Film review: Taken 3 (12A)

Do you remember how good the original Taken was?

Cast your mind back to 2008, when Liam Neeson firmly announced himself as a go to guy in the action genre.

His character Bryan Mills was as ruthless as 24’s Jack Bauer and as inventive as Jason Bourne when I came to bringing the pain to any bad guys in his path.

“I will look for you, I will find you – and I will kill you,” is such an immortal line.

However, 2012’s Taken 2 just didn’t deliver. At all. It was such a letdown – and kind of felt like the end of the line for the series.

Still, when I heard that Neeson and Luc Besson were teaming up for a third film, I was dreaming of a return to the ways of the brilliant original.

The good news is that Taken 3 is much better than the sequel. However, it still doesn’t get anywhere near the cult status of the original – and that’s how it should be measured in this genre.

Truth be told, it’s not really essential that you watch the first two films before visiting the cinema for part three (although if you haven’t seen Taken and love action films, rectify that immediately).

But if, like me, you’re a veteran of the series, all of the usual suspects are back here. If you’ve seen the trailer, which is laden with spoilers, you probably know more about the storyline that you should.

I’ll not repeat that gaffe, as the spoiler-ridden sneak peek – which revealed the death of a major character in the series – takes away Taken 3’s element of surprise.

Needless to say, if you’ve not yet seen the trailer, avoid it at all costs.

We find Bryan happy in Los Angeles. His daughter Kim (Maggie Grace – Lost) and ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen – X Men) are both in his life and there are no European gangsters hunting him down.

Indeed, Lenore’s relationship with husband Stuart (Dougray Scott – Mission: Impossible 2) is on the verge of collapse and it seems she’s keen on getting back with our hero.

Naturally, that all goes to pot when Bryan is framed for a murder. He’s forced to go on the run from the police in a bid to clear his name, while also keeping half an eye on his danger-prone daughter.

It’s actually a refreshing change to the formula of the first two movies, with Bryan himself now public enemy number one.

With the help of his spy buddies, who get more screen time this time around, he sets about piecing together the bigger picture.

But he’s now got quick-thinking cop Franck Dotzler (Forest Whitaker –The Last King Of Scotland) and the rest of LAPD’s finest on his case.

As ever, there are a few twists and plenty of villains for Bryan to hunt down, culminating in a very satisfactory shoot-out and a pretty awesome stunt involving a Porsche and an aeroplane.

For the most part, Neeson holds Taken 3 together with a typically strong performance.

He’s a hero willing to do anything to save those close to him – and a character most will respond to.

Bryan is cracking on a bit now, though, something a few of the fight scenes highlighted. I actually preferred Neeson’s role in last year’s A Walk Among The Tombstones, where there was less hand-to-hand combat.

There’s no denying that he’s still pretty damn awesome in this role, though.

Of the rest, Grace’s Kim isn’t as involved as she was in Taken 2, but remains very key to Bryan’s every move.

Janssen doesn’t get all that much sceen time as Lenore, but her chemistry with Neeson is as strong as ever.

Whitaker was an excellent choice as the slightly unorthodox Dotzler, which just about makes up for the ineptitude of the rest of the cops under his charge.

I did feel that Scott was a little underutilised as Lenore’s husband, playing more of a wimpy role than usual.

Overall Taken 3 is a solid entry into a series that looked to be done and dusted.

However, it still exists in the shadow of the brilliant original and never gets close to matching it.

And, while I enjoyed seeing Bryan Mills back in action, I do feel the time is now right for him to hang up his gun once and for all.

Voice Verdict: 7/10
Positives: Liam Neeson; Better than Taken 2…
Negatives: …but worse than the original; spoilers in trailer.
Reviewed at West End Cinema, Boston

Showtimes at West End Cinema, Boston
(January 16 to January 22)

EVENT CINEMA

TREASURE ISLAND
7pm (Thurs)

FILMS SHOWING

**AMERICAN SNIPER (15)
2.30pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily), 8.20pm (daily)

**EX_MACHINA (15)
4.20pm (Thurs), 8.45pm (Wed)

INTO THE WOODS (PG)
Noon (Sat/Sun/Wed), 2.45pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 5.30pm (daily), 8.20pm (daily)

TAKEN 3 (12A)
1pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (daily), 6pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

WOMAN IN BLACK: ANGEL OF DEATH (15)
2.10pm (Fri), 6.30pm (not Thurs), 8.45pm (not Wed/Thurs)

THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING (12A)
1.30pm (Wed), 5.40pm (daily), 8.25pm (daily)

ANNIE (PG)
2.40pm (Sat/Sun)

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM 3 (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), 12.20pm (Sat/Sun)

TINKERBELL….LEGEND OF THE NEVERBEAST (U)
10am (Sat), 12.45pm (Sat/Sun)

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES 2D (12A)
2.30pm (Fri/Wed)

PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 2D (U)
10.45pm (Sat/Sun)

PADDINGTON (PG)
10am (Sat/Sun), noon (Sat), 2.15pm (Sat/Sun), 4.25pm (not Thurs)

KIDS’ CLUB
Sat-Sun 10:30am – Book of Life 3D (U)

SILVER SCREEN
Wed 11.30am – Theory of Everything (12A)

** denotes free list suspended

Box office: 01205 363634
Web: www.westendcinema.co.uk/SavoyBoston