3 ridiculous scenes you forgot Mark I'm afraid: - Neeson speech on immigrants abusing the system. - The daughter's best friend found dead after being constantly raped and drugged on a bed is not once mentioned at the end of the film. - Neeson super drug that helps a drug addict to recover from drug addiction.
One way to see it I see it as satire of how US right wingers often use European as a dirty word, how the french are too camp, too bohemian as a reflexive call back to the genesis of the US as a colony that fought and won its independence and thus how the old world of Europe is bad
+Badge Man Its a bit of both, joining the likes of running man, rollerball, death race 2000 etc. of seeming junky exploitation films that entertain in a visceral manner but also have something to say.
He killed maybe 20 to 30 people at the end but to be honest by that time I had lost count and all I was thinking about was I bet the guy steering the boat is going get the sack!
I thought this was a rather good stab at a film that 15-20 years ago would've been a Schwarzenegger or Willis vehicle. Bad stuff happens so he has to go find out what happened and kill a few people. I thought the tone was perfect and I even started expecting the protagonist's bursts of controlled violence that were hinted at in his 'I have certain skills' speech near the start.
I loved taken. Sometimes you just want to see a movie with action and fighting. They can't all be heart wrenching dramas or long winded looks into the soul.
Kermode is that kind of guy who would never enjoy a slice of pizza 🍕 in New York & complains about the missing quality,texture he once had in Italy, the only pizza he ever had 😂
Despite A lazy script, unfocused direction & poor score, the film delivers strong acting, intense action, A great story & an iconic threatening message. (64%) (3/5 stars) (mixed to positive)
@@chrisr6710 Thanks. Of course, Leon. Excellent film. I saw Fifth Element recently for the first time in decades and yep that's a good'un and also funnier than I remembered. I seem to remember seeing Big Blue a very long time ago which I think was his also but don't remember anything at all about it apart from some diving!
This movie succeeds at doing what it does and it does it very well. It doesn't need to do more than that. It's a blast for 90 minutes straight of liam neeson being a badass
Well, that scene is quite shocking and at the end of the film, guess what? The daughter is all smiles and happy as if NOTHING had happened. Dreadful film.
I can't lie, this film is a guilty pleasure of mine. The thing that I've always found hilarious is the phone call. If I was one of the kidnappers, I'd probably just laugh down the phone.
@WeAllReviewMovies That isnt true. I once won Liam Neeson in an Ebay auction, and I have to say...he arrived in the mail 3 weeks late, and very badly packaged.
@Tralman1965 But a film that contains NOTHING BUT action and fighting is boring. My high water mark for the action genre is Die Hard. Taken is absolutely nothing compared to Die Hard.
This is a perfect example of why I listen to Mark Kermode for the entertainment, not his film reviews. His cliches are cliches. They seemed to have only half watched the movie, then saw fit to rubbish it based on not giving it a chance.
agreed although Nolan's fanboy's really annoy me - his films are complex but usually quite easy to get by the end as long as you concentrate but there not that intelligent. Just slightly more intelligence blockbusters (besides Memento and Prestige) Agree about the films that are half way between the two thought, hate them.
People please this film is garbage with no depth. Mark was right to take the mickey out of it. Stop claiming Mark hates it because its "anti-European/sexist" its a dumb B movie with no substance. And even Nesson knows it. The phone call bit is the only memorable/good bit the rest they may as well of cast Bruce Willis and called it Die Hard 48 or painted some Transfromers in the background or hell even a Sharknado.
I don't understand why he is so upset over it taking place in Europe, and that the bad guys are from Europe. Is France totally free of crime? Is their no human trafficking in Europe? If it had been in South America, would he be upset at the portrayal of Brazilians as kidnappers? He seems unreasonably touchy on the subject. Neeson's character wasn't upset she was traveling alone specifically because it was Europe, it was because she was alone.
The point is her dad says I've been to Europe don't go on your own, as if it's some dangerous hell hole, and then within ten minutes of them arriving they are kidnapped, it's ridiculous. I like the film, Kenmore totally right though, especially from a European perspective as the USA is a lot more dangerous than here and a 17 and 19 year old going to USA would not be seen as horrifying for us. So why a safer place would be seen as this awful thing, and if you follow U2 even worse is baffling.
