Posted by Ching Ya | Posted in Movie Spree | Posted on 16-11-2008
4
TAKEN
(IMDB Rating: 7.9/10 out of 14,185 votes)
If you are an action movie fan who loves story like Fugitive, Borne Identity etc., I’m pretty sure you’re gonna love TAKEN. I totally loved it! And I was practically glued to my seat the entire show. In fact, I would advice you to actually watch this movie yourself, ’cause I think you’re going to enjoy it, big time! Personally, I’ll give TAKEN a 8/10!
Bryan (Liam Neeson) was a former CIA agent, who gave up his job, moved to L.A. in order to live closer to his daughter, Kim, who he hardly spent time with when she was a little girl. His ex wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen) had remarried with a wealthy business man named Stuart. Bryan was hoping he could make up the time he lost with Kim and he would do anything to make sure his daughter is safe and well taken care of.
On Kim’s 17 year old birthday, Bryan attended her birthday party, and bought her a karaoke machine, as she dreamed of becoming a singer since she was little. However, step dad Stuart got Kim a much cooler present – a horse. Kim got so excited and totally forgot about the machine. A sense of disappointment swept over Bryan…
At night, while having barbecue at Bryan’s place, his friends offered him a job, that is to escort a diva, Sheerah (Holly Valance) to and back from her concert. Bryan took it and everything seemed easy enough, until a stalker appeared from no where and trying to stab her with a knife. Bryan saved her life with his skilful, sleek moves. She was grateful, not only agreed to his earlier request to offer some singing tips for Kim, she even gave Bryan her name card, with the contacts of her singing coach and manager written on it! How cool was that!
Bryan had a lunch date with his daughter, and unexpectedly, Lenore attended as well. Before he could tell Kim about the singing thingy, Kim was too excited talking about going to Paris with her friend, Amanda for summer holiday. Like any other parents, Bryan was worried and reluctant to sign the approval letter for his under-aged daughter to leave for Paris. Kim was upset and so was Lenore about Bryan’s decision. However, Bryan couldn’t bear seeing his only daughter get mad at him, although uncomfortable, he signed anyway but with the condition Kim must adhere all the rules he stated. Kim was thrilled !
The big day came, Bryan sent his daughter to the airport. Both of them had a nice father-daughter chat along the way. At the airport, while Kim went to greet Amanda, Bryan accidentally discovered Kim’s idea of following U2’s band-tour around Europe with the map in her backpack! He was furious as Kim lied to him, but Lenore warned him, if he does not give Kim enough space to live her life, he would lose her eventually. Bryan backed down and did not say a word to Kim about the Europe trip.
After several hours, Kim and Amanda reached Paris safely. They met a French guy named Peter who helped them taking group photo, and even shared a taxi with them. Naïve Amanda, not only she told Peter where they lived, but also about them having the apartment all by themselves for the holiday since her cousins were in Spain. Kim was surprised as she was not told about the vacant apartment earlier. As soon as the girls went up to the apartment, Peter made a phone call …
Bryan was worried why Kim hasn’t called since they should’ve landed in Paris. When he finally reached Kim, Kim explained she had no idea about the cousin’s not being around and they were alone by themselves in Paris. Just then, Kim saw a horrific sight. From where she was standing (toilet), she could see clearly Amanda had been abducted by two men, from the living room! She started to panic as the men were coming back for her.
Bryan asked her to stay calm, and ran to the nearest bedroom and hide under the bed, she did so. Bryan quickly got out some of his gadgets and recorded the entire conversation down. But what Bryan was going to tell her next was devastating, “honey, listen carefully, …..they’re gonna take you!” Not only her, I was like “WHAT??” but it’s clear enough, hiding under the bed is no way to save oneself under such circumstances. Bryan had things in his mind, he ordered his daughter to stay focus and concentrate. So when poor Kim was been snatched from under the bed, she did as she was told by her CIA daddy, to shout out as many details about the kidnappers as she could: 6 ft tall, tattooed at right hand… in 5 seconds, before ended up with a loud scream.
Bryan felt tortured to listen but unable to do anything at his side. He recorded the conversations between the Albanian kidnappers. When one of the kidnappers took up phone and listened, Bryan gave him a harsh warning “ …… I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you”, the guy just replied “Good Luck!” before he smashed the phone on the floor.
After getting some help from his friends in security line, he tracked down some details about the kidnappers: leader’s name was Marco and their motive of abduction was to do human trafficking, using drugs on the abductees, and force young ladies into prostitution. Bryan had only 96hours to save his daughter before she would disappear f
orever. With Stuart’s help, he got a plane and fly to Paris straight. He listened to the recordings numerous times, especially the ‘Good Luck’ part…
In Paris, Bryan went to the girls’ apartment. As a spy, of course, he made a force entry by climbing up to it, inspecting the entire place, and found the SD Card belongs to Kim’s phone. While examining the photos, he spotted the photo where Peter offered to take for the girls, and with the reflection on the mirror behind the girls, he got a clear look at Peter’s appearance. That guy is in deep trouble now!
