Taken

    Reminiscent of the ravaging revenge engendered in the first "Death Wish," "Taken" is an action picture with a purpose and a bit of a message. The purpose is to alert children that our world, at its worse, is not a safe or happy place to live, and is best that one keeps their adventures somewhat close to home. The message: bad guys thrive in an environment of societal apathy and tolerant laws, for example France.

    Director Pierre Morel, a Frenchman and former cinematographer, exhibits a "no holds barred" approach in examining the rotting underbelly of the Parisian underworld. In this case, it is the Albanian immigrants that abduct pretty young girls to sell in the sex slave business. What makes this story so nasty is the fact that the local officers of the law are on the take, and therefore, are complicit in the crimes.

    The problem for the Albanian mob and the crooked cops is the realty that these abductors and their accessories is they abducted the wrong 17 year old girl in Bryan Mills' daughter, played by Liam Neeson. Bryan is a retired CIA "preventor" (self-professed), who has "a certain set of skills" that gives him the edge over the bad guys, and he will stop at nothing to retrieve his only child. This film is all about action, and all about Liam Neeson showing he can kick a bit of butt when necessary. Reminds me of Charles Bronson, but definitely taller.

    Great action, good picture and no wasted time at just 93 minutes of runtime.

    Rated PG13. Released on DVD on May 12, 2009.