‘Taken,’ the action thriller starring Liam Neeson, was a game-changer when it hit the screens in 2008. Despite its low budget, it became a box-office sensation, spawning a sequel and a prequel drama series and cementing its place as a fan-favorite franchise.

Both movies are great ways to praise Liam Neeson for his ageless action and poignancy.

Anyway, Liam Neeson is excellent!

The most appealing aspect of this film is the performance and action of Liam Neeson, who plays the main character, Bryan. He had a career as an amateur boxer and could handle action, but it is not easy for an actor in his late 50s to star in an action film series. The power of his action is tremendous. Although it is not a one-person show, Brian is the only character who leads the story, and it is no exaggeration to say that everything rests on his shoulders, which he does with aplomb.

A father’s concern for his daughter is at the heart of the story. The human drama aspect of the film, in which he rushes to his daughter’s aid and does whatever it takes to rescue her, provides the transition between the action scenes and the sweaty hand-holding. Neeson’s facial expressions in this human part of the film were also excellent.

Thrilling tempo

The story of “Taken” is straightforward: a father saves his daughter from a problematic situation. The film has very few characters, which can bore the audience. Despite this, there is no dull moment in the movie. The film is kept to a very compact length of 94 minutes. The impression I got from watching the film was that it was over in the blink of an eye.

In recent years, action films that lavishly use CG and have long running times have been on the rise, so I think this film’s short length, which goes against the trend, was an optimal decision.

Thanks to the short running time of the entire film, tense scenes do not last unnecessarily long, and the story unfolds surprisingly smoothly, allowing the viewer to concentrate on the film quickly without getting bored. The tempo of the film was perfect. I noticed while watching the end roll that the original title of this film was “Taken,” which refers to the fact that the daughter has been taken away. The Japanese title “96 Hours” must have been taken solely from a line in the film. If that is the case, it is understandable that there is no James Cameron-esque production, such as the fact that the film is “96 minutes long. The simplicity and compactness of the story, the title, the running time, and other aspects of the film made me realize again the appeal of this film.

Pioneer of the “scary uncle when he gets angry” films of recent years.

Over the past several years, Hollywood films have seen an increase in “scary uncle” type films in which middle-aged action stars play the main characters. Most of these films rely on the lead star and have simple stories. Although critics do not receive them well, they have a high approval rate among audiences, which leads to high box-office performances and sequels. 96 Hours” is a pioneering film in this regard.

The common thread that runs through all “scary uncles” is that they become serious when something important is taken away from them, and this film takes that very road. It is indeed an unbearable tragedy that his daughter is kidnapped and sold off. Still, even so, the protagonist, Brian, is relentless. Even with his background as a former CIA operative, he can kill his enemies without mercy for the sake of his daughter, and he stands out in a series of quite spectacular moves. I couldn’t help but open my eyes when he mercilessly tortured and injured his enemies to locate his daughter.

“Taken” was released in 2008, the same year as the release of “Iron Man,” which sparked the Marvel hero movie boom. The hero of a hero movie is a hero for all and a friend of justice. On the other hand, Brian in “Taken” may be a hero to his daughter and ex-wife. Still, the crimes he committed to rescue his daughter are so severe that he could be considered a villain to the outside world. It was a fascinating phenomenon that the film that sparked such a boom in popularity among audiences, despite its different nature, was released in the same year.

It is no exaggeration to say that this film, “Taken,” begins and ends with Liam Neeson. It is the perfect film to enjoy Liam Neeson as an action actor. If you want a thrilling and exciting action film, please put it on your watchlist.