Liam Neeson's Taken, The Real Punisher Movie We Should Have Got?

[daywalker2007]

Quantum of Solace is way better than Taken BTW. If Luc Besson was actually behind the camera for that one then it could have got intersting. There is a reason Taken has not been released Daywalker. You must be able to figure it out, surely?

Well I don't think they released it in the States because they probably couldn't find a good enough release date. maybe the January release date might help it get a few million dollars in the States.

But considering its already grossed a huge amount elsewhere, its already well into a profit, so the movie makers are probably not too concerned with how much it makes in the States.

So far, taken has done over 60 million internationally, which is superb for a fairly low budget movie.

Foreign Total as of Dec. 14, 2008:
$68,455,366

After all, the States is not the be all and end all of a movie's success.

Take Mr Bean's Holiday for example, it made a massive profit all around the world and was then released later on in the states.

Domestic: $33,302,167 14.5%+ Foreign: $196,434,177 85.5%= Worldwide: $229,736,344

So let it be known, international markets are just as important as the States.

 

[Punisher 04]

Taken does look pretty bad ass, looking forward to watching it.

 

[Red Mask]

Anybody else agree that Liam Neeson in "Taken" is the Punisher movie we should have got instead of Warzone?

If you haven't seen it, I would advise you to watch it immediately.

Liam Neeson deliveres the most brutal and efficient killings you will ever see on screen.

I felt like I was watching a real Punisher movie, but with a different name only. Sure, Liam Neeson is going after the people who have kidnapped his daughter, and none of his family have died.
But the way he goes about business is simply the most bad ass you will see on screen.

This movie wipes the floor with Quantum of Solace or any Bourne Movie for that matter in terms of pure action and the fights are awesome.

Some of the kills and action and the seriousness of the movie, with no campy acting was a sight to behold.

It is astonishing that "Taken" is more like Punisher than Punisher Warzone or Punisher 04.

I'm talking purely of the brutal action and the way he punishes his victims!
Taken provides such a satisfying experience, with all the bad guys taken out and justice served.

Maybe Luc Besson needs to be hired for a Punisher Movie.

But yeah, it looks like we got 2 Punisher films this year if you look at it in this way!

PWZ - a movie which divided opinion and flopped completely

and

Taken - a box office smash "Punisher" style movie which has grossed 68 million from international markets alone, and it didn't even go theatrical in the USA.

No, I don't see Punisher ever being in the same situation as Neeson's character in "Taken". Frank Castle should just punish the crooks without having to rescue some poor girl thoughout the film.

 

[Nivek]

I got to see this movie earlier today, I gotta say to anyone who had doubts about Liam Neeson playing a bada$$, well...

- Darkman (how can anyone forget about this, the finger break carny sequence is part of my early 90's memories)
- Excalibur (played a Round Table knight tapping Morgana)
- Star Wars (Qui Gon, Jedi hemp Knight)
- Rob Roy (that final Swordfight was cool as hell, speed vs. brawn, brawn cleaves his chest open)
- And last but not least, Ra's in Batman Begins. (He took on Batman hand to hand for crying out loud!)

But definitely check it it, it's pretty brutal. No unnesasary gore, more Judo/Kendo style simplistic martial arts. But the blows to the throats sound like someone stomping an apple. But Neeson isn't afraid to get out the jumper cables and go a little 23rd Hour Jack Bauer.

 

[S. Grundy]

No, I don't see Punisher ever being in the same situation as Neeson's character in "Taken". Frank Castle should just punish the crooks without having to rescue some poor girl thoughout the film.

That was basically half of what the plot was in PWZ.

 

[OctaviusINC]

That part where Liam Neeson

Spoiler

Shot his "friend's" wife in the arm was pure commitment to being a badass.I mean, she just offered him carrots!

Talk about doing anything for answers.

 

[Nivek]

I like what he did when he found that first guy and went to work with the long nails. Very late 80's.

 

[Red Mask]

That was basically half of what the plot was in PWZ.

Then they got it right. t:

 

[jebhdb]

I look forward to seeing this. The trailers look good.

 

[King K]

I can't believe the torrent has been up for 10 weeks.

 

[Nivek]

Careful mentioning Torrent files here, man. I know it's pretty wide known, but still, be cautious...

 

[bloodpack]

saw it a couple of weeks ago, and i must say, its the most action-pack/brutal role of neeson unlike what he did in starwars

the action scenes are perfectly choreographed, it didnt have to be exaggerately brutal with blood and gore unlike in PWZ but you can really feel the intensity and movements!!!

although, the plot is far from PWZ, the action sequence/pacing of this film is something we shouldve got in PWZ!!!

the best part that i really like was when neeson talked to the kidnappers on phone, saying he doesnt have money if theyre asking for ransom, but he promised them he has the skill that can whoop their sorry asses

 

[dft-313]

And it didn't cost a whole lot more. They just had a studio, script and director that were all aligned and interested in making something that wasn't a one-note joke.

 

[hero79]

I saw a preview of this in front of My Bloody Valentine (great film btw) and it looks really good. I would have to agree much better than Warzone in terms of tone, but its PG-13 so how brutal can it be. Did they have to cut some of violence out or something?

 

[dft-313]

War Zone's only an R because of the bloodletting, it's not as brutal or dark as Taken.

 

[hero79]

War Zone's only an R because of the bloodletting, it's not as brutal or dark as Taken.

Warzone's pretty brutal, but more in a over the top way.

Taken seems to be brutal in a real life way and of course will work much better than Warzone.

 

[strikezone89]

i loved Taken.... but i dont think of the Punishe when i see it

 

[S. Grundy]

I saw a preview of this in front of My Bloody Valentine (great film btw) and it looks really good. I would have to agree much better than Warzone in terms of tone, but its PG-13 so how brutal can it be. Did they have to cut some of violence out or something?

The original Texas Chain Saw Massacre isn't bloody at all, but it's gritty and intense in what it's doing that it seems more brutal than it looks. Same can apply to Taken, I'll take a Punisher movie that is brutal and intense (PWZ really had no tension or intensity going for it, now that I think about it) over getting to see a fat guy get his blown up.

 

[goh78]

saw it a couple of weeks ago, and i must say, its the most action-pack/brutal role of neeson unlike what he did in starwars

the action scenes are perfectly choreographed, it didnt have to be exaggerately brutal with blood and gore unlike in PWZ but you can really feel the intensity and movements!!!

I liked Taken, but calling it "Brutal" as some have...ehh I don't lnow if I agree with. It is brutal the same way Bourne is, but I don't know if there is a drop of blood throughout the entire film....so how "brutal" can it really be. Oh, and Maggie Grace's craptastic acting took me out of her scenes.

 

[S. Grundy]

It's all in the intensity.

 

[Chaos Bringer]

Taken rocks !

 

[Jack Bauer]

I watched Taken and Liam shown that he could take the badass to the next level, but this was like Bond if he had a family and was retired.

The Punisher is The Punisher, he's hard to really write unless you are Garth Ennis because he knows the character.

I think the main reason why PWZ did not do so well is either A) Lion's Gate did not do their job, B) the OTT action, or C) Thomas Jane is still The Punisher.

 

[S. Grundy]

D) It was just a badly written/acted movie, save for Stevenson and Knight they're the only two that seemed to give genuine performances.

 

[T.Bickle]

Colin Salmon was pretty damn good to, IMO.

 

[Brendan]

Remind me to never **** with Liam Neeson or his family.