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==Production==
==Production==
The film was produced by [[Luc Besson]]'s [[EuropaCorp]].<ref name="fra">{{cite journal | last = Jaafar | first = Ali | last2 = Keslassy | first2 = Elsa| title =New French wave prefers genre films | journal = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 21 November 2008 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996318 | accessdate = 1 February 2009}}</ref> Besson and Morel had previously collaborated on ''[[District B13]]''.<ref name=comingsoon>{{cite web|last1=Douglas|first1=Edward|title=Exclusive: Pierre Morel Talks Taken|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/52415-exclusive-pierre-morel-talks-taken|website=Comingsoon.net|accessdate=10 January 2015}}</ref>in addition Morel had previously worked as a director of photography previously for Besson.<ref name=comingsoon/> Besson pitched the idea of Taken one night over dinner and Morel immediately became attached to the idea of a father fighting to protect his daughter. <ref name=comingsoon/> Neeson took the role, desiring to play a more physically demanding role than he was used to. He expected the film to be a "little side road" for his career, expecting the film to be released [[Direct to video|directly to video]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hainey|first1=Michael|title=The GQ Cover Story: Liam Neeson|url=http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201404/liam-neeson-cover-story-april-2014?currentPage=1|website=GQ|accessdate=12 January 2015|page=1}}</ref>
The film was produced by [[Luc Besson]]'s [[EuropaCorp]].<ref name="fra">{{cite journal | last = Jaafar | first = Ali | last2 = Keslassy | first2 = Elsa| title =New French wave prefers genre films | journal = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = 21 November 2008 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117996318 | accessdate = 1 February 2009}}</ref> Besson and Morel had previously collaborated on ''[[District B13]]''.<ref name=comingsoon>{{cite web|last1=Douglas|first1=Edward|title=Exclusive: Pierre Morel Talks Taken|url=http://www.comingsoon.net/movies/features/52415-exclusive-pierre-morel-talks-taken|website=Comingsoon.net|accessdate=10 January 2015}}</ref>in addition Morel had previously worked as a director of photography previously for Besson.<ref name=comingsoon/> Besson pitched the idea of Taken one night over dinner and Morel immediately became attached to the idea of a father fighting to protect his daughter. <ref name=comingsoon/> Neeson took the role, desiring to play a more physically demanding role than he was used to. He expected the film to be a "little side road" for his career, expecting the film to be released [[Direct to video|directly to video]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hainey|first1=Michael|title=The GQ Cover Story: Liam Neeson|url=http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201404/liam-neeson-cover-story-april-2014?currentPage=1|website=GQ|accessdate=12 January 2015|page=1}}</ref> This film was inspired from the Tamil movie [[Mahanadi (film)]] which starred [[Kamal Hassan]].


==Music==
==Music==

Revision as of 20:46, 22 March 2015

Taken
The word TAKEN written vertically in red, alongside a man is running towards the viewer.
French theatrical release poster
Directed byPierre Morel
Written byLuc Besson
Robert Mark Kamen
Produced byLuc Besson
StarringLiam Neeson
Maggie Grace
Leland Orser
Jon Gries
David Warshofsky
Holly Valance
Katie Cassidy
Xander Berkeley
Olivier Rabourdin
Gérard Watkins
Famke Janssen
CinematographyMichel Abramowicz
Edited byFrédéric Thoraval
Music byNathaniel Méchaly
Production
companies
Distributed byEuropaCorp Distribution
(France)
20th Century Fox
(International)
Release dates
  • 27 February 2008 (2008-02-27) (France)
  • 30 January 2009 (2009-01-30) (USA)
Running time
90 minutes[3]
CountryFrance[1][2]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million[4]
Box office$226.8 million[4]

Taken is a 2008 French action thriller film directed by Pierre Morel, written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, and starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Katie Cassidy, Xander Berkeley, Olivier Rabourdin, Gérard Watkins, and Famke Janssen. It is the first installment in the Taken film series.

Neeson plays a former CIA operative named Bryan Mills who sets about tracking down his daughter after she is kidnapped by human traffickers for sexual slavery while traveling in France. Numerous media outlets have cited the film as a turning point in Neeson's career that redefined and transformed him to an action film star.[5][6][7][8][9][10] The film was met with mixed critical response, but was a financial success, earning over $226 million at the box office.

