You’re obviously not reading this review because you’re interested in a deep philosophical exploration of your self-reflections in a movie. You’re here because you were entertained by the Taken movies and other Liam Neeson shoot-em-ups, and you want to know if you’ll be similarly entertained, because you want to see Liam Neeson exercise his particular set of skills.
In that context, I’d say, maybe it’s slightly worse, but not by a whole lot. The plot is filled with holes and you’ll easily spot them all over the place. But you still want Liam Neeson to kick some butt. But you also find out that you enjoy watching Liam Neeson getting the crap beat out of him.
The plot is simple and it’s not. Vera Farmiga offers Liam Neeson, who just lost his job, a $100,000, if he will perform just a simple task, which is identify someone on the train. She believes he can do it, because he is an ex-cop. Neeson decides to take her up on the offer as she offers him no choice, as she says that if he doesn’t do as she asks, his family will be in danger. But of course, as the movie goes along, every time Liam Neeson thinks he’s identified the person of interest, it turns out he was wrong. Because for the movie to continue and fill our time, he has to continue to be wrong until all possibilities are exhausted, even though he’s supposed to be a great detective.
And also, you’re confused throughout the movie, because every time Liam Neeson makes a wrong move, he gets a phone call telling him that he’s being watched. So if he’s being watched and if they have eyes everywhere, why don’t they just identify the person themselves? But that question gets answered in the end.
So is it a great Taken movie? No. It’s the third movie that the director Jaume Collet-Serra has done with Liam Neeson, the others being Non-Stop and Run All Night. It’s fair to say that this is the worst of the three. But if you’re in the mood for some action, on a Friday afternoon, as I was, you forgive all the plot-holes. You find out that Liam Neeson really knows how to take a good beating. You’re also happy to watch Liam Neeson in a movie. You’re pleasantly surprised to see Patrick Wilson, and Sam Neil, and Jonathan Banks. I can’t remember the last time I saw Sam Neil in a movie. So I was happy with the cast. My expectations were to watch a Liam Neeson shoot-em-up, and that’s pretty much what I got.
I’ll give this movie a 6.5. I know I’m being generous, but that’s how Liam Neeson makes me feel about his movies. 6.5 out of 10.
Oh and by the way, Tommen Baratheon, is also in this movie.