Saturday, April 25, 2015

Blu-ray Review: Taken 3



Taken 3
Director: Olivier Megaton
Starring: Liam Neeson, Forest Whittaker, Maggie Grace, and Famke Janssen
Studio: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Release Date: April 22, 2015
Retail: $39.99
ASIN: B00U0WY46O
Running Time: 109 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Now available on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD is the action-packed Taken 3. Directed by Olivier Megaton, the film stars Liam Neeson, Forest Whittaker, Maggie Grace, and Famke Janssen. The Blu-ray features the both the theatrical version and the unrated cut (about 6 minutes longer). Extras include deleted scenes, gallery, Sam's Bunker A.K.A. The Rabbit Hole, Taken to L.A. and A Taken Legacy.

Liam Neeson returns once again as the ex-covert operative Bryan Mills, whom is now living in L.A. to be close to his daughter Kim (played by Maggie Grace). Despite the events that occurred in Taken 2, his ex-wife Lenore (played by Famke Janssen) has stayed married to Stuart St. John (now played by Dougray Scott); though she still has feeling for Bryan and vice versa.

After receiving a text form Lenore wanting to have breakfast at his apartment, Bryan is shell-shocked when he finds her dead in his bedroom. The LAPDs arrive to the scene quickly, but Bryan is one step of head of them as he uses his covert operative knowledge & skills to hunt down his ex-wife's murderer and clear his name.

However, this isn't going to be easy with the LAPD Inspector Frank Dotzler (played by Forest Whittaker) as well a group of Russian mercenaries following his tracks. He must rely on his former operative team to help protect his daughter and unravel the mystery.


I thought 2008's Taken (well it was released here in the states in 2009) was a well-crafted action film, but I was disappointed with the 2012's bland sequel, which felt more like a bad a remake. I wasn't expecting too much from the final installment in the trilogy, especially with Olivier Megaton returning as the director. Instead of rehashing the plot from the original film, Taken 3 has an original story, though there are plenty of plot holes. The action scenes are cliched and the editing is hideous, but the movie is saved by Liam Neeson's fine acting chops. Overall, Taken 3 is slightly better than its predecessor, but shallow compared to the original.



*Disclaimer - I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

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