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ThatFrenchGuy Has Issues With Darth Bruce's Review & Tells Us He Is Taken With TAKEN!!
Merrick here...
In March 2006 (God, was it so long ago?), ThatFrenchGuy sent us a review of V FOR VENDETTA that generated a lot of discussion in Talkbacks. You can find said review HERE.
Well, yesterday we posted Darth Bruce's somewhat unenthusiastic review of the Luc Besson-produced TAKEN (HERE). ThatFrenchGuy read it and immediately fired off a lengthy, dissenting opinion.
Here's what ThatFrenchGuy had to say:
“ThatFrenchGuy” here.
I don’t know if you remember but you posted my “Conservative Republican” review of V FOR VENDETTAE a while back. Well after reading Darth Bruce’s review of TAKEN, I felt compelled to send in a rebuttal review, as he’s clearly missing the point…
I’m not going to recap the plot, it’s all laid out for you in the trailer. And, truth be told, I think the “good first act” that Bruce talks about isn’t very good at all, probably the weakest part of the movie. Before Liam Neeson’s daughter is “taken”, the film is stuck in this cheesy clichéd family drama bullshit that I thought was a sign that this was going to be a long ride full of moans and eye rolls. It’s obvious that director Pierre Morel’s forte is not family drama. I was also a bit put off by Neeson’s American accent at first, everything just felt kind of forced.
Then Maggie Grace’s character gets kidnapped, and that’s where this movie really starts its non-stop revenge spy action ass-kickery. Bruce first criticizes the film’s lack of a main baddie and the throw away of a girl who he finds and saves from a prostitution ring. I, however, think those were deliberate. In the real world, is it really just one Bond villain type guy who’s in charge of everything?
Part of what made this movie surprising and kept the pace up so well was the fact that as he was trying to find his daughter, the rabbit hole of everyone involved in this sex trade went deeper and deeper. As for the girl he saves, well as is evident throughout the movie, Neeson’s main goal is finding his daughter, and once he has the information from the girl that he needs, he’s off.
Though the acting was a bit shaky in the beginning, he finally comes through and you can tell his daughter is his single priority and he doesn’t have time nor does he waste time on helping anyone else unless it means getting more information about the whereabouts of his daughter. He uses people throughout the film and he has no qualms about it.
Another criticism of Bruce’s was the “repetitive action.”
Really? Repetitive?
For once in an action movie I could tell who was doing what in a fight without the overuse of quick cuts and shaky cam. I was so fucking happy about it, and I loved every minute of it.
If anything, the action was continually inventive and you can tell that as the movie progressed, they were adamant about using different angles, different beats in the action for the specific purpose of keeping it from getting too repetitive.
Everything from the fight in the prostitution warehouse/camp to the escape from the traders until the fight on the boat, they were all using different parts of the environment in clever ways to make the action entertaining.
There is one shot in particular that I really loved, it takes place down a hallway and to keep from going too deep into spoilers, let’s just say he wouldn’t of opened that door had he known what was waiting on the other side…
Yes, the movie was obviously made on the cheap, but I think that works better for it. Remember what it used to be like when filmmakers would actually have to stay within budget and try to come up with inventive ways for the action to seem big without the overuse of CG?
From what I can tell, there wasn’t a single CG shot in this entire thing (well, maybe towards the beginning when a guy running away from Neeson catches a ride on a truck). But for the most part, no CG blood, etc. It just felt really old school without feeling stale.
I can see where comparisons to Bourne may come into play, but this is far from “Bourne Lite,” if anything its “Bourne Squared,” er something. Sure, the Bourne movies deal more with spy work and those movies obviously have bigger budgets than this one, so it comes in a nice slick package.
But where Bourne spends time walking around being all “where did I come from, where should I go,” Neeson is on a one way ticket to hell with the destruction he leaves behind where ever he goes. He’s pissed, and you better hope you aren’t in the least bit associated with anything that went on with his daughter, or else you’re as good as dead. This guy says “fuck conscious” where Bourne apologizes to his victims’ daughter.
There’s one moment of torture that ends with one of the best lines of the movie (you’ll know it when you see it), and another part that turns what seems like a nice little dinner into a WTFJH moment (what the fuck just happened, for the computer illiterate). If it needs any comparison, I’d compare it to an R rated 90 minute version of the best parts of 24. It really is non-stop once the action gets going, and it never gets boring.
