DVD Pick of the Week: Taken

Welcome back! Well, to some of you, anyway. To the rest of you, glad you decided to stop by and I hope that this humble column helps you navigate the stacks of new releases each week. My goal is to point you toward titles of interest and warn you away from those films that seek to do nothing but leech away your time and give you nothing in return.

Full disclosure: I have not seen many of these titles and what follows are not necessarily reviews, but opinions based upon what I know of the titles I pluck from the new release lists that I peruse. The opinions I give based on the new releases are my own, and my recommendations are based on my personal interest. In any case, I hope you enjoy and perhaps find something you like or a title to point me towards.

Taken: Extended Cut (also Blu-ray). Taken is a thrilling ride from start to finish. Yes, it does feature human trafficking as a story device and yes, it is a bit exploitative of such a tragic occurrence, but it has a great glossy sheen of action. No one can shepherd an action film to the screen like Luc Besson. This movie is an absolute thrill ride from start to finish and is also one of the great box office stories of 2009. I am looking forward to seeing this longer cut, I want to see how much more wild it can get.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (also Blu-ray). Less complex than the first two films, Rise of the Lycans' sole purpose is to put full-bodied action to the dawn of the war merely glimpsed in earlier films. It fails to engage the brain in any meaningful way, leaving it content to wander around the familiar blue-tinted frames watching the performances play out. It is not really bad, but it is not terribly good either. It is worth it for fans of the series and those looking for a fun diversion.

Article Author: Chris Beaumont

Christopher Beaumont spends much of his time writing about music and movies when he isn't indulging in them. He is always ready to talk about his favorite form of entertainment and offer up recommendations. Follow: Twitter and Tumblr. Visit: Critical Outcast. …

Visit Chris Beaumont's author page — Chris Beaumont's Blog