Taken - Movie Review and Synopsis

The film follows an ex-CIA “Preventer”, who is faced with recovering his daughter after she is kidnapped by human trafficking|sex-traffickers in Paris, France.

Bryan (Liam Neeson), a former secret agent living in the US. He is skilled in hand to hand combat, divorced; and loves his 17-year-old daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) who lives with his ex-wife and her new husband Stuart (Xander Berkeley). Kim wants to take a vacation in Europe with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy), and together follow U2’s European tour. Kim’s mother allows this, but Kim also needs permission from her father. Since Kim fears that Bryan will not consent, she pretends that they will only stay in Paris. Reluctantly, Bryan agrees.

In Paris a seemingly friendly young man named Peter (Nicolas Giraud) proposes to share a taxi with them to the house where Kim and her friend are staying, and so they do. However, the man works for an Albanian Mafia|Albanian criminal organization, to which he reports the address.

Director Pierre Morel’s follow up to the nouveau classique District B13 is looking stressful! And yet how awesome will it be to watch Liam Neeson throw a punch in pursuit of the baddies who made off with Maggie Grace? You have to leave it to Luc Besson and his Transporter cronies (Morel was the cinematographer for the first two Frank Martin chapters and co-screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen has had a hand in all three movies) for making a real-life scenario so freaky/engaging, though I’m hoping I won’t be spoiled as to the story’s twists and resolution before it comes out Stateside since the movie has been out in Asia and Europe for months. Though I will say Ms. Grace, who looks a bit like Jennifer Connelly here, does not do a full reveal for her legion of followers.

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, disturbing thematic material, sexual content, some drug references and language.

Director: Pierre Morel
Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen
Studio: Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation
Release Date: 30 January 2009 (USA)