I’m also wondering if Bruce and I saw the same cut of the movie. See he criticizes that Neeson talks to his CIA buddy about being able to tell where the kidnappers came from by his accent when he says “good luck” in English.
This is just flat out false; he gets the information from the entire recorded message, which includes the screams from his daughter and the kidnappers talking amongst themselves IN ALBANIAN. I think the reviewer got his CIA buddy from back home and the French Police friend mixed up. It’s understandable though, it’s a fairly complex movie in that way.
Sarcasm aside, this is far from high art. Yes, watching the movie you can tell it was cheaply made, along with the cheesy stuff that begins and also bookends the movie, it all adds to the B movie feel.
But since when was that a bad thing? Why can’t Neeson have fun in a role like this? Does every movie of his have to revolve around being a Jedi or Oscar bait? I for one think not and really did enjoy this little film out of Paris.
And yes, for full disclosure my name is “ThatFrenchGuy” aka Mr French, but I was born and raised here in the U.S. so I’m not trying to play any favoritism to my French heritage and their immense talent.
I don’t know if you remember but you posted my “Conservative Republican” review of V FOR VENDETTAE a while back. Well after reading Darth Bruce’s review of TAKEN, I felt compelled to send in a rebuttal review, as he’s clearly missing the point…
I’m not going to recap the plot, it’s all laid out for you in the trailer. And, truth be told, I think the “good first act” that Bruce talks about isn’t very good at all, probably the weakest part of the movie. Before Liam Neeson’s daughter is “taken”, the film is stuck in this cheesy clichéd family drama bullshit that I thought was a sign that this was going to be a long ride full of moans and eye rolls. It’s obvious that director Pierre Morel’s forte is not family drama. I was also a bit put off by Neeson’s American accent at first, everything just felt kind of forced.
Then Maggie Grace’s character gets kidnapped, and that’s where this movie really starts its non-stop revenge spy action ass-kickery. Bruce first criticizes the film’s lack of a main baddie and the throw away of a girl who he finds and saves from a prostitution ring. I, however, think those were deliberate. In the real world, is it really just one Bond villain type guy who’s in charge of everything?
Part of what made this movie surprising and kept the pace up so well was the fact that as he was trying to find his daughter, the rabbit hole of everyone involved in this sex trade went deeper and deeper. As for the girl he saves, well as is evident throughout the movie, Neeson’s main goal is finding his daughter, and once he has the information from the girl that he needs, he’s off.
Though the acting was a bit shaky in the beginning, he finally comes through and you can tell his daughter is his single priority and he doesn’t have time nor does he waste time on helping anyone else unless it means getting more information about the whereabouts of his daughter. He uses people throughout the film and he has no qualms about it.
Another criticism of Bruce’s was the “repetitive action.”
Really? Repetitive?
For once in an action movie I could tell who was doing what in a fight without the overuse of quick cuts and shaky cam. I was so fucking happy about it, and I loved every minute of it.
If anything, the action was continually inventive and you can tell that as the movie progressed, they were adamant about using different angles, different beats in the action for the specific purpose of keeping it from getting too repetitive.
Everything from the fight in the prostitution warehouse/camp to the escape from the traders until the fight on the boat, they were all using different parts of the environment in clever ways to make the action entertaining.
There is one shot in particular that I really loved, it takes place down a hallway and to keep from going too deep into spoilers, let’s just say he wouldn’t of opened that door had he known what was waiting on the other side…
Yes, the movie was obviously made on the cheap, but I think that works better for it. Remember what it used to be like when filmmakers would actually have to stay within budget and try to come up with inventive ways for the action to seem big without the overuse of CG?
From what I can tell, there wasn’t a single CG shot in this entire thing (well, maybe towards the beginning when a guy running away from Neeson catches a ride on a truck). But for the most part, no CG blood, etc. It just felt really old school without feeling stale.
I can see where comparisons to Bourne may come into play, but this is far from “Bourne Lite,” if anything its “Bourne Squared,” er something. Sure, the Bourne movies deal more with spy work and those movies obviously have bigger budgets than this one, so it comes in a nice slick package.
But where Bourne spends time walking around being all “where did I come from, where should I go,” Neeson is on a one way ticket to hell with the destruction he leaves behind where ever he goes. He’s pissed, and you better hope you aren’t in the least bit associated with anything that went on with his daughter, or else you’re as good as dead. This guy says “fuck conscious” where Bourne apologizes to his victims’ daughter.
