Box office and reviews
Taken
 |
626
Taken (I) (2008)
7.9
Ratings: 7.9/10 from 464,153 users Metascore: 50/100
Reviews: 967 user | 305 critic | 31 from Metacritic.com
A retired CIA agent travels across Europe and relies on his old skills to save his estranged daughter, who has been kidnapped while on a trip to Paris.
Director:Pierre Morel |
Reviews and box office details:
709 out of 873 people found the following review useful:
Author: talanish from Travelling the world
26 April 2008
Probably the fastest 93 minutes of my life !
Author: talanish from Travelling the world
26 April 2008
Wow - I had already read reviews of this movie, and with the writer being one of my favourite directors, Luc Besson, I just had to go see this movie as soon as possible...
I was not disappointed... I'm not sure if this was intentional but there were no trailers before the movie, so being thrown strait into the film unexpectedly with people whispering "is this it then ?" only helping build up some initial tension and excitement.
The film starts nicely, but with overtones of spy thrillers like "Day of the Jackal" coming to mind. Neeson seems a bit pityful at the start, but soon overturns that impression with a taste of his handywork after around ten minutes of the thriller.
Then, before you know it, it's over. 93 minutes, gone in a blur of fighting, fear, chasing and excitement at serious pace. The artwork and direction is nicely done, giving you the feeling of being the one attacking and the chair squirming feeling of being the poor gits who get annihilated in almost every way possible.
It was one of those films that I wanted to applause after the film, I actually clapped about three times, but no-one joined in... too afraid of being the only two people clapping I suppose...
Neeson was great, and I can't wait to see the movie many more times. I only gave it 9 out of 10, as it was too short ! The film could have been easily stretched to 2 hours in my opinion, with some more development and intimacy with the characters. But I guess this may have not made it so exciting... still, well worth the money to see this in the big screen.
I was not disappointed... I'm not sure if this was intentional but there were no trailers before the movie, so being thrown strait into the film unexpectedly with people whispering "is this it then ?" only helping build up some initial tension and excitement.
The film starts nicely, but with overtones of spy thrillers like "Day of the Jackal" coming to mind. Neeson seems a bit pityful at the start, but soon overturns that impression with a taste of his handywork after around ten minutes of the thriller.
Then, before you know it, it's over. 93 minutes, gone in a blur of fighting, fear, chasing and excitement at serious pace. The artwork and direction is nicely done, giving you the feeling of being the one attacking and the chair squirming feeling of being the poor gits who get annihilated in almost every way possible.
It was one of those films that I wanted to applause after the film, I actually clapped about three times, but no-one joined in... too afraid of being the only two people clapping I suppose...
Neeson was great, and I can't wait to see the movie many more times. I only gave it 9 out of 10, as it was too short ! The film could have been easily stretched to 2 hours in my opinion, with some more development and intimacy with the characters. But I guess this may have not made it so exciting... still, well worth the money to see this in the big screen.
564 out of 796 people found the following review useful:
Author: Vlad C from Romania
30 May 2008
Surprinsingly good - definitely must see
Author: Vlad C from Romania
30 May 2008
I'm still under the influence of this movie, so my comment is likely to be superlative! I went to this movie, knowing that one of the writers and the director were both French, and since I've seen some not-so-impressive movies (almost fell asleep), i was really skeptical.
BUT this one proved to be a great action movie. The best movie to compare with Taken is Hit-man. The idea is somewhat the same (lots of action, shots, flying bullets etc) - though the motive for the actions are not money. But the level of realism, the motivation of the character, the cold blood which moves him on makes this flick a good option to choose when selecting a movie.
Liam Neeson does a great performance, perfectly interpreting his role of a former spy. As he says in one of his lines, he's "retired, but not dead", having an opportunity to show everyone what he knows to do best.
The movie covers a hot topic too, kidnapping young women to force them to prostitute, and all the business this involves. You get to see the kind of people are supporting these arrangements and what it takes for the victims to be there.
