Taken/Taken 2/Taken 3

Since the entire plot of this film is given away in the masterfully delivered trailer, it's not divulging anything to say that Taken is a modern-day revenge thriller. This presents an interesting experiment, actually. Considering that there aren't really any surprises to be found in Taken, beyond those we were offered in the pre-release snippet, are splendidly realized action sequences enough to carry this film? The answer here is a resounding "yes". Taken may be a simple film, but it's not simplistic, and even though the first third of it is spent recapping what we knew going in, the second and third acts here deliver enough thrills and action to make this film riveting, even if we know exactly where it's going. By setting the chase within the ultra-sleazy world of human trafficking, which we secretly hope is just a media creation, but know deep inside that this reprehensible and inhumane phenomenon is a reality, the film is propelled by a sense of urgency that isn't present in most revenge films. Liam Neeson's daughter isn't "Dead", she's "Taken", so his race against the ticking stopwatch tracking her probable fate provides enough tension to diffuse any disappointment in knowing exactly what's going to happen here. The selling point here is how deftly Liam Neeson hacks his way through a bevy of Albanian baddies. Neeson is untested as an action star, but watching him maneuver his way through the sea of detritus here, we're left hoping that he's got a franchise in him. The film may not have the intricacies of the expertly crafted Bourne films (although, like every action film made since Bourne appeared on the screen, the fight scenes here owe an obviously rich debt to Matt Damon's antics), but the gritty and realistic path Neeson carves to get to his stolen daughter is sufficient to deliver the promise implied by the fantastic trailer. You don't have to be a parent to understand and sympathize with Liam's plight here, and there is a morbid but exhilarating sense of release in seeing the evil empire pay for its transgressions. Sometimes morally complex, ambiguous studies of man's desire for revenge are too preachy to be entertaining. Taken doesn't really care if you like Liam Neeson or wonder if he's doing the right thing by flagrantly taking the law into his own hands; the film just wants you to strap yourself in and enjoy the tidings as he hands out beat-downs all over Paris. This film doesn't want you to think. Like Neeson's character quickly realizes, thinking is often not a luxury present in dire circumstances like these. Action is what counts, and for those who miss the era of the lean, mean 85-minute skull-crack fest, Taken will re-conjure the giddy thrills of watching Dudikoff, Seagal, and Van-Damme chomp through a slew of B-Movie terrorists. Having an Oscar-caliber actor delivering the judo chops only sweetens the pot. Forget about Oscars, plot points, or coherence. This dude's daughter has been kidnapped, and he's a former government agent trained to make bad guys' lives a living hell. Do you want to see him find his daughter and take down the scum who took her? Of course you do. Even reading this review is over-analyzing it.

Item arrived on time. No scratches in disk and bluray case is intact. Digital code works. Watched all 3 movies and no problems with discs. Very happy with the movie and satisfied with my purchase.

Awesome action

We like to make fun of Liam Neeson's Taken movies by calling them the "Bad Parenting Series", but only in jest. It really is a good set of action movies and will keep your attention and have you riveted to your seat. Who among us wouldn't move heaven and earth for our families. A good set and was worth the money.

The disks arrived in good shape.

4 stars--5 for the first, 3 and 2 respectively for the others. For those of you who haven't seen it, the first Taken movie was an absolute pleasure to watch. Liam Neeson portrays a semi-retired ex-black operations covert "handler" whose obsessive attention to detail alienates him from his family, who are still ever under his watchful and protective eye. His teen daughter plans an unsanctioned trip to Europe, which meets his disapproval and more dissatisfaction from his ex-wife and daughter. When his concerns come to fruition, his "specific set of skills" are unleashed and pandemonium ensues. [SPOILER ALERT] A couple of plot points are going to be revealed now... The first movie had me when he issues his dire warning to the Albanian kidnapper "Marco." That's hands-down one of the most superlative dressings-down I have ever heard, and would be an incredible statement for a job interview (security detail, hostage negotiator, whatever). I was on the edge of my seat from that point on, until his dinner with his "friend" in the French secret service. During his interrogation at the table, which goes from a somewhat uneasy allusions to outright accusations, Neeson's character "Brian" shoots the wife (who just made him dinner and engaged in pleasant small talk about his family, not knowing his daughter was currently a kidnap victim of sex traffickers), causing me to leave my seat entirely. The call back to the daughter's desire to be a singer and her lesson with the teen idol saved by Brian in an expository sequence at the beginning of the movie. Pure entertainment. The next one picks up as a revenge tale, and we see more of Neeson's skills but also his daughter gets more into the act as a more capable kidnap victim. Not as good as the first, but seeing more of Brian is worth the time. Third one is more of the same, and as all copies go, it loses something with each generation. Speaking of copies (ham-handed segue), there is a digital copy with this set. If you haven't seen the movies, get it. If you have, the blu-rays are well done and the digital copy is worth getting out the magnifying glass and typing the code until you get it right.

I love Liam Neeson and the movie Taken and it’s nice to have all three versions.

I am happy with my purchase.

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great action series...good over evil

Excelente colección

This is a pretty strong trilogy worth having on Blu-Ray for the visuals, though really the quality and memorable scenes from the franchise all come from the first film.

Great movies im glad I brought them.