This Film Should Be Rated R

Liam Neeson’s latest film is an extremely violent, implausible story that should not be seen by anyone under the age of 17. Parents beware as this movie portrays girls that are kidnapped, drugged and forced into prostitution by a ring of Albanians. Some of the girls are auctioned off to Middle Eastern clientele and never return. Neeson’s character is an ex CIA agent who worked overseas to prevent problems from occurring. He’s trained in martial arts and torturing as he kills between fifteen to twenty people consistently throughout the film. Let me put it to you this way–if he’s not punching or kicking then he’s stabbing or shooting. Oh yea, and he tortures people.   Great, just how I want to spend a Saturday evening at the movies.

The shocking news is the fact that children as young as 6 years old were in this packed theater as well as many other kids under the age of 10. That’s what happens with a PG-13 rating, parents will push the age suggestion to 12, 11 and even 10. Most of the kids I saw were hiding their eyes behind their coats. This movie is non-stop violence and other disturbing images.

To say that I disliked this film is an understatement. Where’s the hero and amazing actor from “Schindler’s List"? Liam the actor that we all respect and enjoy viewing on screen, don’t look for him in this film as he’s nowhere to be found.

Neeson’s 17 year old daughter Kim played by Maggie Grace and her girl friend fly to Paris unaccompanied and are kidnapped about 45 minutes after they arrive. No Louvre, no Eiffel Tower or visit to Monet’s Gardens, it’s off to the drug induced prostitution ring.

Kim uses her cell phone to call Dad (Liam) to inform him that Amanda her friend has just been taken by several men that broke into their apartment. Dad orders her to get under the bed as he informs her, “They will take you next.” We witness the frightening struggle between Kim and her captors as she is taken screaming and fighting out of the apartment.

Moments later you hear the message that Liam sends the thugs on her cell phone. The same one that has been playing in the trailers for the last four months:

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you're looking for a ransom, I can tell you, I don't have any money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills acquired over a very long career in the shadows, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you. And I will kill you."

Liam kicks into gear as the ‘6 Million Dollar Dad’ on steroids. He’s overseas before you’d ask, “Do I qualify for an upgrade?” He a vigilante on a mission and nothing and I mean nothing will get in his way. Don’t even try to stop him as he will shot you or your wife or husband for that matter as he does in one scene.

Yes, its nonstop Bourne type action. The problem is the subject matter and the inconceivable script. Basically it’s a B movie with an A list actor as the star.

Sarah Adamson © 2009