Neeson plays an ex-operative for the government, whose past is merely hinted upon in buddy stories shared with his former associates, whose sole presence in the film seems to be to provide the audience with some background on his character. We see a father who missed out on his daughter's upbringing, a daughter who now lives with a rich stepdad and mother. Dad lives on a meager government stipend, and can hardly compete.
Of course, the overly-cautious government spy doesn't want his little girl going to Paris with only another hormonal teenager for company, and we can't help but see the inevitable when she gets kidnapped by sex slavers. Getting past this, the action picks up at a frenzied pace.
Neeson is excellent portraying the cool, slick operative, whose unapologetic and ruthless efficiency leaves many bodies in his wake. He's got some serious presence. The writing is pretty sound, and the audience is assured enough of the operative's experience that they can almost take it for granted when he infiltrates the network of slavers so quickly, and cuts a swathe through its ranks. The fight choreography is believeable in its breakneck pace, skipping too much fancy footwork for practical, lethal finality. Although, seeing Liam Neeson shoot a man in the foot was extremely amusing.
Taken is a very satisfying evening of entertainment. Most will leave the theater thinking:
"That was BAD ASS!"
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