Mark repeatedly refers to Neeson as "Liam Neesum" throughout this review and even bungles it even further to just "Leesum" at one point. I don't know if he genuinely doesn't know his name or is so excited he keeps messing it up.
Of course the "foreigners" are the baddies as it is set in Europe! It also happens to be very watchable. It's like watching a Jason Statham movie but a lot better.
The film is a French film, produced and written by Frenchmen, set mostly in France starring an Irishman. Anti-European? Sorry that's like saying Lethal Weapon is anti-American because all the villains in that film were American.
Cybopath You can make a movie that caters to somebody other than yourself. Even if it was made by Europeans, it can still be grossly stereotypical towards Europeans, probably by design. If the director, producer, etc. think 300 million Americans will be more receptive because a movie portrays everybody as a caricature, then that's how they'll make the movie.
First time I saw "Taken" - yeah quite good for an action flick. Then I got forced to watch it 2-3 more times in my first year of university and i fucking hate it now.
Its not a 'happy/unhappy coincidence' that she happens to be on the phone to him when she's kidnapped, she sees whats happening to her friend and so automatically calls her dad who she hoped would know what to do.
I’m here from the future to say that she called her dad back (after missing his call) and then witnessed her friend being kidnapped, so Mark was correct.
the captain? I assume old cappy is not a threat, and needs to stay in control of the boat. He will be locked away in the cabin upstairs. Liam would have come up later and told him to pull into to a dock - a unnecessary scene you could work out yourself. Mark is always going on about 45 minutes too long, well here's some time saving :)
It's the most offensive film everywhere. All foreigners are drug peddling, child murdering paedophiles and they're all working for an Arab. The film was just ridiculously bad. It was just laughably bad. It could have been a rather tongue in cheek hysterically funny film. It was just awful. Kind of like Hostel. Racist, vulgar, cheap and tacky. Apparently 3 Days to Kill starred Kevin Costner because even Liam Neeson passed on it. It's ironic that at this rate now, the best film Liam Neeson will have starred in will be Star Wars Episode 1.
Actually it was rather good. It was a rather nuts-and-bolts action/revenge flick. I wouldn't say the portrayals of 'foreigners' are offensive at all. Saying the film is racist is like saying there are no bad Arabs, no bad French people, or indeed no bad Americans. The sex trafficking portrayed in the film does happen, it happens in many countries. People just don't want to believe it. So while I don't think it's wrong to say American views of 'Europeans' are stereotypical in general, this film isn't an example of that. It has some bad people in it, that happen to be Arabs...and you find this offensive.
Or maybe Kermode is talking pretentious bollocks as usual. This is from somebody who has recently read both of his books and watched a lot of his reviews here on the tube on the recommendation of a colleague. While I do find him entertaining and would even say I like him on occasion, he tends to talk out of his arse a lot.
apart from the u2 shite!! a fucking loved this film!!! die hard in europe!! fucking great!! kermode (who i like) has read far too much in to this..and i think if william freidken had made this exact movie!! he would be praising it!! like he did with bug!! which in my opinion was pure pish!! altho i love william freidken movies (apart from bug)
Really doesn't matter. It was an awful film. Just consider how bad the characters were in it. They were all basically stereotypes, from the obnoxious ex-wife (that does and says everything she can to annoy the audience) to the Saudi guy at the end. The girl was fucking annoying, if I were her father, I'd have told the kidnappers to make sure she doesn't come back. Yet what wound me up the most about the film was Neeson's character seemed to get weird sexual pleasure from torturing his victims.
Kermode reviews - often better than the films themselves.
I love you, Kermode. I love you very much.
kermodes got such a great way of speaking quickly and clearly in the time slot hes given
This is my favourite Kermode review. Hilarious.
I miss episodes like this.
3 ridiculous scenes you forgot Mark I'm afraid:
- Neeson speech on immigrants abusing the system.
- The daughter's best friend found dead after being constantly raped and drugged on a bed is not once mentioned at the end of the film.
