17 replies to this topic

[Binyamin]

After watching the excellent film Taken recently, it occurred to me that Liam Neeson plays, almost perfectly, a burnt out and retired James Bond.

It is easy to imagine Daniel Craig's Bond as Neeson's character. He's world-weary, wants a quiet life, and is estranged from his beautiful ex-wife and only daughter.

Consider also that the ex-wife is literally an older Bond girl. It is not much of a stretch to imagine Daniel Craig's Bond trying to pursue some semblance of normal life with a past lover -- only to have it fall apart as a result of his dedication to the Service, and lose her to a wealthier man.

Stretching the imagination even further, you can almost watch Taken as truly a movie about James Bond, the man. Wouldn't James change his name after retiring from the service in an attempt to escape his past and give his daughter a more normal life? Wouldn't Bond try to get out of the Service if he found out he had a daughter? He would, and it would play out much like it does in Taken.

The similarities go on. To me, it seemed like a very interesting glimpse into what the James Bond character might look like as time goes on. Did anybody else get this feeling from the film?

[dodge]

Very interesting take. I suppose many might object to the prospect of Bond ever marrying and having a child...certainly to his feeling the measure of love of a daughter that Neeson's characted exhibits. But still: yeah, I can see Neeson's character as a retired, Bond-like figure. And I'm looking forward to TAKEN 2!

[Binyamin]

True. However, I see Bond's detachment to the world as artificial. He is, after all, human. There comes a point when the artificial detachment switches off, even for a moment, and he longs for a more normal life. Think of Vesper and Tracy.

Every woman has the "ticking clock" that pushes her to have children. Men have that impulse too -- especially when they start to get older. I don't think it's a stretch at all for a middle-aged Bond to realize that he is becoming an empty shell, and decide to do something about it before it is too late.

The other angle is: it could easily be an illegitimate child that Bond finally decides to father. Having a baby girl would soften even the most cold-hearted bastard, I'd think.

[Matt_13]

I don't know. I enjoyed TAKEN, but I thought it was a bit silly after a while. The body count was just a tad too high.

[coco1997]

Funny you should draw the parallel with Bond, because Mel Gibson's new film "Edge of Darkness" seems to share more than a few plot similarities with "Taken," and appropriately enough, was also directed by "Goldeneye" and "Casino Royale"'s very own Martin Campbell.

Edited by coco1997, 28 January 2010 - 11:46 PM.

[bondrules]

Taken was great. It puts all of Brosnan's Bond films to shame.

[Safari Suit]

Funny you should draw the parallel with Bond, because Mel Gibson's new film "Edge of Darkness" seems to share more than a few plot similarities with "Taken," and appropriately enough, was also directed by "Goldeneye" and "Casino Royale"'s very own Martin Campbell.

Merely a coincidence I'm sure; Campbell also directed the original TV mini-series Edge of Darkness is based on which had more or less the same plot, and Taken's plot was really just a riff on the action standard which also formed the basis for the Death Wish films, Hard to Kill and literally countless others.

[Genuine Felix Leiter]

Wasn't Liam Neeson a name that was thrown around during the late 80's when Roger Moore was going to be re-cast? It's interesting watching Taken because I think it gives the audience a taste of how well Liam Neeson would have physically slotted into the role.

Edited by Genuine Felix Leiter, 29 January 2010 - 05:39 PM.

[dinovelvet]

Funny you should draw the parallel with Bond, because Mel Gibson's new film "Edge of Darkness" seems to share more than a few plot similarities with "Taken," and appropriately enough, was also directed by "Goldeneye" and "Casino Royale"'s very own Martin Campbell.

They're not really that similar, but I do think the marketing is trying to make it look like Taken (and funnily enough, they both have the same last-week-in-January US release date). Edge of Darkness is more slow-moving murder mystery than straight up action.

[Cody]

Wasn't Liam Neeson a name that was thrown around during the late 80's when Roger Moore was going to be re-cast?

I think he was considered for GoldenEye, but he wasn't very interested. He's also said in an interview that Natasha Richardson told him she wouldn't marry him if he was Bond.

[dodge]

Until Taken 2 arrives, we have this to look forward to from the back-to-work Mr. Neeson:

Here's a picture of hardworking Irish actor Liam Neeson, 57, on the set of his latest film "Unknown White Male" in Berlin, Germany.

In the new thriller Neeson plays a man who awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one — not even his wife – believes him.

With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is, and the story His wife is played by January Jones with the young woman being played by Diane Kruger. The movie does not hit theatres until September, 2011.

Unsurprisingly, Neeson's replacement has sinister intentions, and it's up to the good version (Neeson himself) to discover just what the hell is going on. Presumably, it will involve much he-man violence on the continent.

