What attracted me to the first Taken (2008) film–funnily enough for an action film–is that the story revolved around real issues, the (tragic) contemporary trafficking of humans sold into slavery and prostitution.

However, action films often have an issue somewhere in there, but trafficking is a subject that is rarely raised at the movies and never examined in real depth.The issue isn’t there as food for thought in Taken, but works as a functional device for an action story.

CIA operative Bryan Mills fights his way to rescue his kidnapped daughter, leading him to Albania.

It is a shame and tragedy for a father to endure, and without Bryan’s ‘special skills’, there is not a potential salvaging of her life.

Hard to believe. Mills dispenses with traffickers with absolute conviction and vengeance, but which for an action film is par for the course and sets up a sequel that was released in 2012.

Trafficking is a major problem. Eradicating it through Mills’ methods is bound to make people working for justice squirm, but maybe understand.

I became aware of the issue a few years earlier so could put a finger on it. Based on that reason, I gave the film a 4-star rating in 2009 (as well as enjoying Liam Neeson in the lead).

But looking even closer the film is empty when it comes to seriously tackling the issue.

The Albanian perpetrators are living in poverty that appears to give them a reason for their trafficking of individuals. Inexcusable of course, but in terms of dealing with their issues, they are merely targets for Mills’ fists.

The Albanian perpetrators are not identifiable as human, their actions the whole of the person. Their behavior is never addressed. They are just punished.

We can’t go any deeper. Taken was an action movie with a charismatic star who carried the film, but letting us down when the issue is present (causing me to praise it in 2009) but swept under the carpet.