With a resume the length of one’s arm, Liam Neeson (Chronicles of Narnia, Batman Begins) rarely disappoints. His performance in this year’s smash hit Taken proves no different. Released theatrically in January 2009, and on DVD in May 2009, this film has grossed over $220 million worldwide and proven a solid seller and rental on DVD. For more technical information on this DVD release, please visit www.takenmovie.com. Taken is available in 2-disc extended cut, single-disc theatrical release, or extended cut Blu-Ray. This review covers the theatrical version with a running time of approximately 93 minutes.

Warning: This review contains spoilers! Please plow ahead at your own risk and enjoyment!

Taken finds Neeson playing the role of Bryan Mills, an ex-CIA “Preventer” with a unique skill set in eliminating threats via hand to hand combat or with basic weaponry. After retiring from the CIA, and a heavy overseas travel schedule, Mills returns to the U.S. to rebuild his relationship with his 17-year-old daughter. His daughter Kim, played by actress Maggie Grace(Lost, The Fog) convinces her father to sign papers allowing her to travel as a minor to Paris, France with her friend. Soon after arriving in France, Kim and her friend are kidnapped by foreign human traffickers and sold into a life of forced drugs, prostitution, and servitude.

Neeson’s role in Taken soon becomes a hybrid of Matt Damon in “The Bourne Identity” and Denzel Washington in “Man on Fire”. Neeson pieces together clues from cell phones, local French law enforcement, and intelligence buddies to begin his campaign of human carnage, demolition, destruction, and revenge. The action sequences are very realistic and not over-dramatized.

A large part of Taken is filmed at night. The camera work is superb and does not include the annoying shaking camera problems common these days in action films. The action is easy to view and comprehend in the midst of the dark interiors and exteriors. The dialogue is easy to listen to and Neeson does an excellent job at performing with an American English accent.

The theatrical version of Taken does suffer a bit too much from predictability and the absence of a subplot involving Maggie Grace. Grace has way too little screen time in this film. There should have been an extra 15 minutes of content in the theatrical cut relating to her experience in captivity. Once she is kidnapped, her screen time is very nominal. We must wonder what in the world is going on inside the kidnappers’ world at various times. The theatrical film also would have benefited from extended action scenes. There is an excellent car chase scene that ends all too soon. Hollywood seems to believe in giving too little these days in the theatrical cuts of films. This is their first chance to make a good impression. In Taken, the impression is very good but not outstanding. I want more for the price of rental or admission the first time around! On a final note, Taken is well worth a rental. For die hard Liam Neeson fans, the 2-disc DVD or Blu-Ray will probably be more to your liking.