Plot

Retired CIA field operative Bryan Mills attempts to build a closer relationship with his daughter, Kim, who lives with her mother, Lenore, and her wealthy stepfather, Stuart. While overseeing security at a concert for pop star Sheerah, Bryan saves her from a violent stalker. As a thank you, Sheerah offers to assess Kim's talent as a singer. Before Bryan can tell Kim, she asks her father for permission to travel to Paris with her best friend, Amanda. Bryan initially refuses, but eventually agrees after Lenore pressures him. At the airport, Bryan learns the girls are actually following U2 during their European tour, something Lenore knew but kept from him.

Upon arrival at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Kim and Amanda meet a local named Peter who offers to pay for their cab. Unaware that he is secretly following them, Kim and Amanda go to Amanda's cousin's apartment, only to find it deserted. While Kim makes a call to her father, she witnesses Amanda being abducted in another room. Kim complies with her father's instructions to hide, but is discovered and dragged out. Her abductor picks up the phone and refuses to negotiate with Bryan, who responds with a threat. The only response is "Good luck" before the call is terminated.

Sam, an old friend of Bryan's, deduces from the killer's voice that he is Marko Hoxha, a notorious Albanian trafficker. Bryan relays the news to Lenore, along with a warning that he has only four days to find Kim before she disappears for good. Using Stuart's private jet, Bryan travels to Paris and conducts an investigation, during which he discovers pictures of Peter, who gets killed by jumping in traffic when Bryan attempts to capture him.

With his only lead gone, Bryan turns to an old contact, semi-retired French intelligence officer Jean-Claude Pitrel. Aware of Bryan's capabilities for destruction, Jean-Claude refuses to give him anything other than the location of the local red-light district. With help from a hired translator, Bryan infiltrates an Albanian brothel based out of an abandoned construction yard, where he finds a girl wearing Kim's denim jacket. After a brief firefight with the mobsters, Bryan takes the girl to a nearby hotel room and administers emergency aid.

The next morning, Bryan questions the girl and learns of a safehouse where the Albanians keep newly-taken girls. Posing as Pitrel, he enters the house pretending to be interested in a purchase. After a brief conversation with Marko, Bryan subdues him and eliminates his crew. A quick search turns up nothing except several dead girls, including Amanda. Using a makeshift electric chair, Bryan tortures Marko for information. Marko explains that, as a virgin, Kim has extra value and was sold quickly. As soon as Marko gives the buyer's name as Patrice Saint-Clair, Bryan electrocutes him and leaves. Later that evening, Bryan visits Jean-Claude and demands Saint-Clair's address. Claude refuses and tries to shoot him, but Bryan, aware of Claude's corrupt dealings with Patrice, disarms him and threatens to kill his wife until he relents.

Bryan attends the auction beneath Saint-Clair's manor. As soon as Kim comes up for sale, he forces a wealthy sheikh named Raman to purchase her. While making his way out, he is detained by security and chained to a pipe, but manages to escape and kill Saint-Clair and his men. Making his way to the harbor, Bryan boards Raman's yacht and takes out his guards, only to find the sheikh holding Kim at knifepoint. Bryan kills him without hesitation and rescues Kim. They return to the U.S., where she is reunited with her mother and stepfather. Afterward, Bryan takes Kim to see Sheerah for her first audition.

Cast

Production

The film was produced by Luc Besson's EuropaCorp.[11] Besson and Morel had previously collaborated on District B13.[12]in addition Morel had previously worked as a director of photography previously for Besson.[12] Besson pitched the idea of Taken one night over dinner and Morel immediately became attached to the idea of a father fighting to protect his daughter. [12] Neeson took the role, desiring to play a more physically demanding role than he was used to. He expected the film to be a "little side road" for his career, expecting the film to be released directly to video.[13] This film was inspired from the Tamil movie Mahanadi (film) which starred Kamal Hassan.

