The Taken Franchise Has Outstayed its Welcome

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At 62, Liam Neeson can still kick ass, to bad I can’t say the same thing about the rest of the film … 

In 2009, Bryan Mills (Neeson) took fire as the ex-CIA badass that took out half of the baddies in Paris to save his daughter from sex trafficking. Taken wasn’t the best film of 2009, but it was a decent action thriller that action junkies had come to expect. The plot was rather simple: when slave traders take Neeson’s daughter; it’s off to Europe where the ex-CIA tracks down the baddies with fire and brimstone. Director Pierre Morel infused this film with strong action sequences and tension, while Neeson backed the film with powerhouse acting. 

Somehow, Taken not only got a sequel but a threequel, which was completely unnecessary. And if you though Taken 2 was bad just wait until you get a load at this film. Taken 3 is beyond awful, it’s unforgivable. Third time around, we get thrown into a bizarre plot where the relatives of Albanian slave traders, from Taken 2, are still pissed-off at Neeson and want revenge on him and his family. The Mills', of course, are on a happy family vacation in Istanbul. Suddenly, the Albanian’s capture Bryan and his wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), and she is brutally murdered. Bryan is framed for his wife’s death and left on the run from the CIA, FBI and the police. 

At this point, director Olivier Megaton and scriptwriter Robert Mark Kamen are settling for any bone thrown at them. Talk about beating a dead horse, these sequels should have never existed. Taken 3 is bloated with sloppy action sequences, incoherent direction and lazy execution. Do yourself a favor; just watch Neeson’s 2015 Super Bowl commercial for Clash of Clans. That parody alone is more awesome than anything happening in this ludicrous film. The only thing this film is taking is the audience's money. It’s time to retire Mr. Mills. Please, no more. 

Taken 3 is rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned). For intense sequences of violence and action, and for brief strong language.