Mindless, but Well Made

Rating: 6/10 (5 April 2009)

Taken {dir. Pierre Morel, 2009} (**½/****)
A mindless little thriller, but entertaining in its own right. It features Liam Neeson (good to see him back in leading film roles) as an ex- C.I.A. Agent. Neeson daughter is kidnapped whilst vacationing with a friend in France and it falls to Neeson to get her back. The film's best scene comes early with Neeson addressing the kidnappers over the phone, and warning them that they are unaware of with whom they are messing. He, of course, phrases it differently and speaks with a steely reserve that is quite effective. Neeson is very good, but overall Taken is too mindless, to violent and too xenophobic to truly recommend.