Trust me, I make popcorn at the movies...

Rating: 7/10 (31 March 2011)

When we last saw Liam Neeson, he had just judo-chopped half of Europe in saving his bratty daughter in Taken. It was a perfectly direct premise that promised lots of justified bad-ass action scenes.
Now we get Unknown, a bit more of a complicated version of the action thriller. From the trailer, you're like, "Whaaa! His hot wife forgot him? Who is he? Is he about to judo-chop that guy?" Perhaps that was just me. But you're basically left with plenty of questions and intrigue.
So what happens? Well, that's the fun part of the movie. Unknown takes you on a troublesome, frightening journey of someone losing their identity in a foreign country, and into discovering, albeit slowly, who they actually are. Oh and, as always, the consequences are dire.
Without spoiling too much, Unknown isn't the movie you think it is. The twists are spread out fairly well and they certainly keep your curiosity piqued. It is an enjoyable and thought-provoking ride where Neeson, unsurprisingly, does a solid job in the role of looking capable but confused. Diane Kruger (who's German and who I've become a fan of) plays the perfect subtle love interest to match Neeson and help him find his wife/life. And the German character actors do an excellent job of authenticity and local color. I'm looking at you, P.I. Ernst Jurgen (Bruno Ganz).
BUT. But, at this point you should realize what famous action thriller trilogy Unknown is so eerily similar to. Remember Jason Bourne. Couldn't remember who he was, was a trained assassin, etc. Ring a bell? I'm not saying this is a ripoff. In fact, I think it could stand on its own with its unique angle. BUT. But, what The Bourne Trilogy did so well, Unknown fails at: plot. I can only verify a couple of flaws in this film (Liam has to remember that he can fight, his memory is very partial), but there seemed to be more I can't recall.
So in the end, several questions are answered, but new ones arise in their place.
Favorite scene: Bruno Ganz vs. Frank Langella Grade: As a result of not being able to verify other flaws, I give it a range of B-C. It's more fun if you don't think about it.
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