Captivating, suspenseful, riveting, exhilarating are only a few of the words that I would use to describe the movie Taken. If you desire a high dose of adrenaline to quench your movie watching thirst, and if you are ready to take a super-charged ride to the action filled city of Paris, France, then this is a must see movie for you. Taken, not for the faint of heart, will keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire ninety-one minutes. Be prepared to have the popcorn container pried from your hand when the credits start to roll on this high energy thriller.
Taken premiered in France on February 27, 2008, with releases in the United Kingdom and United States following on September 26, 2008 and January 30, 2009, respectively. The film was produced by Luc Besson’s Europacorp and was filmed mostly in Paris. On its opening day in the U.S., the film grossed $9.4 million, and has garnered over $220 million worldwide (Taken, par. 17).
The central character in this film is Bryan Mills, played by Liam Neeson. His daughter, Kim Mills, is played by Maggie Grace. Although having limited camera exposure, she is the main driving force behind her father’s actions. Bryan’s ex-wife Lenore, and her husband Stuart contribute supporting roles which add to the excitement of the film. Amanda, Kim’s friend, played by Katie Cassidy has a short-lived role that provides a valuable part to the film.
As a retired CIA agent, Mills has spent many years in training for everything from hand –to-hand combat, explosives, marksmanship, and various electronic device expertise. Under false pretenses, Lenore and Kim, age 17, persuade Bryan to sign a consent form that allows Kim to travel to Paris with her friend Amanda. He does this ...
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... that you see this action filled thriller. Liam Neeson’s portrayal of Bryan Mills was courageous and inspiring. Only a father’s love could drive a man as far as he went to save his only daughter.
The reoccurring theme of this movie is being willing to do whatever it takes to save someone you dearly love. This film gives new meaning to heroism. It shows viewers the importance of knowing where your children are and what they are doing at all times. In today’s time, you may be able to trust your children but you may not always be able to trust who your children are with. As parents we are responsible for ensuring the safety and well being of our children. You can’t take for granted any time that you are given with your children, as you may not know when it may be the last time you ever see them. You never know when your children may be Taken from you.
Braff himself has a warm, easy-to-watch screen presence. He can say nothing during the lull in a conversation, while the camera remains focused on his face, and it feels right. Portman and Sarsgaard are also genuine, each wonderfully relaxed in their roles. Production design is superb: details in every scene are arranged well, and the photography, by Lawrence Sher, is - like the story and the acting – unpretentious, never distracting, tricky or cute. This film never seems to manipulate us; instead it engages us, arouses our curiosity and amusement, bids us gently to care about Andrew and Sam and even Mark, leaving us entertained in the best sense. This movie is as confident, as secure in itself, as comforting, as a well worn pair of house slippers or your favorite reading chair. A splendid film. Grade: A- (09/04)
Incohesive, long, and dialogue-heavy, Inherent Vice has all the potential to flounder. Yet under the steady (or rather, wild) hands of director Paul Thomas Anderson, the film becomes a psychedelic, incredibly enjoyable ride brimming with wit and melancholy. The film follows Larry ‘Doc’ Sportello (played in routinely magnificent fashion by the now ever-reliable Joaquin Phoenix), and his exploits to help his ex-girlfriend, Shasta Fey (Katherine Waterston, also exquisite) investigate a kidnapping of notorious real-estate billionaire Mickey Wolfmann. From there, the plot descends (or ascends, depending on your perspective of the film) into sumptuous lunacy; a mystery involving the coveted and secretive
and how easily families are torn apart. The final theme that is depicted is Bravery. Palmer explores
This demonstrates to us that no matter how much your legal or moral laws are violated, what matters is how you as an individual react to the situation, justly or unjustly. This movie is centered around the notion that if you are a person of ethnic background, that alone is reason for others to forsake your rights, although in the long run justice will prevail
This story makes the reader wonder, why must parents do this to their children, what kinds of motifs do they have for essentially ruining their child’s life. I believe
Three concepts I got from the Finding Joe movie were that each of us if golden by nature, the Hero’s journey, and we should follow our bliss. The first concept is based on the story of a golden Buddha. This golden Buddha was worshipped by many, but when the area was going to be attacked, the people covered the golden statue in mud and concrete so that they would leave the area alone. The invaders ignored the Buddha as they thought it was not worth it to attack the mud covered statue. Time passed as the invaders left and people forgot that the Buddha was golden until a piece broke off, and the worshippers ripped all of the mud and concrete off to reveal the golden statue. This is a metaphor for us as individuals as we are all born golden, but
...me home?” He almost whispered it, in the voice of a child afraid of the dark,” (278). No matter whose life he saves, he will always be scared of the outside world which to him is frightening so doing what he does for the kids shows that he has true courage.
