Steven Spielberg Presents Taken

I've seen all but the last segment of this mini-series and think it is great. Heather Donahue wonderfully portrays the evil investigator in hot pursuit, free of any scruples. Dakota Fanning is a star as she portrays the series hero, Ally, and narrates the story. The story itself draws on the current belief in Alien abduction, but in fact the real threat of being "taken" comes more from the scientists and military investigators who doggedly pursue their prey without any regard for the humanity of those they come into contact with, including the alien hybrids. Conversely, the alien hybrids have achieved a greater humanity than most of us ever will, culminating in Ally who not only feels intense sensitivity and compassion for people but has the power to act on it in ways impossible for us. Interestly, we identify with the hybrids as the pursued and as a those beings possessing those human qualities that we would most like to possess. That is what the series intended and is similar to "AI" in that regard. The film deals with our current mythology, which like all great and timeless mythologies explores our nature through an examination of the Gods and man and their interactions. Mythology changes though as it adapts to the conflicts human beings face in a particular moment in time. Spielberg is extremely important in that he has chronicled this changing mythology and our changing sense or ourselves beginning with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" followed by "E.T." "Taken" is far darker, but so are we. It serves the purpose of all great mythology however by providing us the opportunity of self-examination.

As a huge fan of "The X-Files" and related fare, one would think I would have viewed Steven Spielberg's "Taken" earlier than its ten-year anniversary. However, I was a bit skeptical of the entire concept (thinking of it as "just another alien show") and only began viewing when it was purchased by another family member. Boy, was I ever wrong about the course of this delightfully nuanced miniseries.

For a basic plot summary, "Taken" focuses on three families: the Clarkes, the Crawfords, & and the Keys. From the Roswell "crash" of the late 1940s until the "present day" (2002), this series tells the story of how the three families are intertwined both with each other and a mysterious alien presence stemming from that Roswell incident.

The thing to be aware of regarding this miniseries is that it is MUCH more about characters & family relationships than it is about aliens. Kind of like how "Band of Brothers" is as much about friendship and brotherhood as it is about war. While the "alien" angle is deeply embedded in the overall narrative, the extremely rich characters are easily what will make you keep watching for all ten episodes. From generation to generation, Spielberg weaves a compelling dramatic tale that always keeps you wondering what will happen next.

One word of warning: Do not be discouraged after the first 1-2 episodes, as this show takes a little bit of time to lay its own groundwork. Once you get to about the third episode, it starts really taking off to the point where you may finding yourself in "marathon mode" very quickly.

Overall, "Taken" can appeal to three primary audiences: those who just love a good science fiction yarn, those who prefer character dramas of the highest order, and those who can appreciate the generational aspect of the whole experience. In other words, Steven Spielberg does it again.

I post the first comment about this series, i thought this mini will be a 'must see' classic, but i was wrong, this is a 'must have' series... It's the best mini-series I've seen in my life, I'm just amazed about all the story line and after seen nine episodes i know that tomorrow when conclude the last one i will start to count the days for the release of the DVDs.

If you though that X-Files was one of the best sci-fi alien themed series of all time you got to love this one too!... it have a concept very different about the life beyond the sky, different from X-Files but really well managed and presented.

This is a long series, but it kept my interest throughout. There are a few detours from the main plot, but it all contributes. I've seen miniseries that start out really well, then fizzle out at the end, "the Stand" being a good example. This series is rewarding to watch. The acting is good and the plot is consistent. It is not like the X-Files (which I do like), where the explanations never make sense. Taken takes us to a logical conclusion.

Okay, this is for anybody who was wondering if they should watch "Taken" and decided to check out the IMDb message boards. Here's the main point: If you're looking for a movie that's all about weird alien stuff and is full of out-there special effects, this may not be for you. Sure, the aliens they showed were pretty cool-looking, but they're not the important part of the movie. The human characters are, particularly the ones in the Keys, Crawford, and Clarke families. Especially Ally. This series was a sneaky way of exposing people to heart-warming family stories. And now that I read that back, I understand why you would need to call it sci-fi for people to watch. I am a female, but I'm not the "chick flick" type. I like stories about the strange and unusual. But the sad thing is that strong and loving families, like the Clarkes, are just that these days. This movie is not about extraterrestrial beings. It's about people and the world we live in... and the world our parents and grandparents lived in. The 20 hours it took for this story to unfold was necessary, because it allowed us to get to know the characters. And once you feel like you really know them, you start to feel what the feel. And isn't that what makes a great movie? I mean, if a movie can make you feel emotions you haven't experienced in awhile, it's worth 20 hours to me. If you want real "sci-fi", I suggest X-Files.