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| 'Taken'... The cult hit that rejuvenated Neeson's career |
''What is this film about?
The film Taken is about two young girls (Kim and a Friend Amanda) who decide to travel around Europe (Paris, France) so that they can follow a band tour around. While they are in Paris alone they encounter a young man who misleads them, they end up being kidnapped by the largest sex trafficking organisation in Europe, and eventually put on sale as prostitutes. Meanwhile back in America ex CIA agent Bryan Mills (Kim's father) Played by Liam Neeson travels around the globe from LA to Paris to hunt down and personally kill all of the people responsible for taking his daughter, he eventually returns Kim home safe to her mother (Lenore). Currently there is a new sequel to this film called Taken 2 that is currently being shown at the cinema.
Camera/ Mise En Scene
In the opening sequence of this film, we are introduced to the family through a home (style) video, this is iconic of the nineties. The camera work is edited in lots of jumps to make it seem as if it was in fact a real home video. Later on at Kim's birthday party Bryan (Kim's dad) gives her her present, soon after her mothers present arrives which is a horse, this very much links in with the first opening clip of Kim when she was 5 unwrapping her birthday present which was a plastic toy horse, this was clearly used as a sign to signify what was going to later happen in the film and making a link between the two of them.
The horse that Kim is given Denotes wealth. She comes from a wealthy family. When Brain see's this; a long shot camera technique is used to convey his emotions to the audience. Then we we see the longshot we can see the present at his feet that was intended for Kim, this indicates that his present and he him-self is inferior to her step dad, Stuart.
Editing and Sound
Throughout the opening of the title sequence of the film there is a mixture of slow and fast cuts, for instance in the very beginning of the film when it is the home video it starts of with slow cuts, however it begins to speed up very rapidly to gut out unwanted and un-needed bits of film.
Non-diegetic sound is also used throughout the opening of the film, this gives the audience the scene that at the time when the video was being recorded was such a magical moment in young Kim's life.
Taken is a Action, Crime, Thriller.''
Evaluation of Jacob's Analysis:-
Providing a plot synopsis, Jacob then describes the effectiveness of the camera techniques and angles. For instance, the iconography of the home movies depicts the relevant time period, revealing the close bond particularly between father and son. Moreover, the inclusion of the horse that denotes wealth, thus foreshadowing and giving reasoning to the kidnapping of his daughter. Furthermore, Jacob then examines the use of editing and sound; for instance, the unpredictable nature of the editing, a trait that is common in the thriller genre, putting the audience on tenterhooks. Also, the non-diegetic sound reveals the 'magical' nature, marking this moment of family closeness, providing a foreboding and ominous tone, that something bad is bound to happen. Finally, he shows his understanding of the various genres that combine to make Taken such an interesting and engaging movie. Overall, Jacob has shown sound knowledge of the conventions of the opening of action thrillers, and how editing and sound can be effective, foreshadowing what is to come.
The full post can be found here: http://jacobwsmith1.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/taken-what-isthis-film-about-film-taken.html
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