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Taken 3

9 January 2015English1h 52mPart 3 of the Taken series
ActionThriller
out of 10
Unfavorablemost critics didn't like it
Monk Score · 8 critic reviews

A worn-out retread saved only by Neeson's watchable but wasted presence.

Verdict tier Unfavorable, most critics didn't like it, on a scale of Unfavorable, Mixed, Recommended, Exceptional.

  • Praised: Liam Neeson's screen presence
  • Criticised: repetitive, unoriginal franchise formula

Audience

User score 4.0 out of 10 from 1 rating, not enough ratings for a verdict yet
Read 1 audience review ↓

Not streaming in India

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Critic consensus

What 8 critics are saying

Critical consensus on Taken 3 is largely negative, with most reviewers finding it a repetitive and uninspired retread of its predecessors. The sole commonly praised element is Liam Neeson's screen presence, with several critics acknowledging his likability even when the material lets him down. Critics widely condemned the film's lack of originality, its diminished novelty as an action vehicle, and a narrative that strips the protagonist of the moral clarity that made the original compelling. One dissenting voice praised the film's pacing and suspense, but the majority recommended skipping it entirely.

How the 8 scores spread

Positive / mixed / negative reviews

Positive = 6.5/10 and up · negative = below 5/10

AI-generated summary of 8 critic reviews · may contain errors

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From the papers

Critic reviews (8)

Top critics first, then by score · not-rated last · updated

  1. Top critic

    IBNLive

    Film review ·

    'Taken 3' doesn't work, not even as a guilty pleasure, because the cheap thrill of watching an ageing Neeson deliver visceral blows to the bad guys has lost its novelty now. Don't waste your time or your money.

  2. Top critic

    Indian Express

    Film review ·

    Taken was successful because Neeson represented an old-world weary heroism that could take down new-world villainy one hand tied. You cheered for him because he wanted nothing other than saving his family. In Taken 3, he only stands for himself and doesn't seem to care whom all he hurts in the process.

  3. Top critic

    Mid-Day

    Film review ·

    Taken 3 is an exact copy of Taken 1 and 2. Nobody in the movie makes an effort to differentiate this one from its predecessors. In fact this movie is actually less than the sum of the first two parts. Perhaps, an easier way to watch it is by watching the first Taken three times.

  4. Times Of India

    Film review ·

    What works greatly to the movie's credit is the pacing (never a dull moment here!) and that sense of 'What's going to happen next?' All in all, a suitable swansong for the franchise.

  5. BookMyShow

    Film review ·

    Watch Taken 3 if you are a die-hard fan of Liam Neeson. Or if you haven't received any 'action' in your life of late.

  6. The Navhind Times

    Film review ·

    Liam Neeson is eminently likable in whatever he does and being a top actor that he is, he even pulls off an action film like this. But otherwise Taken 3 has very little going in its favor. In a way am glad that "It ends here"

  7. Hindustan Times

    Film review ·

    The only redeeming factor of Taken 3 is that it is supposed to be the last film of the franchise. We are sure Neeson can do something vastly superior with his time.

  8. Rediff

    Film review ·

    Taken 3 is about an old dude who still has the moves and will open a can of whoop ass on you if you come near his girls. Not so much about family as it is about the stroking of male ego.

From our readers

Audience reviews (1)

1 rating · user score 4.0

  1. Tejas NairApr 2015
    4/10

    They should have stopped at two. Making a third one while you're gasping for a story confirms that it's dollar bills they are behind. Taken 3 fails miserably. After killing a prime character of the series, the story takes you on a predictable cat-and-mouse chase which involves a boring Russian cartel head this time. The basic story of the fit ex-military man who has the world's worst and craziest wife and daughter is now dissolved and the whole drama crawls out of its sweet familial boundaries. With an unoriginal story, Taken 3 crosses the threshold of unbelievability over 100% which is usually at about 40% in the other Taken films. Forrest Whitaker is sleepwalking and displays one of his worst performances ever. Neeson is good, but looks old, and although is in character, seems misplaced. Maggie Smith is the same what you have been seeing of her in the previous two films. No change. With an annoying score and exasperating background music, the narrative makes its audience too uncomfortable to relish the few satisfying sequences. The dialogs, the cinematography, the acting - everything is bad. Luc Besson's writing is below par and so is the nobody's direction. The stunt scenes (one where passengers suddenly vanish out of cars involved in a highway pile-up) do not impress. The usual cop rookieness is all over the place. BOTTOM LINE: Except for the final few minutes of enjoyable action, Taken 3 is a disaster. There is no inventiveness one expects from a film of this genre. A follower should give it a try. But there's no way I would invest time on a fourth one, if it ever happens. Can be watched with a typical Indian family? YES

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