Taken

Plus: Sword of the Stranger and others

By Volcano Staff on January 29, 2009

NEW IN TOWN: Consider this Bridget Jones’ Diary with the added bonus of Harry Connick Jr. and without all that pesky British charm. (PG) Two stars — Ron Swarner


SWORD OF THE STRANGER: Animated Samurai action epic is part of nationwide one-night-only production at select theaters. (NR) – BW


TAKEN: Liam Neeson plays a semi-retired CIA man whose daughter is kidnapped in Paris by traffickers in human bodies.  Turning into a preposterously versatile one-man killing machine, he determines to track her down and save her from a fate worse than death, followed by death.  If you can’t wait for the next Bourne thriller, you don’t have to. (PG-13) Two and a half stars – RE


THE UNINVITED: Emily Browning from Lemony Snicket in a very different role in a well-made horror film about a troubled teenager whose mother died in a fire, and whose father (David Strathairn) is now living with her mother’s nurse (Elizabeth Banks).  Skillfully constructed, with some genuine scares. (PG-13) Three stars – RE