johnlinkmovies

This is one of those movies that makes me reevaluate my ranking process. Because I loved this movie. But the score is lower than you might think. But, then, I realize that this movie works primarily on an entertainment level. It’s not one of the all time greats. But it can be considered one of the most entertainining movies I’ve seen in a long time. And my ranking reflects that. So… my evaluation is done, and my ranking system still rocks. On to the movie…

This is the movie that made me realize how short Keifer Sutherland truly is. You see, Xander Berkeley towers over Jack Bauer in the first two seasons of 24. In this movie, however, Berekely is dwarfed by the ginormous Liam Neeson. So, we will never see the two of them together unless they remake CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY again and cast Liam Neeson as Wonka and Keifer as an Oompa Loompa.

But I digress. TAKEN is about a girl who is kidnapped. Her daddy is really fuckin pissed about it.

I watched TAKEN (2008) on the big screen on 2.11.09. It was my first viewing of the film.

NOTE: THIS RANKING UTILIZES THIS SITE’S ORIGINAL SYSTEMIC ARTICLE WRITING METHOD. THE METHOD BY WHICH THE RANKINGS WERE ARRIVED AT, HOWEVER, REMAINS THE SAME.

FILM

The premise actually has quite a few holes in it. There is a definite suspension of belief that takes place. But ultimately, I found myself not being taken out of the movie at all. I felt like the pacing and storytelling did a good enough job of making us want to route for Liam Neeson, that the holes were filled in with grit. SCORE: 5

MOVIE

What I like about this movie is that the action doesn’t get going for a good thirty minutes, but the first act holds you anyway. I was sold when he had a gift for his daughter which he didn’t get to give her because she was too pissed at him. I wanted to see him get her back just so he could give it to her. Anyway, once the action gets going its nonstop. It’s a traditional camera treatment of the Bourne style of fighting. I enjoyed the heck out of it. SCORE: 9

ACTING

The score is lower here because the supporting cast is forgettable. But I don’t want to ignore the fact that without Liam Neeson, this movie is nothing more than a bastard cousin of THE PROFESSIONAL or any other film of that genre. Liam Neeson singlehandedly allows this movie to transcend almost to that level. There’s something about Oskar Schindler telling somebody that he is going to hunt them down and kill them which makes you listen. SCORE: 6

WRITING

Big gaping holes, especially in some of the supporting characters. I can’t believe anyone in the French government would allow tourists to get kidnapped and turn a blind eye. And I can’t believe that many people could disappear from the same place, and that noone would seem to know anything. But, like I said, Neeson makes me not even fuckin care. His delivery on the speech which was highlighted in the trailer would be so mundane and ordinary when performed by most actors. He made me believe it. SCORE: 4

FINAL TALLY

FILM: 5; MOVIE: 9; ACTING: 6; WRITING: 4

5+9+6+4+0=24

FINAL SCORE: 6

~ by johnlink00 on February 11, 2009.

Posted in ~ T ~, ~~~ 2008 ~~~
Tags: action