Of course, the movie has (very small, almost invisible) drawbacks, like some lines in a wrong language (english instead of french) and some Rambo - stuff, but the overall impression is simple: a strong recommendation!
BUT this one proved to be a great action movie. The best movie to compare with Taken is Hit-man. The idea is somewhat the same (lots of action, shots, flying bullets etc) - though the motive for the actions are not money. But the level of realism, the motivation of the character, the cold blood which moves him on makes this flick a good option to choose when selecting a movie.
Liam Neeson does a great performance, perfectly interpreting his role of a former spy. As he says in one of his lines, he's "retired, but not dead", having an opportunity to show everyone what he knows to do best.
The movie covers a hot topic too, kidnapping young women to force them to prostitute, and all the business this involves. You get to see the kind of people are supporting these arrangements and what it takes for the victims to be there.
Of course, the movie has (very small, almost invisible) drawbacks, like some lines in a wrong language (english instead of french) and some Rambo - stuff, but the overall impression is simple: a strong recommendation!
Box Office
Budget:
$25,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
£1,165,986 (UK) (26 September 2008)Gross:
$145,000,989 (USA) (3 July 2009)Disturbia
 |
1,766
Disturbia (2007)
6.9
Ratings: 6.9/10 from 181,092 users Metascore: 62/100
Reviews: 487 user | 251 critic | 28 from Metacritic.com
A teen living under house arrest becomes convinced his neighbor is a serial killer.
Director:D.J. Caruso |
Reviews and box office details:
277 out of 412 people found the following review useful:
Author: theshadow908 from London, Ontario
15 April 2007
Best thriller I've seen in a while.
Author: theshadow908 from London, Ontario
15 April 2007
Disturbia tells the story of a teenage boy named Kale who is sentenced to three months house arrest after punching a teacher in the face for making a comment about his recently deceased father. When his mother takes away his TV and his computer, he resorts to spying on the houses surrounding him. Things begin to get frightening when he begins to suspect one of his neighbours is a serial killer. He gets his friends involved with his impromptu investigation, and soon the neighbour realizes he's being watched...And he's not too happy about it. Disturbia is loosely based off the 1954 Alfred Hitchcock classic Rear Window, but it is still a film all in itself, and it is the best thriller I've seen in a while.
What makes this movie better than most horror movies that are released today is that is doesn't rely on excessive gore and gross out tactics to frighten you. It relies on mood and suspense, and that works so much better. As the film went on, the tension got so high that I was literally on the edge of my seat rubbing my hands together because I was so anxious to see what was going to happen next. I actually felt the adrenaline rush that the characters in the film must have been feeling when they were snooping around in the neighbour's garage. The movie has a realistic feel of how creepy it would be to have a serial killer living across the street from you and you had no way to prove it. Everything in this movie is done well. The writing, the directing, the way it all pans out. I was actually shocked when I left the theatre over how good this movie really was.
The acting was very good from everybody involved. Shia LaBeouf has come a long way from Even Stevens. Something tells me that he has a nice career ahead of him. David Morse is perfectly sinister as the neighbour. He's just one of those actors that you might not know who he is to hear his name, but he pops up here and there and you always say, "Cool, it's that guy." Overall, this was an amazing thriller, and I'm glad I went to see it because I really wasn't expecting that much. It leads me to wonder why Hollywood continues to pump out absolute garbage like the Saw trilogy, Hostel, and Dead Silence when they could be making movies like this instead.
8/10
What makes this movie better than most horror movies that are released today is that is doesn't rely on excessive gore and gross out tactics to frighten you. It relies on mood and suspense, and that works so much better. As the film went on, the tension got so high that I was literally on the edge of my seat rubbing my hands together because I was so anxious to see what was going to happen next. I actually felt the adrenaline rush that the characters in the film must have been feeling when they were snooping around in the neighbour's garage. The movie has a realistic feel of how creepy it would be to have a serial killer living across the street from you and you had no way to prove it. Everything in this movie is done well. The writing, the directing, the way it all pans out. I was actually shocked when I left the theatre over how good this movie really was.
