Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen

A former spy (Neeson) relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter (Grace), who has been forced into the slave trade.

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83% liked it

421,644 ratings

Critics

57% liked it

159 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Pierre Morel

Release Date: January 30, 2009

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DVD Release Date: May 12, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (79,192)


  • November 28, 2009
    A retired ex-secret serviceman is trying to make amends with his estranged daughter when she is kidnapped in Paris by white slave traders. Taken is on paper a very straightforward, almost tired sounding idea that you've heard a thousand times before. It's an unpretentious action ...( read more)thriller that plays out like a revenge story, except there is a goal outside of vengeance; a father's unstoppable wish to protect his daughter from harm. The first 30 minutes is the usual predictable and slightly clumsy exposition, but once Neeson springs into action it becomes an altogether different beast. Neeson is not the kind of action hero who looks like he'd shy from a fight for the fear of mussing his hair. Instead we get an ageing Irish terminator cutting a swathe through the kind of evil bastards even a guilt-ridden white liberal such as myself feels a tingle of pleasure to see brutally disposed of. The appearance of Holly Valance is a little embarrassing and sits about as comfortably as pink frosting atop a T-bone steak and made me suspect that her agent beat the producer at cards the night before shooting but otherwise it does exactly what is says on the tin. Plotless in almost a pleasing way, this is kind of like James Bond going rogue except "this time it's personal"; there are no stereotypical terrorists threatening our fat cat white christian way of life, no shadowy conspiracies or megalomaniacs, just a single-minded feast of adrenaline fuelled action that I really enjoyed. One of my future guilty pleasures and no mistake...
  • November 21, 2009
    "You don't remember me? We spoke on the phone two days ago. I told you I would find you."

    **review laterss**
  • November 14, 2009
    ''If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.''

    A former spy relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been for...( read more)ced into the slave trade.

    Liam Neeson: Bryan Mills

    Director Pierre Morel, you have picked a rocket ship of thrilling intensity to cling upon, parnering up with Luc Besson just works every single time. I'm sad that his declaration of being finished with the director's chair may be true, however, his scripts are mounting and pumping out many action packed, entertainment laden efforts. If one can get the Transporter series to make money from its wit and smartly executed action, you know you are doing something correct. I've yet to see these two guys' first collaboration, District B13, but as far as the solid effort goes, Taken, I have one more reason to finally seek it out. Released in Europe, in recent months, and finally making its way stateside at the end of January, the tale places a retired US government preventer agent, with the Albanian captors that stole his daughter in Paris. His job ruined his marriage, strained the relationship he had with his child, yet gave him the specific skill set to get it all back. All he has to do is pulverize some very bad men, kill countless thugs and criminals, without a glimpse of remorse, and call in a few favours, while burning some old bridges in the process. Liam Neeson shows the physicality that George Lucas must have seen when casting him as a Jedi warrior, but didn't utilize or harness that power correctly. Well, Morel sure opened the floodgates and Neeson does not disappoint.

    The European flair shows face right at the start with the film's opening credits. Sure the star gets top billing, but who do you ask gets second and third? That's right, the director and writers, then followed by the title. Someone understands the true creativity behind a feature film. Well, not just someone, a continent.
    It's a shame that the name Luc Besson won't fill the seats by itself in America, because I'm sure if you mention alot of his filmography to a film fan and ask what they all have in common, the answer would be, "films I really connect to and enjoy". And yet the person answering probably has no idea what the common factor is allowing them to be such.

    Lenore: You sacrificed our marriage to the service of the country, you've made a mess of your life in the service of your country; can't you sacrifice a little one time for your own daughter?
    Bryan: I would sacrifice anything for her.

    Shot with a kinetic pace, not quite Tony Scott, more Bourne Supremacy, but even slightly clearer than that, the action excites at every turn. Neeson is a man on a mission; a man with everything on the line, to find and save his daughter before the estimated 96 hours are up and she is lost forever on the black market human trafficking scheme. Friends, enemies, strangers, you name it; they are all potential targets to be shot at. Neeson's Bryan Mills is the ultimate badass working from his heart through to using his head, but only to survive, and to get one step closer to the truth. He gave it all up to rekindle a relationship with his seventeen year old, yet I'm sure never thought that the only way to do so would be to use all that training. The flip remark from Leland Orser, calling him Rambo, is more appropriate than you may think.

    The supporting cast is definitely a necessity to keep the plot moving, but, in the end, it's all about Neeson moving forward and bull-rushing his way through extras. Maggie Grace can sadly get very tired, but I don't fault her as much as casting. She is a 26-year old playing 17, so her overly annoying, girlish tendencies are overblown because she is overcompensating for the age difference. Famke Janssen and Xander Berkler, are solid in small roles, while my favorite supporter is Olivier Rabourdin's Jean-Claude. Playing a French Internal Government agent, an ex-associate of Neeson, he portrays the duality of wanting to help his friend while still keeping his job and financial influx intact. He knows that whatever is uncovered in the one-man vigilante escapade could potentially harm his paycheck by exposing illegal dealings with criminals on the part of the police force, so he is never completely open. And that guardedness leads to a fantastic dinner scene.

