam Neesons 17 year old daughter goes to France and gets herself kidnapped before she even unpacks her beret and The Neeson single handily sets out to bring her back - at what ever the costs (ohh he is so intimidating with his perma-frown!)
A few keys points about the things I learnt have from Taken:
Don't stand in the middle of a busy motor-way and look smug - you only have your own self to blame when it ends messily.
All Americans, or those who pretend to be American are good.
If you want to blend in when in France brown bags and long bread sticks are the way to do that.
Liam Neeson actually has the force which is how he was able to sense how, when and who took his daughter by simply just walking around her apartment.
The Neeson can outrun a 2008 Audi.
All foreigners, or those who pretend to be foreigners are evil.
Just by calling yourself Jean-Claude you can in fact fool the half of France and the evil foreign Albanians that you are a fact a French citizen even though you are an American with a thick Northern Irish accent who speaks only English.
Don't get me wrong the movie was very entertaining but the vast majority of the laughs were unintentional. There was also something very unsettling about the "shopping for girls" scene as it was so dehumanised.
There was one question though that were left unanswered: How in the hell can they justify casting Maggie Grace as a 17 year old? Four years ago she was playing an 18 year old on Lost and here were at the end of 2008 and she has de-aged yet again and don't get me started on her run - she makes Phoebe from Friends run look elegant.
It is a great action movie with some laughs. If you want to be entertained and just enjoy a silly action movie then this is the film for you - 7/10.
If anything I feel privileged to contribute to The Liam Neeson Retirement Fund where he can now retire to the Green Green Grass of L.A.