The acting was very good from everybody involved. Shia LaBeouf has come a long way from Even Stevens. Something tells me that he has a nice career ahead of him. David Morse is perfectly sinister as the neighbour. He's just one of those actors that you might not know who he is to hear his name, but he pops up here and there and you always say, "Cool, it's that guy." Overall, this was an amazing thriller, and I'm glad I went to see it because I really wasn't expecting that much. It leads me to wonder why Hollywood continues to pump out absolute garbage like the Saw trilogy, Hostel, and Dead Silence when they could be making movies like this instead.
8/10
222 out of 320 people found the following review useful:
Author: Dave (freaky_dave) from United States
15 April 2007
A Terrific PG13 Horror thriller
Author: Dave (freaky_dave) from United States
15 April 2007
Disturbia is one of the best PG13 thrillers that I've seen in a long time. After all the other rated PG13 thrillers that have come out in the past six years or so, DJ Caruso, who directed, proves that it has always been possible to make a good suspenseful thriller these days without all the gore.
Shia Labeouf plays Kale Brecht. After witnessing the death of his father in a car accident, he becomes sullen and withdrawn. This leads to him being put under house arrest after he punches out an unsympathetic teacher. Imprisoned in his own house, and unable to go beyond 100 yards, he finds himself turning into a peeping tom and spying on all the neighbors. One of them is the attractive new girl in town named Ashley (Sarah Roemer) and another may be a killer named Mr. Turner (David Morse). With the help of the new girl Ashley, his friend Ronnie (a great comedic turn by Aaron Yoo), Kale goes about investigating Mr. Turner to see if he is the killer or not. The three teenagers use cell phones and the internet as well as video cameras in the investigation, and DJ Caruso shows some of his sly wit by using these same devices in the film to not only investigate the spooky neighbor, but also to create some humor to go along with everything else.
The plot is a familiar one. That would be because the great Alfred Hitchcock used it first with his famous suspense thriller Rear Window. Yes Disturbia is a blatant rip-off of that movie, but it is done with skill, and the acting by all, including Carrie Anne Moss as Kale's mother, was very good. All the characters are likable, and David Morse's turn as the creepy Mr. Turner was well done as well.
Disturbia may not be a great movie, but it is definitely one of the best PG13 thrillers in years. It outshines such horror thrillers as Cursed and Pulse, as well as the recent horror thriller The Messengers. Disturbia also once again proves that you don't need a bunch of gore to make an effective horror thriller. Horror directors take note.
Shia Labeouf plays Kale Brecht. After witnessing the death of his father in a car accident, he becomes sullen and withdrawn. This leads to him being put under house arrest after he punches out an unsympathetic teacher. Imprisoned in his own house, and unable to go beyond 100 yards, he finds himself turning into a peeping tom and spying on all the neighbors. One of them is the attractive new girl in town named Ashley (Sarah Roemer) and another may be a killer named Mr. Turner (David Morse). With the help of the new girl Ashley, his friend Ronnie (a great comedic turn by Aaron Yoo), Kale goes about investigating Mr. Turner to see if he is the killer or not. The three teenagers use cell phones and the internet as well as video cameras in the investigation, and DJ Caruso shows some of his sly wit by using these same devices in the film to not only investigate the spooky neighbor, but also to create some humor to go along with everything else.
The plot is a familiar one. That would be because the great Alfred Hitchcock used it first with his famous suspense thriller Rear Window. Yes Disturbia is a blatant rip-off of that movie, but it is done with skill, and the acting by all, including Carrie Anne Moss as Kale's mother, was very good. All the characters are likable, and David Morse's turn as the creepy Mr. Turner was well done as well.
