When does a father let go of his daughter because she no longer is his little girl? Does he simply sit back and watch her drift from his hands while she discovers the world on her own. Or, does he do everything in his power to protect her, even if it means taking the life of another to bring her back to him safely?
Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) is the father no young man would want to meet on a first date. He is also the highlight for today’s Wednesday Warriors.
All Kim (Maggie Grace) wants to do is go to Paris with her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy). She also wants to become a singer, but that’s more of a dream. During her birthday party, her father gives her a boom box, which quickly becomes old news when her stepfather gives her a pony. The oneupmanship continues when Bryan’s ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) tells him he was never there for them, her stepdad, though, is. It hits him hard, yet he manages knowing it’s news he has heard before.
When Kim tells her dad about the Parisian visit, Bryan has the final word. She’s his daughter and no daughter of his is going anywhere without a chaperone.
Time does good to all. Bryan eventually caves and gives her permission to go on the trip under several stipulations—one of them being that she has to call as soon as she gets there. When Kim doesn’t call, he makes contact with her in her apartment. Everything is going well until she sees her friend in the arms of masked assailants.
Something becomes painfully obvious. Bryan is more than a father. He has served his country faithfully, even to the point of destroying his family. When he instructs his daughter to hide from the kidnappers, she dashes under the bed. When he then tells her the brutal truth, that they will take her, she whimpers. And when the kidnappers finally take her, knowing the kidnappers are on the other end of the line, Bryan delivers these fateful words:
“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll 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.”
After a long pause, the kidnapper says, “Good Luck.”
No one messes with Bryan Mills. He is the spark no one wants to ignite. He is the bullet the hammer doesn’t want to hit. His former associates know him as efficient in business.
This time it’s different. It’s not business. This time, it’s personal.
Are you familiar with Bryan Mills? What do you think of the character?
Looking to God 
It’s a great scene and is matched by the fact that he makes good on his promise. I haven’t seen the second or third yet so may need to revisit the trilogy properly.
I enjoyed this first movie; can’t remember the second, but I must have seen it. The line you quote is very effective in the film. That and a guest appearance by Holly Valance is all you need to enjoy it!
The line is one of my favorite lines of all time. That and “I’ll be back” are up there with Rocky’s “Go for it.” Okay, maybe Taken’s line is bigger than those two!
Reblogged this on thepageofdaniel and commented:
A post on one of my favourite actors.
Thanks for the reblog, Daniel! I always appreciate your support!
My pleasure.
On another note – If I posted a Youtube, Vimeo or other video, NOT my intellectual property, of course, on my page, would I be violating any copyright laws ? I figured you’d know.
Just thought I’d ask while I was in the neighborhood.
You should be fine as long as it’s a Youtube video and it’s a link. WordPress will allow you to post the link without a problem under “fair use” guidelines.
Good. I didn’t want to step on the wrong carpet without permission.
Ah, Liam Neeson. I have yet to see him in a really BAD movie. One of my favorite actors, along with Mr. Samuel L Jackson.
Liam Neeson does a very convincing American accent.
I love these movies and have seen both of them countless times. We all love a flawed hero.
Me too. I have yet to watch the third one–can’t wait, though, my wife and I have a marathon going every weekend this month. Looking forward to the second movie this Saturday night! 🙂
Oh I’ll check that out, thanks!