Film Review

Rating: Null/10 (13 December 2015)

The movie Taken is about a man, Brian Mills, who is retired from the Central Intelligence Agency and did so in order to spend more time with his daughter. Shortly into the movie Bryan's daughter, Kim, travels to Paris where she is abducted by a rich and powerful group who is discovered to be known for its sex trafficking operations. The theme of the movie is pretty obvious but the directors do a good job with the progression of the film to make you feel as if there is a slim chance the Brian may not make it in time to save Kim. The films theme is about Brian, who has a special background in the CIA who is trying to get away from the fast and dangerous life that his job entailed but found himself in an unfortunate situation which does not allow that to happen. A film with a similar theme is Live Free or Die Hard which is a part of the Die Hard series. Brian's nemesis seems as if it is incapable of defeat and is always one step ahead. However, Brian will do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission. The audience is drawn close to the Brian by using characteristics that go hand in hand with the ideal father figure. Characteristics such as a loving and gentle man who has the dangerous tenacity that any man would envy. The kidnapping of his daughter Kim triggered a chain of events that releases Brian's unrelenting force that is seemingly unstoppable no matter what comes his way.
The angle and lighting of the phone call scene in combination with the intensity of Brian's voice gives you goose bumps. The camera focuses on Brian's facial features which is draped in a sort of dark setting. This gives you the feeling that Brian is deep in thought and true to every word he speaks. He answers the phone call sitting on the bed but as soon as he puts the phone to his ear he begins to stand up. When Brian stands up it give you the feeling that he is ready to take action against the person on the other side of the phone. The camera subtly zooms in on Brian's face to give you an intimate moment with Brian and the perpetrators. A moment that makes you want to join forces and find Kim. When it comes to a child in distress the only thing that will stop Brian would be death, however, death itself will have a tough match against a man on fire.