Disturbia may not be a great movie, but it is definitely one of the best PG13 thrillers in years. It outshines such horror thrillers as Cursed and Pulse, as well as the recent horror thriller The Messengers. Disturbia also once again proves that you don't need a bunch of gore to make an effective horror thriller. Horror directors take note.
Box Office
Budget:
$20,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$22,224,982 (USA) (13 April 2007)Gross:
£1,670,870 (UK) (28 September 2007)
2006 Japanese detective supernatural psychological thriller film based on the Death Notemanga (and later anime) series by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. It was followed by Death Note 2: The Last Name, released in the same year. The films primarily center on a university student who decides to rid the world of evil with the help of a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. The two films were directed by Shūsuke Kaneko, produced by Nippon Television, and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures Japan. The film was licensed by VIZ Pictures, Warner Bros..
| Box office | Budget: $32 million US$147.3 million (Japan) US$110.2 million (United States) |
|---|
These films in a way are similar to my short film idea. By looking at the box office figures and reviews, i can see if my short film will be as successful.
Online platforms for distribution and short film festival
Film festivals:
Film festivals: Raindance: Raindance showcases features, shorts and music videos by filmmakers from the UK and around the world celebrating and supporting independent, new and alternative filmmakers not just during our 12 day festival but throughout the year.
London Short Film Festival(LSFF): The London Short film festival, now in its 13th year, has been recognised as the premiere UK showcase for cutting-edge UK independent film, while now accepting international submissions.Renowned for daring cross-arts programming, we have showcased the very best of the country’s raw talent for 12 years. The London Short Film Festival is a Mecca for the UK’s young creative talent and a significant date in the UK film calender.Every year the Festival’s large and loyal audience flock to screenings and events, and this network has grown steadily over decade and beyond.
Encounters film festival: Encounters is the UK’s leading short film and animation festival.
The festival discovers, supports and develops new talent in filmmaking, providing a platform for emerging and established filmmakers from around the world, and a unique meeting place for the industry.Encounters Festival presents one of the world’s leading International Competitions for short film and animation, and is also an official gateway to the world’s most prestigious awards; BAFTAs, European Film Awards and Cartoon d’Or and a qualifying festival for the The Academy Awards®.
Each year the Encounters Festival Grand Prix winners qualify for consideration in the Short Films category of the Annual Academy Awards®.
Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF): The BAFTA Qualifying Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) is a celebration of independent short film from around the world. It supports emerging and established filmmakers by giving them a platform to showcase their work. Films screened at the festival are also eligible to enter the BAFTA British Short Film and Animation Awards.
ASFF 2016 will run from 3 to 6 November in York, UK. The festival takes place in 15 distinct locations, transforming the city into a dynamic multi-venue cinema. It invites you to explore a range of genres: advertising, animation, artists’ film, comedy, dance, documentary, drama, experimental, fashion, music video and thriller, plus guest programmes.Some of the world’s most acclaimed talents offer masterclasses on directing, editing, cinematography, branded content and journalism, with previous speakers from Association of Camera Operators (Star Wars, Gravity, James Bond), Rankin Film, Channel 4 and Oscar and BAFTA Award Winning VFX Giant Framestore among others.
Netflix: Netflix is the world’s leading Internet television network with over 70 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of TV shows and movies per day, including original series, documentaries and feature films. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on nearly any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.
Amazon Prime: Prime members can watch thousands of movies and TV shows
with Prime Video, listen ad-free to hundreds of hand-built playlists and access
over a million songs with Prime Music. Safely store an unlimited amount of
photos or get 30 minute early access to Lightning Deals and of course enjoy
unlimited One-Day Delivery on millions of items.
Hulu: Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of the best television programming and movies to subscribers.Watch current episodes, full seasons, Hulu original films and hit movies all in one place.
Youtube: Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.
