Taken - Robert Crais

Taken - Robert Crais (2012 )

Way back in the day, Lee Childs Jack Reacher used to roam the mean streets picking off the bad fellows and quietly going to the next hotspot.  Lately however, he has been stuck going up and down the same country roads, picking off the same gang of toughies - much like a 90's computer character stuck on the same stage.

Back on the real mean streets of LA we have Cole and Pike who in this episode are off to find a missing daughter and her boyfriend, plucked from the desert by a gang of bajadores - gangs who prey on other bandits.

  It is pretty grim stuff, it did  make me cringe in several scenes,  with the thought of people smuggling being a modern day slavery.  There is pretty extensive violence portrayed but somehow you can always sense that the baddies will get their comeuppence in the end.

So if you are sick of strolling with Jack Reacher - don't forget to give Robert Crais a go - he's good! 4/5

Taken

Taken - DVD (2008)
Liam Neeson is an ex-agent, who in retirement is concerned with establishing a relationship with his daughter. Just turned 17, she escapes for a holiday in Paris where things go wrong, and she is kidnapped to be sold into prostitution and sex slavery. Liam, realizes he has 80 odd hours to find her, and sets out as a one man band, on a spree of quite graphic violence.

The glimpses into this evil trade of selling women, is quite disturbing. It would make me want to sit down and watch it with my niece before letting her go on holiday. Not sure if I enjoyed this one, but it did hold my attention and I feel it deserves a 3/5.

I must admit to being mesmerized by the colour of Liam Neesons hair. lady clariol did a great job, it might be my new winter shade.