“The story employs a dramatic point of view that emphasizes the fragility of human relationships. It shows understanding and agreemen...
All the actors did an astonishing job. Tobin Bell has a loathsome attitude that is right for this character Jigsaw, a creepy serial killer who plays with his victims lives. Shawnee Smith?s performance was unpredictable, it kept you on the edge of your seat. A role women rarely have the opportunity to play. She plays an insecure, emotional woman with a self-destructive personality. Angus MacFadyen is a phenomenal underrated actor who has yet had...
Film Analysis - The Notebook Introduction The film is portrayed in the past and present scenario setting. It is based on a young couple’s love and passion for one another, but are unexpectedly separated due to the disapproval of the teen girl parents and the social differences in their life. At the start of the movie, it displays a nursing home style setting with an elderly man named Duke (James Garner), reading to an elderly woman named Mrs. Hamilton (Gena Rowlands), whose memory is inevitably deteriorating. The story he reads to her is a love story about two teenagers named Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah (Ryan Gosling), that met in the 1940’s at a carnival in Seabrook Island, South Carolina.
Non judgmental and Compassion was a message in this movie. If more people would have compassion for others we would live in a better world. It is important to be non judgmental because people never know what happens in a person's life to cause them to act out in a certain way. Mrs. Erin Gruwell’s students were separated along racial lines and had few aspirations beyond street survival. Many people warned her that her students were all criminals who couldn’t be taught. With all odds stacked against her, she accepted the teaching position at Wilson High School. Erin Gruwell saw more in the students than a future as criminals and gang members; she saw them as people who have lost their ways in life. Instead of turning her back as society had done, she held out a helping hand. She had compassion and was non judgmental toward the children’s actions and hatred for one another. Being judgmental...
...n (Director) mistakenly seems to believe can carry the whole film. On the strength "based on a true story", he has rejected attention-grabbing characters, an imaginative plot, and unforgettable villains.
At first the relationship between a father and his son can be perceived as a simple companionship. However, this bond can potentially evolve into more of a dynamic fitting relationship. In The Road The Man and his son have to depend on one another because they each hold a piece of each other. The Man holds his sons sense of adulthood while the son posses his father’s innocence. This reliance between the father and son create a relationship where they need each other in order to stay alive. “The boy was all that stood between him and death.” (McCarthy 29) It is evident that without a reason to live, in this case his son, The Man has no motivation to continue living his life. It essentially proves how the boy needs his father to love and protect him, while the father needs the boy to fuel ...
Adam, a corporal officer, starts as man who works everyday to catch the ‘villains’ of society, but is not spending enough time with his family, especially his son. He favors his nine year old daughter over his fifteen year old son. Adam views his daughter as a sweet child, and his son as a stubborn teenager who is going through a rebellious stage. However, when his daughter is killed in an accident, his perspective of family changes. In his grief, he states that he wishes he had been a better father. His wife reminds him that he still is a father and he realizes that he still has a chance with his son, Dylan. After his Daughter’s death, he creates a resolution from scriptures that states how he will be a better father. Because of the resolution he creates, he opens up to and spends more time with his son. By th...
We begin watching it with high hopes of laughs thanks to the film’s star Jim Carrey, and we do get a few chuckles. However, the movie has a slightly darker undertone to it as we watch Truman try to figure out what is going on in his world and his attempts to escape Seahaven. Seeing Jim Carrey out of his normal role as a pure comedy actor was interesting to watch and he did a great job, but I still prefer him as one of my “go to” comedic actors. I enjoyed watching this movie as I have in the past and during this assignment I even got my Dad to sit down and watch it with me. Dad’s final review of the movie – “hmmm…wasn’t bad”. That’s high praise coming from