My short film will be an independent film. therefore the platform for distribution i choose, must be suitable for independent short films. The platform for distribution must also distribute short films as well as feature films. I have decided that i will distribute my short film on an online platform. Because i have chosen to distribute my short film on an online platform, i will need to consider the way that my film will be rated. The BBFC can not regulate films that are streamed and watched on online platforms. This is because the films on these platforms are being streamed worldwide and not exclusively in the UK. However online platforms such as Netflix and Crackle have been persuaded by the BBFC to submit films for age classification. Because of this agreement between the BBFC and Netflix, It would make sense for a short film to be distributed on Netflix. Youtube also is not regulated by the BBFC. The BBFC does not have the power to regulate short films on youtube, this is because, like Netflix, Youtube is an online platform used worldwide. The Target audience for short films on youtube are generally university students and adults.
Hulu: Hulu is a premium streaming TV destination that offers hundreds of thousands of hours of the best of the best television programming and movies to subscribers.Watch current episodes, full seasons, Hulu original films and hit movies all in one place.
Youtube: Launched in May 2005, YouTube allows billions of people to discover, watch and share originally-created videos. YouTube provides a forum for people to connect, inform and inspire others across the globe and acts as a distribution platform for original content creators and advertisers large and small.
BBFC has persuasion job over online ratings
Online-only shows, such as Netflix's House of Cards, are not legally covered by BBFC ratings so the organisation is on a mission to persuade.
|
|
|
|
|
|
7:41AM GMT 14 Mar 2013
3 Comments
"That is the family silver for us," said Mark Dawson, chief digital officer for the British Board of Film Classification, as he discussed the way the organisation's ratings logos - 18, PG, U - have embedded themselves in public consciousness.
Everyone knows what the ratings mean, and according to the BBFC's research at least, almost everyone agrees with its assessment of what it is appropriate for young people to watch.
"We just implement the guidelines, which are set by public consultation," said Mr Dawson.
In cinemas and shops, the judgment of the BBFC's classifiers is protected by law. The 1984 Video Recordings Act and insists that it gives an age rating to all commercially distributed films.
At the time this meant cinema and video, and because of the way the law was written, it still does. The MPs of 1984, stirred by the "video nasty" furore, legislated without the benefit of technological clairvoyance. Their definitions were broad enough to cover DVDs or even films loaded on USB sticks, but not a world where digital downloads from iTunes, or streaming from Netflix or Amazon's LoveFilm are rapidly usurping "packaged media".
ADVERTISING
Mr Dawson's task is to make sure the BBFC's family silver maintains its value as the film industry migrates online.
Without statutory backup, his is a job of persuasion. He must persuade film companies and the big digital retailers and services to pay for their creations to be classified for online consumption (as well as cinema and DVD) and to show the BBFC rating and incorporate it into login controls so parents maintain their trust in the system.
Progress has been made. Some 250,000 films have now been been classified for online consumption and major players such as BT Vision and Netflix are using the ratings.
The BBFC is particularly pleased that Netflix submitted its hit Washington-based remake of House of Cards for classification. Made for the internet, and released as 13 episodes simultaneously last month, it was widely seen as the start of an important trend in entertainment. The BBFC gave all the episodes a 15 rating, except one, which featured a graphic suicide and got an 18.
"We're not about censorship and haven't been for a long time," said Mr Dawson. "We're about giving people the information they need."
Netflix will surely test that claim later this year when it debuts Hemlock Grove, another exclusive, created by Eli Roth. The director is best known as the founder of the "torture porn" genre with his sadistic 2006 horror film Hostel. Subsequent imitators 2009's Grotesque and 2011's Human Centipede 2, were both refused any classification.
Theoretically, if Netflix's adventure in original content produce something so distasteful the BBFC does not award a classification, it could simply go ahead and distribute it anyway.
"If self regulation doesn't work then there is the possibility of new legislation," said Mr Dawson, "it would take changing two words in the law."
He strongly emphasises, however, that the BBFC is not seeking and would not seek new powers to regulate internet firms and that the government supports its attempt to bring the online industry on board voluntarily.
