Taken: A Movie Review
Summary
Taken starts off in California, but most
of the movie occurs in Paris. Brian Mills, portrayed by actor Liam Neeson, gets offered a
security job with his friends to guard a singer. At the concert, the singer is nearly attacked by a man, however, Brian thwarts the assailant's attempt and gets the
singer away safely. The next day, when Brian has lunch with his daughter, Kimmy, she asks permission to go to Paris with her friend, Amanda. Brian is
hesitant because he does not want his daughter to go alone; however, he
eventually lets her go. In Paris, while Kimmy is in the bathroom talking to her dad, she sees Amanda being abducted by a small
group of men. Brian gives her a set of instructions to follow, preparing Kimmy
to be taken by the men. Brian uses his skills from working in the secret agency
to try and find Kimmy. Taken is a
good movie because of the plot, soundtrack, its appeal to a wide audience, and
Liam Neeson’s performance in the movie.
Plot
The plot is well developed in a number
of aspects. The plot was realistic, as being abducted by people from another country is possible. Being in this situation can be very stressful and scary. The audience gets a good sense of what Brian Mills is capable of
within the first twenty minutes of the movie. Conflict arises quickly
after the audience sees the set of skills Brian has to offer and how his skills
would help in the situation. While Brain
searches for his daughter, there are many action scenes involved. In addition to all the action scenes, the movie also contains an abundance of suspense.The
suspense captivates viewers throughout the movie; leaving them breathless and
wanting to know what happens next. Only when the conflict is finally
resolved can the audience take another breath. While watching this movie, the audience does not notice how much time has gone by.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack enhances the movie and
further sets the mood. The music playing in the background is very subtle, but
it is just enough to make the scene creepy. Occasionally the music will
gradually crescendo, making the audience more anxious since they feel that
something will happen soon due to the music. The music is perfectly timed for
an event. To view the soundtracks, click here.
Audience Relevance
Taken appeals to a
wider audience than just men. Despite the action scenes, the movie attracts
women because it is a drama. Vicariously, mothers can relate to Kimmy’s mother in the movie; having a child taken away is something they can empathize with. Furthermore, the
movie is relevant to teens. Kimmy is seventeen years old and puts
too much trust in strangers. This results in her being abducted. The movie teaches teens not to trust or give too much information to strangers.
Liam
Neeson
Liam Neeson is a great actor for the
movie because he is able to keep up with the action and he plays the distressed
father figure very well. His role as the protective father
is very genuine. There is no doubt that he loves his daughter and will
do anything to get her back. Despite the fact that he is working against time,
he uses his skills very wisely. He is very knowledgeable of what to do and when to
do it. Liam Neeson is in many other movies as well. To learn more about Liam Neeson, click here.
Conclusion
Overall, Taken is a note-worthy movie because of the plot, soundtrack, appeal to
the audience, and Liam Neeson’s performance. Taken is packed with action and very suspenseful. It is a must see movie and highly recommended for all people. Be prepared to be left breathless and mind-blown.
