Taken

Will someone be in charge of reminding me that I have two daughters before I rent Gone Baby Gone, or go to the theater (by myself) to see Taken?


Taken: PG-13
Director: Pierre Morel
Cast: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Framke Jansen

Did you like the Bourne Movies? Well, this is very different, but Liam does a pretty solid Jason Bourne impression with some of the hand-fighting. The plot goes a little haywire part of the way into the film, but I enjoyed it. There were lines that they just abandoned, but without de-railing the movie.

Although, if you're into realism you were hoping for more intrigue and less killing. Off the top of my head I am going to say that Liam Neeson (reprising his role from Krull??? Remember Krull?) kills around 30 men. Also, and this just can't be a spoiler... The movie deals with some of the grit of the tragedy of human trafficking. I hope the director is trying to make a statement, because he portrayed that aspect well. Parents: I'm not sure how this is only a PG-13 movie. I mean... I know, but I don't KNOW. It is very hard to watch as Neeson seemingly takes down an organization or two, but there is no debriefing, no conversation about what he did once the story slows at the end.

I enjoyed it. I would say 3 stars, and 3.5 if you give it some slack for genre. However, if you don't like superhero movies you will be annoyed that there is no accountability to the actions he takes. He does not have recourse to the violence he is responsible for. That is not Neeson's fault - he acts it well, and even appears to be less interested in justice than his daughter (which is a tricky as the movie goes on). However, any realism dissipates as he kills and kills. It is intense, the plot is good enough, the acting solid, and the intrigue is neither too little nor too much.

Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive

Rated: R
Director: David Lynch
Cast: Justin Theroux, Naomi Watts, Laura Elena Herring

Did you like Memento? We'll see if i ever get around to reviewing that one! If you liked Memento, you will probably like Mulholland Drive. My wife and I love Mad Men, so the appearance of "Jimmy" from that show threw us way off - especially if you know the scene!

Anyway, Mulholland Drive never loses its sense of suspense. I say it that way because, while intense, I do not think I can use the word the way we normally bandy it around in talking about movies! The movements are difficult, and we find out why at the end: it is because Naomi Watts sees Dead People... kidding. By the way, I came into that movie about 10 minutes late - it makes it better. Mulholland Drive is violent, very sexual in about 3 scenes (but, like any good director or story-teller, Lynch takes sex down a notch during the film), difficult to watch if you are good at predicting (I think... Alas, I am not good). But, it is enjoyable, it is a thrilling movie, but I wouldn't say a thriller. It is certainly not a feel good movie, but it is very fun to see the range of Naomi Watts - especially after King Kong.

I recommend it. I think I would give it 4 stars (out of 5). I think I would encourage watching it in two sittings (like Rachel and I did), simply because of the power of each scene. Towards the end Naomi Watts and Laura Herring go to a theater late at night, and it displays where David Lynch is amazing. Music, but with no musicians, singers who pass out (or die), emotion pulsing throughout the room, and still no seeming connection with the rest of the film.