There’s one moment of torture that ends with one of the best lines of the movie (you’ll know it when you see it), and another part that turns what seems like a nice little dinner into a WTFJH moment (what the fuck just happened, for the computer illiterate). If it needs any comparison, I’d compare it to an R rated 90 minute version of the best parts of 24. It really is non-stop once the action gets going, and it never gets boring.
I’m also wondering if Bruce and I saw the same cut of the movie. See he criticizes that Neeson talks to his CIA buddy about being able to tell where the kidnappers came from by his accent when he says “good luck” in English.
This is just flat out false; he gets the information from the entire recorded message, which includes the screams from his daughter and the kidnappers talking amongst themselves IN ALBANIAN. I think the reviewer got his CIA buddy from back home and the French Police friend mixed up. It’s understandable though, it’s a fairly complex movie in that way.
Sarcasm aside, this is far from high art. Yes, watching the movie you can tell it was cheaply made, along with the cheesy stuff that begins and also bookends the movie, it all adds to the B movie feel.
But since when was that a bad thing? Why can’t Neeson have fun in a role like this? Does every movie of his have to revolve around being a Jedi or Oscar bait? I for one think not and really did enjoy this little film out of Paris.
And yes, for full disclosure my name is “ThatFrenchGuy” aka Mr French, but I was born and raised here in the U.S. so I’m not trying to play any favoritism to my French heritage and their immense talent.
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Howdy!
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It was a pretty nice wallet.
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I won't say why. But all of you know what I'm talking about.
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It's kinda just xenophobic nonsense, isn't it? Sure, Liam Neeson's in it, but it's more Z-picture than B-picture.
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Because the director is the french equivalent of Len Wiseman's "see, fanboys, how I can butter you up by not using CGI to make you feel better" bullshit. District B13 was harebrained enough.
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A True Lies Handle?
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this review is sooo much better, i saw the movie awhile back, and really did enjoy it. sure it had its problems, but far worst movies have been made.
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It was great b-movie entertainment. They missed an oppurtunity to cut through the cheese at the end though. It should've ended with maggie grace in her audition singing completely out of tune and off-key and liam neeson holding his head thinking wtf... or reaching for his gun
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I thought the movie looked kickass and the first reviewer wasn't the best. SO FUCK YOU DARTH BRUCE FUCK YOU AND YOUR MOTHER AND YOUR SISTER WHILE I WATCH AND CLIMAX ON YOUR HAMSTER
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This is closer to how I felt about the movie. Overall I thought it was great, but it did have a few shortcomings. For example, there's a scene where Neeson is on the phone with his daughter but you only hear his side of the conversation so to clue the audience in he's repeating everything she says as a question. "What do you mean you want to have lunch? Tomorrow? 24th Street? Sounds great!" I mean, seriously? I thought they only did that shit in sitcoms.
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For a movie without a billion dollars advertising, this delivers. The action is FUCKING RAD. It is one of those film where you laugh at the villians because they are going to get it (Movie arseholes). Neeson rocks the shit. It will become one of those movies you pick up in the action section in blockbuster and go fuck yeah I'll hit that again. Masterpiece fuck no but damn fun.
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Yes, if you read this Darth Bruce, you can use a little happiness in your life. Taken is awesome, it has been a long time since i saw a straight good action movie where the protaganist do exactly what i wish him/ her to do, kills a lot of bad guys and spares no one. This is a Punisher movie without the skull. I wish they would make more like this every year.
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There's no point in taking issue with anyone, you stilly frog. Just capitulate and withdraw to the southern region of the theater.
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When all you do is refer to some OTHER guy's review in YOUR review, that says to me you're an asshat. You couldn't have just reviewed the movie sans reference to Darth Bruce? Ridiculous.
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its ok but nothing more. Very contrived, the fight on the boat down the Seine and the end was a bad ripoff from the fight on the boat down the Seine from Kiss of The Dragon. Liam Neeson is ok in it but he never does anything that makes you go 'wow' and i couldn't remember a single thing about the film once it was over. It's a high B movie, no more, no less.
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as opposed to ripping on another reviewer. It's not edgy, not daring and just makes you come across as a jerk.