To prove it can work, the BBFC needs to persuade Apple and Amazon, the dominant forces in internet film distribution, to use respect and display its ratings.
Film regulation/certification
BBFC
Films for theatrical release are normally classified by at least two Examiners using the published Guidelines. In most cases the decision is ratified by a Senior Examiner, but if the Examiners are in any doubt or fail to agree, or if important policy issues are involved, the work may be seen by other members of the Board up to, and including, the Director and Presidential team. Occasionally it is necessary to take specialist advice about the legal acceptability of film content or its potential for harm. DVDs are normally seen by one Examiner, particularly when they are viewing the DVD version of a cinema film which has already been classified. However, opinions from other Examiners may be required for more difficult works.
Examiners look at issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, sexual violence, theme and violence when making decisions. They also consider context, the tone and impact of a work (eg how it makes the audience feel) and even the release format (for example, as DVDs are watched in the home, there is a higher risk of underage viewing).
All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current views on film, DVD and video game regulation.
What does the 15 symbol mean?
No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 film at the cinema or buy/rent a 15 rated video. 15 rated works are not suitable for children under 15 years of age.
Are there any limits on what sort of theme a work can have at 15?
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.What might I see in a 15 rated film or video?
Any of the following:- strong violence
- frequent strong language (e.g. 'f***').
- portrayals of sexual activity
- strong verbal references to sex
- sexual nudity
- brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence
- discriminatory language or behaviour
- drug taking
Funding
Kickstarter: Kickstarter helps artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers, and other creators find the resources and support they need to make their ideas a reality. To date, tens of thousands of creative projects — big and small — have come to life with the support of the Kickstarter community. Kickstarter is an enormous global community built around creativity and creative projects. Over 10 million people, from every continent on earth, have backed a Kickstarter project.
Some of those projects come from influential artists like De
La Soul or Marina Abramović. Most come from amazing creative people you
probably haven’t heard of — from Grandma Pearl to indie filmmakers to the band
down the street.
Every artist, filmmaker, designer, developer, and creator on
Kickstarter has complete creative control over their work — and the opportunity
to share it with a vibrant community of backers.
The way that kickstarter works is simple. People can look at other peoples projects, if they like the project, they can pledge money to make it happen. If the project succeeds in reaching its funding goal, all pledgers are charged. If the project does not reach it's goal,no one is charged. This information is particularly useful because it allows me to understand how kickstarter works.
Budgeting
What Makes a Good Short?
There are no hard-and-fast rules as to what makes a good short film but here are a few tips that might help.
- An Exciting & Original Idea
- A Strong Script
- Good Acting
- High Production Values
- Make It Short
- Strong Beginning
- Avoid Repetition & Punchline Twists
- Exciting New Techniques & Style
- Other Resources
- Related Guides
- Help us improve the Filmmaking Guide
Research Log
Description
of research and research source (publisher, author or web address)
|
Purpose
of research
|
Box office details and reviews of films
Taken:
Distrubia:
Deathnote:
|
I
used IMDB as part of my research to find out about box office details for
different films. This was so I could compare them to my short film budget and
ideas. I found this website particularly useful. This was because I was able
to see how successful a film of my preferred genre would be.
|
Film festivals
Raindance
festival:
London
Short Film Festival:
Platforms for distribution
Netflix:
Amazon
prime: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/prime/pipeline/landing/
Hulu:
|
The purpose of using these sources was to find out more information about film festivals. These sources were somewhat useful because i was able to learn how film festivals are set up.
|
Funding
Kickstarter:
|
to find out about funding via kickstarter.
|
Film regulation/certification
BBFC:
|
i used these sources to fully understand film regulaions and certifications in the uk. These articles were really useful.
|
Budgeting
|
|
Guidance/criteria for writing for a
successful short film
BBC
|
Guidance and advice on how to create a successful shot film.
|
