Rating: 
Summary: 'Taken' not so great, a Spielberg production 'in name only'
Review: I was very disappointed in 'Taken'. It would seem that Dreamworks SKG basically took SciFi/Universal to the cleaners on this one - it cost over $40 million dollars to make and another $25 million to advertise, making it one of the most-hyped and most-expensive mini-series of the present era. Though the miniseries did great service for the SciFi Channel - making the network 'accessible' to non-SciFi audiences, the series was neither groundbreaking nor terribly interesting.Though Steven Speilberg served as the Executive Producer for this item, he really had very little to do with the writing or the directorial responsibilities: He hired a first-time genre writer Leslie Boehm to draft the script, and gave a clutch of fledgeling directors an opportunity to work on a big-budget project with LOTS of exposure. The result of this broad collaoration doesn't measure up to the calibre of entertinment that we generally expect from Spielberg, rather it is entirely derivative and altogether stale. Far from original, Boehm's 'Taken' basically [copies] every well-known UFO abduction narrative, from Speilberg's 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' to Whitley Strieber's 'Communion' with lots of 'Lifetime'-style television thrown in. In fact, it could be characterized as science-fiction for people who like soap-operas and have avoided the genre for the past 30 years. Admirably - or not - Boehm and Speilberg have eliminated much of the wonder and suspense that often go into these kinds of films, instead substituting a sort of generic, multi-gererational 'soap-opera' to move the drama forward. I'm not big fan of alien abductions and such, but this series (mostly free of violence and bloodletting) doesn't tell any stories that haven't been told before, if not with better scripts and actors. I could go on and on. Instead, I'll make alternative recommendations - save your money, and either buy or rent some of these intstead - they are better-written and executed than this made-for-tv filler (and notably, many of these avoid the shock, horror and gore that makes science-fiction abhorrent to some people): 'Starman', dir. John Carpenter, 1984
'Close Encounters of the Third Kind', dir Steven Speilberg,1977
'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial', dir. Steven Spielberg, 1982
'Independence Day', dir. Roland Emmerich, 1996
'The X-Files' (Seasons 1-4), Chris Carter, 1993-1997
'Superman: The Movie', dir. Richard Donner,1978
'Cocoon', dir. Ron Howard, 1985
'Millenium', dir. Michael Anderson, 1989
'Invasion of the Body Snatchers', dir. Phillip Kaufman, 1978
'Body Snatchers', dir Abel Ferrera, 1994
Rating: 
Summary: Not Just for SCI-Fi fans
Review: I am an avid sci-fi fan. This mini-series is not just for us. It has great dramatic elements.
Rating:
Summary: Taken
Review: This is the BEST miniseries I have ever watched. I am anxiously waiting for it to come out on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Steven Spielberge Presents Taken
Review: I hardly ever watch commercial television due to those long delays between scenes. One day flipping through the channels I came across "Taken". It was close to the end of the episode. I was completely absorbed by the few minutes I had seen. Naturally a commercial came on promoting the Steven Spielberg presents taken marathon that weekend. Amazed by the story line and the cast I was propelled to spend the entire weekend watching this series on sci-fi. After two twelve hour days I wanted more, I didn't want the story to end. Now I have been "Taken" by a story of past and present events about UFO's and a cast of outstanding magnitude.
In the last episode I noticed the promo for the release of Taken on DVD in 2003 more importantly the first part which stated
"More secrets will be revealed" I will certainly be one of the first of many to be online to purchase Taken on DVD. I also hope this will not be the last of Taken I believe the story has the potential to be more then a miniseries. I believe the return of Allie and all that she has learned of things to come would make for a great movie and the start of another great series and if anyone can pull it off, it's Steven Spielberg. And if any actress can mesmerize us to continue to follow the story, Dakota Fanning can.
Rating:
Summary: Carried Away !
Review: Hi everybody 'out there', I hardly watch series on television. Still, for a period of ten weeks the Steven Spielberg-event 'Taken' -broadcasted on BBC 2- got me hooked! The topic of 'alien abduction' might be a very tricky one, but fact and fiction were handled satisfactory. The idea to depart from a well known historical event -the Roswell case in 1947- and to relate this to the story of three families, spanning more than three generations and more than 50 years of American history, is simply great. As I watched the series I saw the unfolding of a fascinating beautiful story (with several milestones of history looming in the background) while at the same time I could easily relate to the three portrayed families, as if I was watching my favourite soap opera. It was good drama, offering not only fascinating weird stuff and people (alien abductions, spacecrafts, genetic engineering, mad scientists, the obsessive nature of the Crawford family), but also the joy and the burden that goes well with relationships: love, friendship, romance, betrayal and adultery. The characters were a real treat. Very entertaining! And who could expect otherwise? A plot dealing with alien abduction will always invite some weirdo's to arrive on the scene sooner or later. Script-writer Leslie Bohem did a great job. I think we owe it much to Bohem's contribution that 'Taken' is a compelling, fascinating, coherent and consistent fifteen hour television show. An immense effort! Also much praise for Dakota Fanning's fantastic and sometimes deeply moving performance. In the last four episodes she plays the bright, intelligent 9 year old girl Allie Keys. She was absolutely brilliant! Throughout the story Allie also appears in a 'narrative role', reading her thoughts from her diary, pondering on the "how's" and "why's" of daily behaviours and human fate. I liked her comments on 'human endeavours'. This 'narrative element' -handled with care by Leslie Bohem- worked really fine for me. As her name 'Allie Keys' already suggests, Allie is the strange key figure of the drama. Although Allie looks and acts 'human' in every way, she has a unique genetic makeup: she's a mixture of human and alien DNA. This mix of DNA makes her more than the sum of its parts: it endows her with superhuman powers. She can manipulate time and she can manifest thought, among other things. For the aliens she becomes 'an unqualified success', representing the next step in their