Commando for the 2000's

Rating: 7/10 (18 July 2009)

I've been relatively disappointed with the state of action movies for the past couple of years. They seem to have been relying more and more heavily on perversely complex plots, overdone cgi, and contemporary "gimmicks" like shaky cam while missing the simple point of exciting the audience. But not Taken. Taken gets it just right.
Those over 25 might recall that almost a quarter decade ago, Schwarzenegger (still in his fun prime - not yet his shameful republican deficit years) starred in "Commando" as John Matrix - an almost superhuman all-out good-guy who must rescue his daughter from the forces of evil that have abducted her. What follows is an unbelievable, violent, and fun guilty pleasure for the viewer. It occurred to me while watching Taken that this movie is really just an updated version of Commando - a little more realistic in terms of plot perhaps, but no less fun for it.
Neeson is a superhero in this film, untouchable and unbeatable, it's supremely satisfying to see the simplistic bad-guys get their violent comeuppance in various gruesome ways. Dare I say, it's truly refreshing to see a return to the good old action basics that have been so apparently absent in recent years.