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A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

post #1 of 12
5/17/09 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
There's a line of dialogue in Pierre Morel's Taken that I presume is a quick nod in the direction of Sir Alfred's The Man Who Knew Too Much(2) and Ambrose Chapel.

St-Cloud? Is it a place or a person?

Taken isn't a great film, but it is an entertainingly violent one, yet still with a body count far less than The Wild Bunch.

We know from the outset what is going to occur. We presume that we know how it will end. It is merely the screen time in the middle that is left to entertain.

Liam Neeson plays a retired federal agent, very much at the height of his powers, who is unstoppable -- in the sense of a Rambo -- when he goes after his daughter, who has been...

Taken is a quality popcorn flick filled to overflowing with testosterone. Big, loud, and ultimately fun. This is not a film to view for a story line. Just go for the ride.

Shot on both film and via Panavision Genesis, the final result is a terrific looking Blu-ray.

Recommended.

RAH
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post #2 of 12
5/24/09 at 4:40am

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

Never underestimate a daddy who really gets angry.

(I used to say this to my children after watching films like The Last of the Mohicans, Commando and even Return of the Jedi.)
It made it to our standard family jokes/sayings.

Another one apparently, and although my children are > 20yrs now, I hope they still believe it.
Ordered it, of course, after reading your verdict.

Thanks for the review, Robert.


Cees
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post #3 of 12
5/24/09 at 5:50am

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in Blu-ray

Excellent PQ.
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post #4 of 12
5/24/09 at 2:46pm

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

REFERENCE AQ
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post #5 of 12
5/25/09 at 6:07am

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

I love this movie and the blu-ray is top notch.

Is the story deep? No, but the movie is captivating, exhilirating, wall to wall action and ultimately extremely satisfying.
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post #6 of 12
5/25/09 at 8:52am

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

I agree the story isn't deep in comparison to, say, drama movies. But for an action movie I found the story to be more than serviceable. Perhaps in lesser hands (both directing and acting) the story might come up short, but Liam Neeson was simply compelling to watch in this role.

Saw it for the first time in Blu last night, and I was blown away by the A/V quality and the quality of the film. Tightly paced at a shade over 90 minutes, and while the pace is fast, and the cutting is as well, it has none of those headache inducing type cuts that other action films employ to hide poor acting or over-exaggerate action [above and beyond what an action film should do].

This has become my favorite action film since the original Die Hard and Besson's Leon: The Professional.
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post #7 of 12
5/25/09 at 5:28pm

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

I started watching this, and thought the picture to be relatively soft.
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post #8 of 12
5/26/09 at 9:06am

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yumbo
I started watching this, and thought the picture to be relatively soft.

And then?

(Please, don't keep us in the dark.)


Cees
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post #9 of 12
5/26/09 at 3:51pm

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

I have to confess not being a fan of this film.

The cast and the production are high quality, but the script is just - well, all I can think is that it works better as a comedy.

I'm sure other people like it, but it didn't play for the group with which I saw it.
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post #10 of 12
5/26/09 at 4:14pm

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

Well,

I watched it first (after so many months of waiting - European/PAL release being early, and me tellign people to wait for the RA/1 version), very relunctantly on FOXTEL (in Australia) pay-per-view Pan & Scanned (sacrilege) on a 20" LCD but it was at a friend's house, so I did not wish to offend by being snobbish about it.

I thought it was entertaining, and ordered the Region B disc then in February. Having read reviews about how good the picture, and trying to troubleshoot my HDMI dorpout issues with Fox discs, I watched the first 20 minutes or so (on the 185" screen), and I can't say that it was much better than watching it P&S on a 20" screen in terms of perceived difference - 2.35 ratio aside.

The close up of Liam's face as he issues his ultimatum didn't exude the usual "wow, look at his wrinkles" reaction.

Again, just from a quick casual 20 minutes viewing (while thinking I better go home soon to wife).

Is that ok for an "and then"?

Wife does want to watch, but most friends have already seen (on pirate discs or) at cinema last year. Will conclude observation when that happens.

Now, having started Revolutionary Road last night, which is a very different film, and observed the Special Features (which wife always watches first), that is HIGH DEFINITION - Kate's whiskers (facial hair) are so prevalant in the close-ups. Didn't realise she (or anyone for that matter) was that facially hirsute.

Grin.
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post #11 of 12
5/26/09 at 7:29pm

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

I picked this up on release day and thought it was a good if somewhat shallow revenge flick, which I occasionally find myself in the mood for. I do feel a little guilty for enjoying the scene with the nails so much.

The picture looked quite good to me and the gunshots were satisfyingly punchy. I didn't find anything lacking about the presentation.
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post #12 of 12
5/27/09 at 12:48am

Re: A few words about...™ Taken -- in BD

My friends and I kept saying to each other,

"Man, I hate it when THAT happens!"...
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