evolution. In order to create someone like Allie, abducting and researching people was necessary. Achieving this goal seems to be their number one priority and they don't seem to care much about the 'collateral damage' they inflict on their human victims for many decades. Three successive generations of the Crawford family -in charge of a secret USA-government/army-project concerning alien abductions- are unceasingly trying to understand the aliens' intentions. In the end the aliens' experiment turns out to be very meaningful for humankind as well. Allie's innate goodness as well as the use of her powers for the benefit of people around her transforms those people's lifes. In this regard Allie shows characteristics of a messianic figure. Like almost all messianic figures Allie passes through a severe crisis, a period of retreat -in this case a coma that blocks her off from normal human conditions and surroundings- before she can face up her new mission and destiny. People that have been 'touched' by her 'good works' will eventually gather and become her followers/admirers before she 'takes off'. The last two episodes manifest strong religious elements. A lot of events seem to refer to the biblical New Testament. Let me name a few:
*the 'supernatural' way -via alien, non-human intervention- in which Allie is conceived, resembling the 'divine intervention' prior to the birth of Christ
*the alien John -Allie's great-grandfather- comes as a 'messenger', reminding Allie of her destiny, as -likewise- John the Baptist did for Christ
*Allie's uncle Tom Clarke becomes a 'believer' after years of disbelief and scepticism towards alien abduction. In a way Tom resembles the apostle Thomas who eventually becomes a believer in the message of Christ
*before she leaves, Allie frees her followers-admirers of tracking devices put in their heads by aliens, devices that have ruined most of their lives. In this scene Allie's admirers bleed out of their noses, as if they all in fact spill their blood for Allie... a variation on Jesus' Last Supper with his Apostles?
*there's the betrayal-denial of Allie after she has left with the aliens: when interrogated by a soldier, one of Allie's most fervent admirers -a man whose life was transformed by her- denies that he knew her, just like the apostle Peter denied Christ in a very similar situation
*after Allie has left with the aliens her mother Lisa is convinced that her daughter will return to Earth again, just like Christ is believed to do so (or do Lisa's words here only refer to the possibility of a sequel of 'Taken'?)
*the close of the last episode shows 'believer' Tom Clarke handing over Allie's diary to her mother Lisa, the book with Allie's thoughts on humanity. To me this seemed like referring to 'the Gospel of Allie' that's left behind for the benefit of mankind I don't have a clear opinion about alien abductions (How could I? So far, I've never been abducted), but I do believe there's more out there beyond the sky. The universe with its billions of stars is simply too big to have only room for us. But we'll probably never find out about this. What really matters is to keep in mind Allie's 'last thoughts' at the close of the final episode: it's more important to keep asking questions than knowing all the answers. While I am writing this, the dvd-box has not been released yet, but I already look forward to give 'Taken' a re-run on my dvd-player.
Rating:
Summary: I LOVED TAKEN!!!!
Review: I thought that Taken was the best miniseries in the world!!! I loved that it showed 50 years of the different familys!! I thought that the Keys were the best! Taken was a little long and my oarents didn't like the fact that I watch 20 hours in two weeks but oh well IT WAS THE BEST SHOW IN THE WORLD!!!
Rating:
Summary: Great series!!!
Review: This was an excellent tale told by one of my favorite directors. Spielberg knows how to reach into the imagination and deliver exactly what you want to see. The story is narrated by one of the best young actresses today (Dakota Fanning.) Her voice is calm but yet powerful enough to be heard. This miniseries has won many awards and has been nominated for many more. A good addition to any sci-fi collection.
Rating:
Summary: The most enjoyable miniseries I've ever seen.
Review: Taken is a mammoth undertaking, a ten-part miniseries (if it can still be called mini) that spans three generations and six decades, focusing on three families and their encounters with extraterrestrials. What's most remarkable is that, in spite of such a long length (15 hours without commercial) and each segment being helmed by a different director, the miniseries never flags when it comes to pacing. Credit Leslie Bohem for a tightly written and consistently engrossing script. The cast of Taken is superb, so much so that I would hate to leave anyone out. But I will mention the standouts. Dakota Fanning is marvelous as Allie Keys, a bright and intelligent little girl with an ambiguous future. Joel Gretsch is riveting as Owen Crawford, one of the "villains" of the piece, his performance is so hypnotic his successors (son and granddaughter) are rather disappointing in comparison. The film's weakest performances definitely belong to Heather Donahue and Matt Frewer, the former of who is just awful and the latter is actually quite amusing, but doesn't feel like he belongs in this epic tale. The special effects are excellent and the story twists and turns with remarkably coherent and extremely enjoyable results. The last half-hour or so does make for a slightly disappointing conclusion, but by then, I'd been completely won over (you might even say, taken)(yeah, that was bad). Enthusiastically recommended, this is one of the best TV-based works I've ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: The sky is full of surprises...
Review: Well well, and the best is yet to come. While i'm writing this, I've just seen episode nine of this ten-part epic-miniseries. From the first moment on, this series hypnotised my eyes to the TV-screen. How can someone create a science fiction story, without using an overdose off spaceships, laserguns, aliens and wars on a planetary scale... Just leave it to the protégees of Steven Spielberg and You're watching one of the best series ever to be aired on the screen. I'm living in The Netherlands. Being able to receive the public channels of the United Kingdom (BBC) I'm breathe-'taken' by the storyline, acting-performance an art-design. I'm ready for it, next saturday the final episode will be aired. My rating will stand, however the series may and. And little Allie stole my heart...
Rating:
Summary: The greatest Mini-series
Review: I think that Taken the mini-series is the greatest show i have ever seen, I highly recommend that people buy this
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