​FILMS

taken 3

2015 review number 3:

Taken 3: (Action/Thriller): 61 out of 100: After the surprise hit of "Taken" in 2008, there was bound to be some sequels. The first two films were set in Europe while this one has been filmed in California which reduces the exotic feel that its predecessors had.

Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, the ex-covert operative who successfully protected his family from the bad guys in "Taken" and "Taken 2". This time around it looks like there will be a reconciliation with his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) but she is brutally murdered. Framed for the crime, he is pursued by the authorities led by Franck Dotzler (Forest Whitaker). His job is to track down the real killers and protect his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) yet again.

Although filled with some solid action scenes, the main problem with this film is the quick cuts making these moments have less impact than they should. The quick cuts are also evident in the dramatic scenes so the director Olivier Megaton has certainly gone overboard with the edits. These cuts make it all so difficult to focus on the scenes. Another strange thing is that even though there's lots of killings and shootings, no blood can be found on the dead bodies making these scenes of violence unrealistic. The violence has obviously been toned down so the film could receive a more teen friendly censorship rating.

There's still enough twists and turns to keep the viewer interested but it just doesn't seem like a "Taken" movie. It's more of a generic action movie that doesn't fit the "Taken" brand. It's still good to see the familiar faces from the first two films along with new cast addition, Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, who is always watchable.

Although the location shots in California are efficient, they just don't provide the same value as the setting of the first two films. The unfamiliar environment for the protagonist added to the tension experienced. This one is not the edge of the seat material like the original was.

"Taken 3" is not a complete time waster but it could have been so much better. It's definitely not the gritty and exciting action movie that the original was.

Starring Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace and Dougray Scott
(109 minutes)
Parental advice: Coarse language and violence
Additional scenes during or after credits: No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUJZjUaNzgw (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Friday 9th January, 2014)

 

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