Back at the airport, Peter was trying to talk another traveling girl into sharing a cab with him, when Bryan interrupted just in time and gave him a good beating, before demanding the girls’ whereabouts. Peter escaped, hurt, Bryan took the cab and chased after him. Unfortunately, Peter made a stupid mistake and got hit by a truck. There goes the clue.
Bryan went to his old friend who worked as the deputy director of Internal Security in Paris, Jean-Claude to get some information about the Albanians. Jean-Claude gave him a tip, and Bryan went for it. But Jean-Claude called some of his men to keep an eye on Bryan.
Bryan went to the streets where prostitutes were scattering. He hired a translator, and purposely made a scene with a prostitute that caused the pimp coming right at him. He bugged the pimp, and asked the translator to tell him every conversation they had in the car. After some times, finally something about ‘fresh merchandise’ and ‘job at the construction site’ aroused Bryan’s interest and he rushed to the scene. The bad guys were setting up cabins for illegal prostitution at the construction site!
Bryan went uncovered as a customer, and he came across a girl who had Kim’s Jacket. Unfortunately the girl was too dosed-up to speak clearly. Bryan decided to take his only clue out of the hell hole. So some bullets flying, car smashing, and explosions came into the scene, and of course, they escaped.
He brought the girl to a motel, and did all he could to make sure she’s ok. When the girl was cautious, she told Bryan about seeing Kim in a house with red door, at Paradise road. Bryan went, and got his entrance pass with Jean-Claude’s Internal Security name card.
Upon meeting the gang leaders (all 4 guys by the same name, Marco), he accidentally discovered that someone from Jean-Claude’s department was actually having dark-business with the kidnappers. He lured all 4 of them to speak out, and finally found the ‘Good Luck’ guy.
So he basically shot them all and captured the ‘Good Luck’ Marco for interrogation. He tortured and electric-shorted him, and finally Marco gave out the information of Kim been sold to Saint Claire with much higher price as she was still a virgin. As you are wondering where is Amanda, unfortunately, she was seen dead on the bed due to drug-overdosed. Sad story..
Bryan went to Jean-Claude’s house, clearly not for dinner as Jean-Claude’s wife thought so, and Jean-Claude clearly did not wish to get involved, especially when some superiors from his departments were found associated with the Albanian kidnappers. He gun-pointed at Bryan, unknowingly all the bullets were already emptied by Bryan. Bryan shot Jean-Claude’s wife on the arm, and threatened him to retrieve Saint Claire’s address. Not a friendly way, but the guy was desperate as the clock is ticking…
He went for his new target. Apparently, Saint Claire was having a grand party, while underground; they were selling young girls to wealthy buyers! Kim was the last merchandise, and Bryan gun points at a buyer, insisting him to buy Kim.
However, Bryan was knocked out cold after that. Knowing he’s one of the girls’ fathers, Saint Claire ordered to have him killed. Of course, Bryan had his ways of getting out even in desperate situations.
After giving Saint Claire some piece of his mind, he chased for the buyer, up till where the boat left the cay. He stole the car from the driver, chasing after the boat while driving in the opposite lane. He miraculously avoided all the cars that came right at him, and reached the crossover bridge, jumped onto the boat, and fought his way through the bodyguards.
Until he came standing face to face with his daughter, who was held hostage by the buyer. After putting a bullet in him, Bryan hugged his daughter who was clearly freaked out and relieved at the same time.
Bryan took Kim back to L.A. and whole family reunited, crying with happy tears at the airport. In the end, Bryan took Kim to meet the diva who he saved earlier, for singing tips! Happy ending!
That’s the best part of an action movie, most of the times, the good guys (although not always) win! Frankly, I don’t agree solving problems with violence, yet in the movies, we just hope the hero could go all out and save the day. That’s my irony between reality & movies. I don’t like a ‘perfect’ hero, I remembered watching Steven Seagal in his action movies sequels like Under Siege, when the movies always ended with him UNscratched! I’m not buying it! He’s not in a superman’s movie! It’s just so unrealistic to me.
Anyway, it’s good to see Liam plays a hero, he reminds me alot of Harrison Ford, who I enjoyed in the Fugitive and Indiana Jones. Both has the justice-enforcer look and I think Liam did a good job, by portraying the anguish of a father and how he would go just to save his beloved daughter (but, maybe not the killing part). So, the last message of the show is… never mess around with a CIA agent!
Copyright © 2008 by Wong Ching Ya, All Rights Reserved, “TAKEN: Movie Spree (6) !“.
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sound like a really good movie.. yes, i love action movie ;p thanks for the posting…
Glad you enjoy it Yan. I’m a big fan for action movie too! If I have the time I’ll be glad to write as much as I could! For the time being.. quality over quantity. ha..
Hiya again…
Just wanted to let you know that I am giving you an award! It’s my way of saying ‘Thanks’ for giving us the good stuff. By that I mean the movie reviews.
So we can all share in great entertainment.
Come to my blog to pick it up and take it home and pass it around!
– Red
Thanks dear Red! haha.. what a cute award ! This is my very first award, and thanks for sharing the love and fun way to do it! I’m gonna make somebody happy today as well! What’s the fun if we don’t start giving?
Thanks again! =)