Taken

This movie was such a surprise. All of the performances were excellent.

It is interesting to note that everyone in this movie is up to no good in some way except for the secretary. I recommend watching this movie when there is nothing else on TV to watch or nothing else to rent on video. All in all, don't pass this one up. I really mean it. You will hate Dabney Colemans wife in this film!

"Taken" was a pleasant surprise from Avalanche Home Entertainment. This past year (and with them teaming up under the Lion's Gate umbrella), their films seem to be improving and are actually good. Dabney Coleman did a fine job as a millionaire who gets kidnapped. The difference here is that people (mainly his wife!) has second thoughts about paying the ransom to get him back and now he is left up to his own devices to get out of this sticky situation. Coleman is often underrated as an actor and dismissed as simply a comedy or family film guy ("Tootsie", "Stuart Little", "Recess", etc.) but he has a strong range and can do suspense-drama very well as shown in "Taken." I'm not too familiar with the rest of the cast, but they all compliment the film well and while yes, this is a b-movie, what's wrong with that? It's still enjoyable and after some recent big-budget hollywood stinkers, it can be refreshing to watch a tiny little film that is more entertaining even though you may never have heard of it.

"Taken" has Dabney Coleman and a cast of unknowns putting together an interesting kidnap thriller. Character development is very good, and there are multiple converging plot threads. You will find very little to like in these characters however. Everyone except Dabney and his secretary are strictly out for themselves, each trying to advance his own good at the expense of others. If you ever wondered how some small companies suddenly go bankrupt, this movie is an education in itself. Though obviously made on a limited budget, "Taken" delivers more entertainment than a lot of big budget blunders. I give "Taken" a solid 7.0 out of ten. - MERK

I just watched this film on ABC TV late night on a Saturday night and I thought it was terrific. It was half over before I happened to switch it on but was then completely hooked -- with the suspense and drama and trying to figure out what everyone was up to. I'm so sick of movies that have car chase after car chase after boring, pointless car chase; it was refreshing to see a film that had some real suspense in the plot, as well as good acting. The businessman who was kidnapped I thought did very well in the film. And I appreciated the ending with the loyal secretary's just reward.

This movie must have been the "sleeper" of the year! The tension builds and keeps you on the edge of your seat! There are so many movies out there not worth watching, this one is different...the plot thickens, as they say, and one wonders throughout not only if Mr Grover is going to survive this horror, but also if all the people in his life who have been cheating him will experience any type of justice. Very well done.