Taken 3 Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Taken 3" by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment delivers an impressive visual experience with an AVC encoded, 1080p transfer in a 2.38:1 aspect ratio. Shot on 35mm film, the transfer maintains a filmic look that showcases excellent depth and texture. Director Olivier Megaton and cinematographer Eric Kress employ various cinematic techniques, including handheld sequences and subtle image manipulations, which integrate seamlessly into a cohesive and organic viewing experience. Despite these creative choices, the colors remain accurate and are not overly color graded, providing a surprisingly natural look.

The high-definition presentation of "Taken 3" is highlighted by stunning visuals, featuring sumptuously rendered colors that vividly showcase the Los Angeles landscape. The palette, leaning on yellowish earth tones to represent the summer heat, maintains primary colors that are vibrant and intense. Black levels are deep and inky, offering opulent shadows that enhance the film's dimensionality. Contrast is bright and consistent, with brilliant whites throughout. Detail and clarity are superb, with fine lines and background elements sharply defined, contributing to the overall high quality of the image. Skin tones are lifelike and appropriate to the climate, maintaining healthy textures in close-ups.

Encoding intricacies such as MPEG-4 AVC resolution at 1080p on a 50 GB disc facilitate clean and precise visuals. Additional visual elements like lens flares and postproduction effects may introduce slight muddiness in some scenes, but they do not detract significantly from the overall experience. Daytime scenes featuring palm trees, suburbs, and beaches appear especially rich and vibrant. The transfer handles black levels with aplomb, avoiding any noticeable instances of crush. With no detectable noise or artifacts, "Taken 3" on Blu-ray stands out as a reference-quality visual presentation.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix for "Taken 3" provides a robust and forceful audio experience, characterized by an ample Low-Frequency Extension (LFE). This potency is particularly effective during scenes of intense action, such as car explosions and the numerous chase sequences. The ambient sound design is commendable, with sequences set in diverse environments like underground sewer drains offering convincing and immersive auditory experiences. Dialogue reproduction is notably clean and clear, firmly anchored in the center channel, ensuring intelligibility throughout. The dynamic range is extensive, offering a wide spectrum between highs and mids without any discernible problems.

While the DTS-HD Master Audio track is certainly engaging and enjoyable, it does not quite match the audio dynamism of its predecessors in the franchise. The surround sound presentation, while competent in handling discrete effects such as bullets and ambient noises, tends to favor a front-centric sound field. The channel separation and imaging are impressive, providing a spacious and fluid movement of sounds across the soundstage. This results in an expansive and highly enjoyable auditory wall. However, it lacks the immersive depth and creative design that could elevate it further.

Despite these shortcomings, "Taken 3" delivers an audio mix that is dynamic and powerful where it counts. The low-end is impactful, with explosions and gunshots resonating deeply, adding weight to the action sequences. The surround channels, although not overly aggressive, manage to effectively handle various directional effects, contributing to the overall experience. In summary, while it may not reach the pinnacle set by earlier installments, the "Taken 3" audio presentation remains a highly enjoyable and technically solid effort that will satisfy fans of high-octane soundtracks.

The Blu-ray of “Taken 3” provides a decent array of extras that, while not extensive, offer insight into various aspects of the film-making process. The highlights include a detailed exposition of Sam’s bunker through an engaging animated tour, which also delves into the specific weaponry and tech employed in the film. This is complemented by the backstory provided in the deleted scene “Flashback Malankov” that enriches the narrative of the main villain. Additional features such as “Taken to L.A.” give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the filming locations and an exploration of Los Angeles as a setting. “A Taken Legacy” attempts to encapsulate the essence of the entire trilogy, though it tends to come off as self-praising. The gallery and trailers round off the extras, offering both visual and promotional glimpses of the film.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scene - Flashback Malankove: Provides backstory on the main villain.
• Sam's Bunker, A.K.A. The Rabbit Hole: Animated tour of Sam’s hideaway and weapons.
• Taken to L.A.: Behind-the-scenes look at the filming locations.
• A Taken Legacy: Overview of the trilogy with cast and crew remarks.
• Gallery: Still images with manual and auto advance options.
• Theatrical Trailer: Promotional trailer for the film.
• Theatrical and Unrated versions of the film

"Taken 3" comes as a lackluster finale to the once-thrilling franchise, failing to capture the visceral excitement of the initial installment. Critics find it suffers from familiar plot cliches and poor narrative execution. The film essentially rehashes tropes seen in "The Fugitive," with Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) wrongfully accused of murdering his wife Lenore (Famke Janssen), triggering a predictable series of events. Unsurprisingly, Bryan's special skills remove any real suspense, as he effortlessly evades law enforcement and confronts Russian mafioso Malankov (Sam Spruell) in an inevitable showdown. These clichéd plot mechanics coupled with the lack of engaging villainy significantly undermine the experience.

Adding to the disappointment, director Olivier Megaton's decision to employ frenetic editing and shaky-cam techniques detracts further from the film's coherence and immersion. Many agree the editing resembles that of a disjointed music video, diluting the impact of several action sequences rather than enhancing them. Neeson, reprising his role with obvious fatigue, masks his character's invincibility with lackluster effort, while supporting actors like Forest Whitaker (Detective Frank Dotzler) struggle against underdeveloped roles. Despite skirmishes with added action and violence in its unrated cut, the installment offers no real improvement, making redundant Bryan's monotonous escapades against paper-thin antagonists.

Ultimately, "Taken 3" is panned for its uninspired storytelling and failure to foster genuine excitement or emotional investment. The character arcs drift aimlessly with unnecessary, contrived drama involving Bryan’s daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) and Lenore’s new husband Stuart (Dougray Scott). While there are impressive moments bound to please some action aficionados, they come too infrequently and are overshadowed by a pervasive sense of fatigue and redundancy. The film serves mainly as a cautionary tale about the decline of action franchises stretched beyond their prime.

"Taken 3" exhibits a persistent, albeit bombastic, approach to its action sequences, yet it struggles to exude any genuine vitality. Liam Neeson, typically commanding in his role, appears fatigued, which detracts from the overall thrill. The mundane screenplay and heavy-handed direction compound the film's lack of suspense and engaging narrative. However, adrenaline enthusiasts may find some satisfaction in the few intense chase scenes.

The Blu-ray release is commendable for its technical merits. Picture quality is superb, with sharp visuals that do justice to the film's intentions. The lossless audio offers an immersive experience, though the impact may vary. One notable inclusion is the option to view both the PG-13 theatrical cut and the unrated version, catering to diverse viewer preferences. Yet, the special features offered are rather standard and do little to elevate the package's value.

In conclusion, "Taken 3" is a film squarely aimed at die-hard fans of the franchise. While it presents a visually appealing and sonically robust home viewing experience, it falters in delivering a compelling story or engaging character dynamics. Casual viewers might find it worth a rental to satisfy their curiosity but are unlikely to warrant multiple viewings.