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They filmed a character who did not give a fuck and did not hold back. It wasn't shocking to see the "hero" go this balls out but it was quite different.
The movie paced well and sort of ended a bit faster than the usual Hollywood stuff but it worked out good for this film. -
By "fuck conscious" I assume (hope!) he meant "fuck conscience"?
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the movie was hardass, and neeson is obliterating everything in his path. you're thinking to yourself, "it's about time, he's going about stuff without wasting any time." he has no qualms about headshotting ppl and moving on quickly.
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Jesus Wept, ThatFreedomGuy.
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nuff said
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Damn. I didn't know he was trying for an American accent. It sounded like Liam Neeson in every other movie I've seen him in. I agree the movie isn't some classic but damn if it isn't fun. The part where he shoots the French guy's wife was amazingly bad ass. Highly recommend this movie.
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Big fan of Neeson didnt know what to expect from this flick but love Luc Beson too. I thought this film rocked. Couldnt take my eyes of it from the start. Never seen Liam kick ass like this. This film is really exciting and a great watch. Bruce is a dung head.
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Yes, I admit that I was a bit snarky and a bit of a jerk towards Bruce in my review. However, when I came home to find such a downer of a review on a movie I thought was so fun, anger boiled within me and.. well let's just say I may have some anger issues and acted with haste. Looking back, I maybe could have been more classy and not mentioned Bruce at all, but haven't we all sometimes been quick to anger towards another person and said things we would have maybe later taken back? Liam Neeson in this movie might have thought the same thing, but he said fuck it and rolled with it, anything to bring revenge upon the people who ruined his day by taking his daughter. Bruce ruined my day yesterday, so.. yeah. Sorry Brucie!
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January 23 is the new US release date.
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and thinking we'll all just happily tune in to watch him on Lost and pretend like nothing happened.
He sucks, and he should release our movies - we're his fans, after all.
well except the Party of 5 Blu-Rays. He can push them back into a landfill. -
it's rubbish!
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Thank you ThatFrenchGuy.
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where we feel the true rage of a vigilante. there is a scene where neeson unloads his gun into a guy in an elevator, even though he was long dead - that's exactly how we want to see those fucks dispatched: with brutality and no remorse. i hated darth bruce's review as well, good job frenchguy.
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you mean conscience?
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It's utterly Besson crap. Really should be straight to dvd.
We have a lot of Besson haters here in France and Belgium and I'm one of them.
Try and watch Angel-a if you dare!
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"brown people"??
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Wow, I never thought I’d create such a fuss with one simple review, although I stand by my opinions on the film I’ll say just two things;
One; Taken is an good B-Movie, it just didn’t deliver on its promise to me personally and
Two: debate on a film is a good thing, we all like different films for different reasons, and we should value said differences, and not talk about having sex with peoples hamsters just because we disagree (although my sister did say you were hung like one PR1C3Y, no offence meant)
And maybe a third thing: if Jack Bauer, Jason Bourne and Bryan (Taken) went head to head who’d win? Answers on a postcard please…..
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from ThatFrenchGuy because this review is right on the money.
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I misspelled "conscience". You all can quit pointing it out now.
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I see no other way to solve this issue.
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.....that everyone on this TB saw the bootleg? That's how I saw it and I'll be happy to see it again in the theater whenever Fox decides to release it that is.
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That is all I ask.
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I agree. Finish Him!!
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Only man who could beat Jason Bourne:Chuck Norris.
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I saw the film tonight...It was solid and I had a good time watching it, what more can you ask?
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and have urged friends to see this on theatrical release in the US (as will I). I'm also looking forward to picking up the dvd. TAKEN is a simple, yet very satisfying revenge tale.
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Taken is simply terrific. Sure the lead-up is a bit sentimental but it does establish the Neeson character's devotion to his daughter. However once the action kicks in, it never lets up. And though the bad guys here - knuckle-dragging ex-pat Albanians - are, as usual, lousy shots and the hero manages to kill more that his logical share, the film avoids indulging in the kind of ridiculous superhuman stunts and escapes that Die Hard 4 wallowed in. Ignore the negative comments and go see this one. It's superb.
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I just saw this and I must confess I had a blast. I recommend this movie to all you action fans waiting for a decent flick. Liam was great and there was a scene where I looked at Liam and said "I'm sold!". The look on his eyes was priceless... Do check it out.
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