That is preposterous considering how rare it is for a movie to reach 7.9 on imdb. It's a ridiculously high rating for such a dumb, generic, self-serious movie that is watchable but not very good. Seriously, how did this happen? Did Taken fans use social media to spam the site with perfect ratings?
sharePersonally I have a different scale for every genre.
So I might give a horror movie a 7 because I am comparing it to other horror movies. That doesnt mean its equal to a 7 drama or suspense.
As for Taken, this movie just works. Yes, you can say all the cliche reviews "oh thats been done" "its just fighting and car chases". Ok, but it works. This is just a movie where you like the character and you get behind him.
I gave it a 10/10 because of what this guy said.
I gave Taken a 9/10, and the reason for this is because it's a love letter to action movie fans like myself. There's no real romance, little-to-no CGI, brutal violence (in the unedited version, at least), no unwanted comic relief characters, excellently choreographed action scenes, a fast pace, a focused plot that entertains even when people aren't being killed, and a real macho tough guy as the lead. If you're not a fan of the genre (which is okay) Taken may not appeal to you. However, if action movies are your thing, this flick is a wonderful ride.
it's about as good as action movies get. of course it's not flawless and of course some plot points can be considered dumb, but if you want to watch a fast, fun movie which will have you on the edge of your seat for 90 minutes, if you like revenge flicks and aren't opposed to violence it doesn't get much better than this.
i think the current 7.9/10 score is completely appropriate
I'm sorry, but this movie IS overrated. It is just so ordinary for an action movie. How many movies are out there that have pretty much the same plot and/or concept? A girl is taken away, and a guy kicks some ass in order to get her back. Whoopie. This is done in practically every action movie in existence. Most fail, but granted, Taken does a solid job, but seriously nothing really that special. On top of that is average to mediocre acting, bland writing, and some entertaining action scenes, and it really doesn't offer much more than that. 7.0-7.5/10 is as high as I would rate it, but not 7.9, that IS ridiculously high for this movie.
Without mercy, man is like a beast. http://www.imdb.com/user/ur17781887/ratings?start=1&v
There is no such thing as an "overrated" movie. The very usage of the word is ridiculous. Are we to accept that your subjective opinion of a film is somehow more valuable than the opinion of anyone who liked it? The film doesn't get its points for originality, it gets it for execution. It has an excellent lead, a focused story and very good directed action scenes. Action movies today don't really get much better than this.
shareYou're absolutely right. There are worse action films than this, still 7.9 is SO overrated. Action movies with such a great rating really have to have something that deserves it that high, which this picture doesn't. I mean, how many time we saw a ex-agent, former military op, cop, etc fighting his way to get his back and safe? And does it mean that we should praise and raise every such a movie to heaven? I don't think so. Some people may experienced a kidnapping of loved one(s), to make them root and cheer for the main character, still...
Me, personally I find (almost) every action movie from 2000s to onwards to be sucking balls - deep, very deep. Taken reminded me on that. These movies lack soul, hand-held camera and rapid editing, just few things I hate. 80s and partly 90s were like a Golden Age and definitive era on action films. Plain right, with movies like Commando, T2, Running Man, Predator, Die Hard, Hard Boiled, Broken Arrow, etc...
So you think only people who have experienced a kidnapping of loved ones can root and cheer for the main characater? If you really think that, then you are very disconnected from humanity. First of all, you don't really have to have experienced a personal tragedy to root for someone who is experiencing it. Besides, this movie DOESN'T overuse the hand-held camera and rapid editing. Really, The Bourne Supremacy is much worse than this in that regard. And yes, we have seen an ex-agent or former military op countless of times before, the same way we've seen countless other good films sharing countless overused elements, but the good part about this movie is its execution. It has good action scenes (if you don't think so, then you are not remembering it right), it has an awesome lead, and it is just full of thrills. This movie is not overrated in the least.
share"So you think only people who have experienced a kidnapping of loved ones can root and cheer for the main characater?"
Read what people wrote above about it. Anyway, I like what Schwarzenegger does in Commando, despite I have nothing in common with the character. But you may be right. I could be disconnected from humanity (whatever).
"Really, The Bourne Supremacy is much worse than this in that regard."
And really is. And I am not liking that movie very much either.
"And yes, we have seen an ex-agent or former military op countless of times before, the same way we've seen countless other good films sharing countless overused elements, but the good part about this movie is its execution. It has good action scenes (if you don't think so, then you are not remembering it right), it has an awesome lead, and it is just full of thrills. This movie is not overrated in the least."
To bring Schwarzenegger again in, someone started the thread "he" did it better (in Commando ofcourse) on which I absolutely agree. They don't make action movies like that, even from 80s or 90s. I guess, it has something with growing up. Btw, I do not consider myself old, as I am 26, but I understand my Dad who shakes his head in chagrin on movies made from 30 years ago to nowadays. Who thrills on older Bond movies, westerns and epics.
Yes, we had similar storyline - ex-military agent, blah, blah, and I've seen worse movies than this, but for 7.9 rating alone - yeah, it certainly is overrated.