- Neeson super drug that helps a drug addict to recover from drug addiction.
Hugo Malim amazing moment, the first one now is probably said by every other racist
How about how they could tell who was on the end of the phone including the town and the gang etc.
I love the idea that Jeff Bridges was originally attached to be Bryan Mills. I really wanna see that film now ha.
:)
I always assumed this film was a veiled commentary on US foreign policy.
One way to see it
I see it as satire of how US right wingers often use European as a dirty word, how the french are too camp, too bohemian as a reflexive call back to the genesis of the US as a colony that fought and won its independence and thus how the old world of Europe is bad
+Badge Man Its a bit of both, joining the likes of running man, rollerball, death race 2000 etc. of seeming junky exploitation films that entertain in a visceral manner but also have something to say.
+Badge Man ever heard of death of the author
Yes I have of heard of Barthes theory and his paper.
How does it relate to Taken?
James Heritage I weren't replying to your comment dude. I was talking to the guy who not all films have something to say.
He killed maybe 20 to 30 people at the end but to be honest by that time I had lost count and all I was thinking about was I bet the guy steering the boat is going get the sack!
3:21rare kermodian giggle
So this is where the "Whose Driving the boat" phrase came from!
Still the definitive Liam Neeson action movie
I prefer the Grey.
Darkman:Am I a joke to you?
And for the remainder of his days Mr Mayo was never again in the same room with Mr Neeson.
The end.
Good thing that Mr Neeson doesn’t seem to partake in good films anymore
UURRPE!!
I love you for uploading this.
And yet it's a very watchable movie.
"...and they've got boats, and they're doing WEIRD stuff that you wouldn't even think about ."
That line about the wrestler is a real life chubby hmmm moment
"The Telegraph were nice about me once!"
I thought this was a rather good stab at a film that 15-20 years ago would've been a Schwarzenegger or Willis vehicle. Bad stuff happens so he has to go find out what happened and kill a few people. I thought the tone was perfect and I even started expecting the protagonist's bursts of controlled violence that were hinted at in his 'I have certain skills' speech near the start.
I loved taken. Sometimes you just want to see a movie with action and fighting. They can't all be heart wrenching dramas or long winded looks into the soul.
Kermode is that kind of guy who would never enjoy a slice of pizza 🍕 in New York & complains about the missing quality,texture he once had in Italy, the only pizza he ever had 😂
Movie is actually pretty good, much better that Mark a s letting on, the sequels though are really bad
5:32 compresses “Liam Neeson” into “Leesom”
Despite A lazy script, unfocused direction & poor score, the film delivers strong acting, intense action, A great story & an iconic threatening message. (64%) (3/5 stars) (mixed to positive)
As we are seeing in the US right now, the right can do that all by themselves!
LMAO hilarious review.
What are the good Luc Besson films?
Nikita, Leon, Taxi, Fifth Element, ok, he’s gone off the boil in the last decade or so but he’s directed some classics.
@@chrisr6710 Thanks. Of course, Leon. Excellent film. I saw Fifth Element recently for the first time in decades and yep that's a good'un and also funnier than I remembered. I seem to remember seeing Big Blue a very long time ago which I think was his also but don't remember anything at all about it apart from some diving!
Taken should been called Liam Neeson vs Urpe
I asked the same question when I watched it hehe
True...!
@ 6:50, remember the opening scene of The World Is Not Enough
It's NOT a racist/xenophobic/Brexit film -- because there IS an American bad guy in it. Never mind what colour he is, he's American. So there !!
It's basically Commando with less Arnold
I've got a particular set of skills!
This movie succeeds at doing what it does and it does it very well. It doesn't need to do more than that. It's a blast for 90 minutes straight of liam neeson being a badass
"...I can tell you I don't 'ave money."
haha this film is great for when you are ill.
i see film to be entertained and this action film entertained me.so there
Well, that scene is quite shocking and at the end of the film, guess what? The daughter is all smiles and happy as if NOTHING had happened. Dreadful film.
I can't lie, this film is a guilty pleasure of mine. The thing that I've always found hilarious is the phone call. If I was one of the kidnappers, I'd probably just laugh down the phone.