    Overall, Taken is a film not to be under estimated. It carefully addresses the subject of human trafficking which does take place in todays modern world. It also intriguingly makes cleverly placed stabs at immigration, criminality, and the scum which lurk in societies shadows. Liam Neeson's interaction, with a group of Albanians sums up the level of corruption allowed behind the lines, in a democratic country such as France. Of course, the real question being one of money, and treating girls like pieces of meat, as such a commodity.
    Taken therefore doesn't just entertain, it educates, and ultimately makes you think even harder if you the viewer happens to have children of your own.
    The only shame I felt about Taken was the poorly constructed ending which felt rather artificial, considering Maggie Grace fails to make us feel that this girl has even remotely been effected by this terrible ordeal. One would have thought Director Pierre Morel, may have cleverly shown a change in her character but rather we see her being ''spoiled'' again with a singing session with Holly Valance.
    Everything up until this confusing conclusion, does thrill, does excite and ultimately does makes us think and root for Liam. Again a story in which one man takes on corruption all by himself is admirable and certainly courageous. Taken is definitely a pleasure for action fans and fans of thrillers alike.

    ''You come to this country, take advantage of the system and think because we are tolerant that we are weak and helpless. Your arrogance offends me. And for that the rate just went up 10%.''
  • October 18, 2009
    Predictable but still riveting.
  • October 6, 2009
    Excellent thriller. A must see for anyone who wants a well acted anf violent movie with a good cast.
  • December 6, 2009
    A exhilarating action drama with a exceptional physical performance by Liam Neeson, who plays a retired former spy who's teenaged daughter is kidnapped by a ruthless gang of human traffickers while on a trip to Paris. Relying on his special skills to track down his daughter befor...( read more)e it's to late. Considerable suspense and great action scenes makes this well-made thriller one of the year's very best films. Highly recommended.
  • December 5, 2009
    "Awesome action-thriller movie with a great performance by the great Liam Neeson. The action-fight sequences were awesome. Great movie."
  • December 3, 2009
    pengorbanan seorg ayah dlm menyelamatkan anaknya dr jd pelacur...besr gileerrrr.....
  • December 1, 2009
    I love this movie this is realy loving Father
  • December 1, 2009
    it was awsome that a father wouldnt not let anyone to harm their daugther
    this film is about what happens next

Critic Reviews


February 2, 2009
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

[Neeson's] performance is the most perturbing thing in the film, even more so than its electrical-torture sequence or its revelations about sex-trafficking. full review

February 2, 2009
David Edelstein, New York Magazine

It's the big, dolorous Neeson who makes the movie a keeper. full review

February 2, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The movie proves two things. (1) Liam Neeson can bring undeserved credibility to most roles just by playing them, and (2) Luc Besson, the co-writer, whose actioner-assembly line produced this film, tu... full review

January 30, 2009
Mike McGranaghan, The Aisle Seat

Look closely and you will see that Taken is not a harmless piece of action fluff. It is a fraud, and a mean-spirited one at that. full review

January 30, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

With some suspension of disbelief and a strong stomach, it's possible to get taken in, or at least absorbed, by this adrenaline-pumping action thriller. full review

January 30, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

I won't tell you Taken is great, but it's great fun. full review

January 30, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

[Director] Morel keeps Taken moving swiftly. It's never dragged down by excess feelings; instead, it's powered by the potency of the right ones. full review

January 30, 2009
Wade Major, Boxoffice Magazine

Won't win any accolades for its brash illiberalism, and that'll be just fine with fans of the genre who for nearly a generation have been driven more and more to the substandard offerings of the direc... full review

January 30, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

If it's unrepentant violence you're after, you're better off renting [director] Morel's 2004 collaboration syndicate with Besson, District B13. full review

January 30, 2009
Tom Long, Detroit News

Bottom line? Action junkies sign up, school marms stay home. full review

View more Taken reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • thieverycorporation
    May 31, 2009
    The beginning is straight from the formulated Hollywood shelves, but then the action and suspense kick in - and doesn't let up. Neeson gives a competent performance and this fast paced thriller is worth at least one viewing.
  • Lynnh2005
    May 27, 2009
    This is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time.
  • MarkTV
    April 27, 2009
    One of the best movies that i've ever seen!
  • okekepe
    April 10, 2009
    Brilliant movie but not all on d edge kind of action ,liam neeson @ 1 of his best after a long break.
  • w7leamike2000
    March 30, 2009
    es una pelicula my maravillosa.
  • tarek2032000
    March 28, 2009
    i did not like this movie . why?because it deaals with Albanian and Arabs as taders in women > it is not true . we respect women because they are tho mothers,sisters,daughters and etc. we do not like insaulting women by making them naked or out of their clothes .yes every society has its good and bad people but it is not common .thank you sorry for my bad english
  • mariadhie
    March 27, 2009
    one of the best movies i've ever seen!!!!!you must see this movie and you will never regret....
  • emyss501
    March 27, 2009
    i reall like it.........IT is awsome
  • roboperson
    March 14, 2009
    HOLY CRAP MAN!!! This film was just awesome!!! Liam Neeson really kicks ass!!! SUCH A GREAT ACTION FLICK!!! :D
  • rundmc20012003
    March 13, 2009
    really good film

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Taken Trivia


  • Name the movie this piece of music was taken from.  Answer »
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