Saying that Commando is in any way, shape or form better than Taken seems plain weird to me. Taken is much better than Commando in every single sense. It has better acting, it has better cinematography, it is much MUCH more grounded (as absurd as Taken may seem to some, it simply doesn't compare to the ridiculous body count in Commando). And I'm just one year older than you, but I grew up on 80s action movies. I love them and I really like Commando too, but come on. I would give Commando a 7 while Taken gets at least an 8 from me. Arnold better than Liam Neeson? Don't get me wrong, Arnold is awesome and Neeson will never come close to him as far as action movies go, but in Commando Arnie simply didn't pull the father (or the concerned father) role. Of course this is just opinion and I can understand if you simply didn't like Taken, but as a fan of 80s and 90s action movies, I simply love Taken. It is the best action movie of the 2000s by far IMO. I loved how brutal and to-the-point Neeson's character is. In a world where action movies are dominated by pg-13 giant robots, superheroes, mutants, aliens and whatnot, I really appreciate films like Taken.
But again, this is just my opinion. Feel free to hate the movie if you wish.
I dunno, man. I'm just sayin there are lousier and similar movies than Taken, but to have almost 8 rating is rather odd to me. I mean, for an action movie, it really has to be something special and if I dare to say - unforgettable. For example, if you watched The Boondock Saints which also holds 7.9 is even more bizarre for me, for me that's VERY overrated. Arnie's Commando has 6.7 (I think) and what the hell? Arnie is Arnie, it's OK. T2 probably has the highest rating - 8.5, and for a good reason. Die Hard - 8.3 and I love that movie too.
When I mentioned action flicks from 80s, I just wanted to say, no matter how crazy it may sound - I am completely enthralled by them. I love the style, music score and they usually don't demand relatable protagonist.
"In a world where action movies are dominated by pg-13 giant robots, superheroes, mutants, aliens and whatnot, I really appreciate films like Taken."
I see your point. And it is not just that. Some movies such as this new Terminator (which I have no intention to see it despite Arnie's presence) are being made to be more profitable at the expense of R rating.
IMO, Man on Fire is slightly better than Taken, just if filmmakers could do without that annoying flashy-style with words popping up on the screen,
I dunno, man. I'm just sayin there are lousier and similar movies than Taken, but to have almost 8 rating is rather odd to me. I mean, for an action movie, it really has to be something special and if I dare to say - unforgettable. For example, if you watched The Boondock Saints which also holds 7.9 is even more bizarre for me, for me that's VERY overrated. Arnie's Commando has 6.7 (I think) and what the hell? Arnie is Arnie, it's OK. T2 probably has the highest rating - 8.5, and for a good reason. Die Hard - 8.3 and I love that movie too.
When I mentioned action flicks from 80s, I just wanted to say, no matter how crazy it may sound - I am completely enthralled by them. I love the style, music score and they usually don't demand relatable protagonist.
"In a world where action movies are dominated by pg-13 giant robots, superheroes, mutants, aliens and whatnot, I really appreciate films like Taken."
I see your point. And it is not just that. Some movies such as this new Terminator (which I have no intention to see it despite Arnie's presence) are being made to be more profitable at the expense of R rating.
IMO, Man on Fire is slightly better than Taken, it also has revenge seeking theme. Just if filmmakers could do without that annoying flashy-style with words popping up on the screen,
I dunno, man. I'm just sayin there are lousier and similar movies than Taken, but to have almost 8 rating is rather odd to me. I mean, for an action movie, it really has to be something special and if I dare to say - unforgettable. For example, if you watched The Boondock Saints which also holds 7.9 is even more bizarre for me, for me that's VERY overrated. Arnie's Commando has 6.7 (I think) and what the hell? Arnie is Arnie, it's OK. T2 probably has the highest rating - 8.5, and for a good reason. Die Hard - 8.3 and I love that movie too.
When I mentioned action flicks from 80s, I just wanted to say, no matter how crazy it may sound - I am completely enthralled by them. I love the style, music score and they usually don't demand relatable protagonist as now.
"In a world where action movies are dominated by pg-13 giant robots, superheroes, mutants, aliens and whatnot, I really appreciate films like Taken."
I see your point. And it is not just that. Some movies such as this new Terminator (which I have no intention to see it despite Arnie's presence) are being made to be more profitable at the expense of R rating.
IMO, Man on Fire is slightly better than Taken, it also has revenge seeking theme. Just if filmmakers could do without that annoying flashy-style with words popping up on the screen.
I gave it a generous 6/10.
Pretty cliched and rather silly overall. It does have brevity on it's side, though.
I watched it for the first time just now. And thought it was really good.
I don't rate films against those from other genres. It's unfair to pit Taken against, say, Citizen Kane.
But for it's genre, for the kind of film it is , Taken is a very good action film with strong characters. I gave it 9 out of 10
I absolutely loved this movie... Gets very emotional and Liam Neeson in this is a GOOD!!!!!! TRUE MAN! A REAL MAN! Who loves his family and daughter, his child... with true love and is willing to do EPIC Stuff for her safety and well being, so she can live and they can have fun together!
Just so simple. nothing else needed. like someone said, the movie gets you highly emotional. It's true that some of this stuff is totally possible, it's not common, but still. Like tourist and in-general people crimes, russian, polish, albanian, scum. No I am not saying this as racism, but in these movies clearly it's always a typical country or so, where the kidnappers/bad people are from.
This movie in MY HONEST, HUMBLE, 100 PERCENT (%) TruthFul Opinion... DESERVES A RATING OF;
7.4/10 (on the imdb scale, considering classics and brilliant movies are 7.6+)
While I personally wouldn't give it more than a 7.5, I think it is by far one of the most thrilling action movies of the decade. Is it a silly movie devoid of originality? Sure, but it doesn't try to be anything other than an entertaining action picture. Plus, Liam Neeson gave us a very memorable action hero in this.
Hey there, Johnny Boy, I hope you fry!