Music

The score of the film was composed by Nathaniel Méchaly and released on January 27, 2009.[14]

Untitled

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Nathaniel Méchaly except where noted.[15][16]

Taken (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
No.TitleLength
1."Opening"0:52
2."Change" (Written and performed by Joy Denalane featuring Lupe Fiasco)4:12
3."Permission to Go to Paris"1:11
4."To the Airport"1:10
5."The Concert"0:53
6."There's Somebody Here"3:22
7."Pursuit at Roissy"1:07
8."On the Rooftop"1:40
9."96 Hours"6:01
10."The Construction Site"2:04
11."Pursuit at the Construction Site"1:25
12."Saving Amanda"1:14
13."Escape From St Clair"1:38
14."Tick Tick, Boom" (Written and performed by The Hives)3:24
15."Hotel Camelia"1:38
16."The Auction"1:38
17."Pursuit by the Seine"3:15
18."On the Boat"1:05
19."The Last Fight"1:52
20."The Dragster Wave" (Written and performed by Ghinzu)6:09
Total length:45:50

Release

A trailer of Taken was released on June 20, 2008.[17] The film saw its release on February 27 in France, April 9 in China, 26 September in UK in the year of 2008, while the film was released on January 30 in United States and August 22 in Japan in the year of 2009.[18] The film was released under the title of "96 Hours" in Germany, "Io vi troverò" in Italy, "Заложница" in Russia.[18]

Box office

At the end of its box office run, Taken earned a gross of $145,000,989 in the North America, and $81,829,579 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $226,830,568 against a production budget of $25 million.[4]

On its opening day in the North America, the film grossed $9.4 million, scoring the best opening day ever for Super Bowl weekend.[19] It went on to make $24.7 million during its opening weekend playing in 3,183 theaters, with a $7,765 per-theatre average and ranking #1, which was the second highest Super Bowl opening weekend, at the time, behind Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour ($31.1 million).[20] The film is also the highest grossing among the Taken Film series in North America.[21]

The biggest market in other territories being South Korea, UK, France, Australia and Spain where the film grossed $15.47 million, $11.27 million, $9.43 million, $6.28 million, and $5.46 million respectively.[22]

Critical response

Taken was met with mixed reviews from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 58%, based on 168 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The site's consensus states, "Taken is undeniably fun with slick action, but is largely a brainless exercise."[23] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 50 out of 100, based on 31 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[24]

Richard Corliss of Time said the film "has nothing more on its mind than dozens of bad guys getting beat up and another one turned into instant roadkill."[25] The Washington Post described the film as "a satisfying little thriller as grimly professional as its efficient hero" and likened the action to the Jason Bourne series.[26] Derek Elley of Variety described the film as a "kick ass, pedal-to-the-metal actioner [...] that wisely doesn't give the viewer any time to ponder the string of unlikely coincidences [...] the film has the forward, devil-may-care momentum of a Bond film on steroids."[27]

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times described the film's premise as "unintentionally silly at times [...] Obviously, 'Taken' is not the kind of action film to spend much time worrying about its pedestrian script or largely indifferent acting, so it's fortunate to have Neeson in the starring role." Bryan Mills is characterized as "relentless attack machine who is impervious to fists, bullets and fast-moving cars, he uses a variety of martial skills to knock out more opponents than Mike Tyson and casually kill those he doesn't KO".[28]

CinemaScore polls conducted during the opening weekend, cinema audiences gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.[29]

Home media

Taken was released as "Taken (Single-Disc Extended Edition)" on DVDs on May 12, 2009 and on Blu-ray Discs on December 9, 2014. The film also saw release of "Taken (Two-Disc Extended Edition)" on DVDs and Blu-ray Discs on May 12, 2009.[30] As of 5 February 2015, the film has sold 5,388,963 DVDs and 607,073 Blu-ray Discs and grossing $79,798,171 and $10,069,116 respectively totaling $89,867,287 in North America.[31]

Controversy

Fraud case

In 2011, a self-proclaimed counter-terrorism expert who claimed the film was based on a real-life incident in which his daughter was killed was convicted of wire fraud. William G. Hillar, who pretended to be a retired Green Beret colonel, claimed to have spent more than 12 years lecturing US government agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation on security issues. However, records revealed he had actually been a radar operator in the Coast Guard Reserve between 1962 and 1970, and had never been in the US Army. Nevertheless his website claimed Taken was based on events involving him and his family. Hillar, who admitted the charges, was sentenced to 500 hours of community service at Maryland State Veteran Cemetery. He also agreed to repay $171,000 in speaking fees that he had received from various organizations to which he had presented himself as an expert in terrorism and human trafficking.[32]

In other media

  • In "Hunt", a fifth season episode of the TV series Castle, when Richard Castle's daughter Alexis is kidnapped and taken to Paris, Castle follows and Det. Kevin Ryan asks, "Who does he think he is, Liam Neeson?"
  • In the animated Cartoon Network series, The Amazing World of Gumball in the episode "The Kids", when Gumball calls Mr. Fitzgerald and asks if he can talk to Penny, Mr. Fitzgerald thinks Gumball is being disrespectful to him due to his changing voice, and threatens Gumball by repeating Bryan Mills' phone speech in a threatening voice. Later in the episode, Mr. Fitzgerald drives up to Gumball from his car and says the Bryan Mills line to him once more, but he is quickly cut off by Gumball when he rolls up his car window, locks the door, and slams it shut in his face.