LOL I farking love Kermode's reiviews....my weeknights are reserved just for them!
@WeAllReviewMovies That isnt true. I once won Liam Neeson in an Ebay auction, and I have to say...he arrived in the mail 3 weeks late, and very badly packaged.
Mr. Kermode, this is an international film - where exactly would you like the baddies to come from .... ?
Its a great film. Kermode got it wrong Again
@Tralman1965
But a film that contains NOTHING BUT action and fighting is boring.
My high water mark for the action genre is Die Hard. Taken is absolutely nothing compared to Die Hard.
This is a perfect example of why I listen to Mark Kermode for the entertainment, not his film reviews. His cliches are cliches. They seemed to have only half watched the movie, then saw fit to rubbish it based on not giving it a chance.
I haven't seen this film, but if this review is anything to go by then it only solidifies the reasons why I don't lean to the right politically.
agreed although Nolan's fanboy's really annoy me - his films are complex but usually quite easy to get by the end as long as you concentrate but there not that intelligent. Just slightly more intelligence blockbusters (besides Memento and Prestige) Agree about the films that are half way between the two thought, hate them.
The still looks like Simon leaning over to fart.
People please this film is garbage with no depth. Mark was right to take the mickey out of it. Stop claiming Mark hates it because its "anti-European/sexist" its a dumb B movie with no substance. And even Nesson knows it. The phone call bit is the only memorable/good bit the rest they may as well of cast Bruce Willis and called it Die Hard 48 or painted some Transfromers in the background or hell even a Sharknado.
yeah, who is driving the boat?
haha, spot on!
I don't understand why he is so upset over it taking place in Europe, and that the bad guys are from Europe. Is France totally free of crime? Is their no human trafficking in Europe? If it had been in South America, would he be upset at the portrayal of Brazilians as kidnappers? He seems unreasonably touchy on the subject. Neeson's character wasn't upset she was traveling alone specifically because it was Europe, it was because she was alone.
I generally like Kermode but he can be really moronic sometimes. He feigns outrage quite a bit and hates fun films.
The point is her dad says I've been to Europe don't go on your own, as if it's some dangerous hell hole, and then within ten minutes of them arriving they are kidnapped, it's ridiculous. I like the film, Kenmore totally right though, especially from a European perspective as the USA is a lot more dangerous than here and a 17 and 19 year old going to USA would not be seen as horrifying for us. So why a safer place would be seen as this awful thing, and if you follow U2 even worse is baffling.
@@monkey39128that’s why I gave up on him ages ago and an a Critical Drinker subscriber- the opposite of this piece faced snob 🙄
Take the focking elephant!
I think because of all these flaws it makes me love Taken even more.
Mark repeatedly refers to Neeson as "Liam Neesum" throughout this review and even bungles it even further to just "Leesum" at one point. I don't know if he genuinely doesn't know his name or is so excited he keeps messing it up.
Taken was awesome.
Just watched it - dreadful schlock (watched it to the end though, not a given with me)
Funniest review ever.
Of course the "foreigners" are the baddies as it is set in Europe! It also happens to be very watchable. It's like watching a Jason Statham movie but a lot better.
that was the urrpeen title ha ha
Why does he keep saying Europe like that?
He's making fun of Liam Neeson's accent
The film is a French film, produced and written by Frenchmen, set mostly in France starring an Irishman. Anti-European? Sorry that's like saying Lethal Weapon is anti-American because all the villains in that film were American.
Exactly.
It's got that French "fuck the Arabs" racism element to it, displayed by some of their right wing political parties.
Agree, the offendees are out in force again. They will find offense in anything that suits their nonsensical philosophy.
***** Please elaborate.
Cybopath You can make a movie that caters to somebody other than yourself. Even if it was made by Europeans, it can still be grossly stereotypical towards Europeans, probably by design. If the director, producer, etc. think 300 million Americans will be more receptive because a movie portrays everybody as a caricature, then that's how they'll make the movie.