Source: Irish Central

[Sark2.0]

Very interesting take. I suppose many might object to the prospect of Bond ever marrying and having a child...certainly to his feeling the measure of love of a daughter that Neeson's characted exhibits. But still: yeah, I can see Neeson's character as a retired, Bond-like figure. And I'm looking forward to TAKEN 2!

His daughter gets kidnapped twice? Talk about bad luck. Unless I've forgotten some important plot points, it doesn't seem like Taken was really sequel material. Ok, he rescued his daughter, what more is there to cover?

[Binyamin]

Maybe Famke gets kidnapped.

From the shower.

And taken away as a jello wrestling slave.

I'd watch it.

[BryanHerbert]

After I saw that film, I thought He should of been Bond, He had all the key elements needed. Just think what could of been. I think he would of done a great job, the fight scenes in taken were really good, and he seriously hurts those bad guys.I loved every minute of that movie

[Lachesis]

Taken is one of the best action pics of recent times imo, although the key is really Liam Neeson's charisma, he's physically unlikely but then surprisingly convicing when the action demands, much like you would imagine a retired Bond to be.

[darkpath]

True. However, I see Bond's detachment to the world as artificial. He is, after all, human. There comes a point when the artificial detachment switches off, even for a moment, and he longs for a more normal life. Think of Vesper and Tracy.

Quite true. I would also cite the literary relationship with Kissy.

Every woman has the "ticking clock" that pushes her to have children. Men have that impulse too -- especially when they start to get older. I don't think it's a stretch at all for a middle-aged Bond to realize that he is becoming an empty shell, and decide to do something about it before it is too late.

My personal experience reinforces my belief that you've nailed a very valid point. In my own experience, I know that when I hit 40, I began to feel rather anxious about being childless. I could certainly see Bond past the mandatory retirement age for a 00 (I believe the books put it at 45; but I may be mis-remembering) suddenly finding himself feeling an increasing desire for a little one once the perils of field work was no longer driving him.

The other angle is: it could easily be an illegitimate child that Bond finally decides to father. Having a baby girl would soften even the most cold-hearted bastard, I'd think.

My own personal experience backs that up. Conversely, having "Daddy's little girl" threatened will awaken that same cold-hearted bastard that may lay dormant in even the warmest of men. It's common enough to refer to a mother of a threatened child/cub/calf as one of the most dangerous creatures in nature; but I am fairly certain that threatening "Daddy's little girl" is never a path to longevity and safety when dealing with humans.

[George Kaplan]

Until Taken 2 arrives, we have this to look forward to from the back-to-work Mr. Neeson:

Here's a picture of hardworking Irish actor Liam Neeson, 57, on the set of his latest film "Unknown White Male" in Berlin, Germany.

In the new thriller Neeson plays a man who awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one — not even his wife – believes him.

With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is, and the story His wife is played by January Jones with the young woman being played by Diane Kruger. The movie does not hit theatres until September, 2011.

Unsurprisingly, Neeson's replacement has sinister intentions, and it's up to the good version (Neeson himself) to discover just what the hell is going on. Presumably, it will involve much he-man violence on the continent.

Source: Irish Central

I know its based on the Didier Van Cauwelaert novel Hors de Moi (published in the US as Out of My Head), but it almost sounds like an action/conspiracy movie version of Anthony Armstrong's The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham which - besides being adapted as an Alfred Hitchcock Presents - was adapted into the 1970 pre-Bond Roger Moore film The Man Who Haunted Himself...

Edited by George Kaplan, 22 February 2010 - 07:40 PM.

[dodge]

Until Taken 2 arrives, we have this to look forward to from the back-to-work Mr. Neeson:

Here's a picture of hardworking Irish actor Liam Neeson, 57, on the set of his latest film "Unknown White Male" in Berlin, Germany.

In the new thriller Neeson plays a man who awakens from a coma, only to discover that someone has taken on his identity and that no one — not even his wife – believes him.

With the help of a young woman, he sets out to prove who he is, and the story His wife is played by January Jones with the young woman being played by Diane Kruger. The movie does not hit theatres until September, 2011.

Unsurprisingly, Neeson's replacement has sinister intentions, and it's up to the good version (Neeson himself) to discover just what the hell is going on. Presumably, it will involve much he-man violence on the continent.

Source: Irish Central

I know its based on the Didier Van Cauwelaert novel Hors de Moi (published in the US as Out of My Head), but it almost sounds like an action/conspiracy movie version of Anthony Armstrong's The Strange Case of Mr. Pelham which - besides being adapted as an Alfred Hitchcock Presents - was adapted into the 1970 pre-Bond Roger Moore film The Man Who Haunted Himself...

Thanks for the interesting info!