Sequels

Main articles: Taken 2 and Taken 3

In November 2010, Fox officially announced that EuropaCorp would produce a sequel directed by Olivier Megaton. The film was subsequently released in France on 3 October 2012, with Neeson, Janssen, Grace, Gries, Rabourdin and Orser reprising their roles from the first film.[35][36][37]

On 29 March 2014, principal photography began on a third Taken film. This is intended to be the final installment in the Taken film series.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Taken". Variety. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help) [dead link]
  2. ^ Buchanan, Jason. "Taken". Allrovi. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. ^ http://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/taken-1
  4. ^ a b c "Taken (2009)". Box Office Mojo. IMDB. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  5. ^ Franich, Darren (30 January 2012). "Is Liam Neeson really an action star?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  6. ^ Hynes, Eric (26 January 2012). "Nearing 60, Liam Neeson, Action Star, Has Finally Arrived". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  7. ^ Weinstein, Joshua L. (31 January 2012). "Liam Neeson Is an Action Star -- 'The Grey' Proves It". TheWrap.com. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  8. ^ Tobias, Scott (30 January 2012). "Weekend Box Office: Liam Neeson marks his territory". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  9. ^ Rich, Katey (17 May 2012). "First Look At Liam Neeson Breaking Necks In Taken 2". Cinema Blend. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  10. ^ Pearson, Ben (21 June 2012). "Liam Neeson Kicks More Ass in International Trailer for 'Taken 2'". Myspace. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  11. ^ Jaafar, Ali; Keslassy, Elsa (21 November 2008). "New French wave prefers genre films". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  12. ^ a b c Douglas, Edward. "Exclusive: Pierre Morel Talks Taken". Comingsoon.net. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
  13. ^ Hainey, Michael. "The GQ Cover Story: Liam Neeson". GQ. p. 1. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  14. ^ "Taken Soundtrack". last.fm. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  15. ^ "Taken (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)". amazon.com. Amazon.com. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
  16. ^ "Taken Soundtrack". cduniverse.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  17. ^ "Taken trailer". traileraddict.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  18. ^ a b "Taken Release". imdb.com. IMDB. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  19. ^ McClintock, Pamela (31 January 2009). "Box office crown 'Taken' by Fox". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2009.
  20. ^ Gray, Brandon (1 February 2009). "'Taken' Captures Super Bowl Weekend". Retrieved 28 October 2012.
  21. ^ "Taken Series". boxofficemojo.com. IMDB. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Taken International box office". boxofficemojo.com. IMDB. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  23. ^ "Taken (2009)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  24. ^ "Taken". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  25. ^ Corliss, Richard (29 January 2009). "'Taken: The French Disconnection". Time. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  26. ^ Kois, Dan (30 January 2009). "Movie Review: The Thriller 'Taken,' With Liam Neeson". The Washington Post.
  27. ^ Elley, Derek (13 March 2008). "Taken". Variety. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  28. ^ Turan, Kenneth (30 January 2009). "'Taken'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  29. ^ "Cinemascore". cinemascore.com/. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  30. ^ "Taken DVD release". dvdsreleasedates.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  31. ^ "Taken". the-numbers.com. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  32. ^ "Reputed counter-terrorism expert pleads guilty". Military Times. 11 April 2011.
  33. ^ McFarland, Kevin (7 May 2012). "Leggo My Meg-O". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  34. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT5CNaHchPY
  35. ^ "Are We Going To Be Taken Again?". The Film Stage. 10 June 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
  36. ^ "Liam Neeson Confirmed For Taken 2" Empire. 17 March 2011.
  37. ^ "Maggie Grace Confirmed for 'Taken 2'" /Film. 6 April 2011.
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