Yooroop
The longer this video goes on the fewer letters this word has in it
Oorp
URP
Mark kermode. A man who thinks 95% of films are utter crap.
Well, who doesn't..? There are way, waaay more shitty films than good ones.
That means he’s out by around 4%.
Which they are yeh?
You only have to watch Taken to realise Brexit was the right decision.
👍👍👍
This really is an absolute perfect review of this awful film
It really isn’t - on both counts!
First time I saw "Taken" - yeah quite good for an action flick. Then I got forced to watch it 2-3 more times in my first year of university and i fucking hate it now.
Its not a 'happy/unhappy coincidence' that she happens to be on the phone to him when she's kidnapped, she sees whats happening to her friend and so automatically calls her dad who she hoped would know what to do.
I’m here from the future to say that she called her dad back (after missing his call) and then witnessed her friend being kidnapped, so Mark was correct.
@thehollowsofficial U@ - great! Listen to Zooropa (song) Surrender, One Tree Hill (album version) here on UA-cam. Go on!! .. I dare you!!!!!!!
@deadblissco Theres nothing poorly delivered about Liam Neeson.
Why didn't he just keep it short and just say it was a very good action flick.
Cos he can’t bring himself to lower his nose ..
I thought Taken was a horrible movie.
It's self-evident that Mark only reads the Guardian.
the captain? I assume old cappy is not a threat, and needs to stay in control of the boat. He will be locked away in the cabin upstairs. Liam would have come up later and told him to pull into to a dock - a unnecessary scene you could work out yourself. Mark is always going on about 45 minutes too long, well here's some time saving :)
I cannot take - no pun intended - Taken seriously. Seriously .
"You've Stolen My Daughter staring Leslie Nielsen" - Red Letter Media
JASERN STAFUM! Haha xD
It's a Good Movie, wished US movies where more like it
the drugs was probably adrenaline
Liam Neeson's American accent is about as bad as Mickey Rourke's Irish accent.
It’s shite but it’s good shite!
A film about a wrestler that's meant to be really good... lol , yeah . not bad Mark
It's the most offensive film everywhere. All foreigners are drug peddling, child murdering paedophiles and they're all working for an Arab. The film was just ridiculously bad. It was just laughably bad. It could have been a rather tongue in cheek hysterically funny film. It was just awful. Kind of like Hostel. Racist, vulgar, cheap and tacky.
Apparently 3 Days to Kill starred Kevin Costner because even Liam Neeson passed on it.
It's ironic that at this rate now, the best film Liam Neeson will have starred in will be Star Wars Episode 1.
Actually it was rather good. It was a rather nuts-and-bolts action/revenge flick. I wouldn't say the portrayals of 'foreigners' are offensive at all. Saying the film is racist is like saying there are no bad Arabs, no bad French people, or indeed no bad Americans. The sex trafficking portrayed in the film does happen, it happens in many countries. People just don't want to believe it. So while I don't think it's wrong to say American views of 'Europeans' are stereotypical in general, this film isn't an example of that. It has some bad people in it, that happen to be Arabs...and you find this offensive.
A terrible movie.
Or maybe Kermode is talking pretentious bollocks as usual. This is from somebody who has recently read both of his books and watched a lot of his reviews here on the tube on the recommendation of a colleague. While I do find him entertaining and would even say I like him on occasion, he tends to talk out of his arse a lot.
I thought it was quite good.
apart from the u2 shite!! a fucking loved this film!!! die hard in europe!! fucking great!! kermode (who i like) has read far too much in to this..and i think if william freidken had made this exact movie!! he would be praising it!! like he did with bug!! which in my opinion was pure pish!! altho i love william freidken movies (apart from bug)
Never liked Liam Neeson.
Really doesn't matter. It was an awful film. Just consider how bad the characters were in it. They were all basically stereotypes, from the obnoxious ex-wife (that does and says everything she can to annoy the audience) to the Saudi guy at the end.
The girl was fucking annoying, if I were her father, I'd have told the kidnappers to make sure she doesn't come back.
Yet what wound me up the most about the film was Neeson's character seemed to get weird sexual pleasure from torturing his victims.
lol! Tintin. This movie was crap.