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View Full Version : 'Taken' proves Spielberg is the mastermind behind those UFO abductions


John Corn
11-29-02, 06:26 AM
Steven Spielberg would have to be the ringleader. After all, Spielberg planted the seeds of modern UFO obsession with 1977's Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which he quickly followed up with E.T. (1982). And now it appears that Spielberg was just getting warmed up. This Dec. 2, the Sci Fi Channel will air the first installment of Taken, a 10-part fictional miniseries about alien abductions, for which Spielberg served as executive producer.

A 20-hour epic, Taken blends all the staples of our modern UFO mythology into a multigenerational tale of three families torn apart—and brought together—by aliens and the government's ruthless quest to understand them. In the first generation, Air Force pilot Russell Keys and his crew are saved by flashing blue lights after their plane is shot down over France in World War II; Army intelligence officer Owen Crawford investigates a crash at Roswell, N.M.; and Lubbock, Texas, waitress Sally Clarke is seduced and impregnated by a charming stranger who appears one night, wounded, in her barn. Two generations later, Keys' grandson Charlie and Clarke's granddaughter Lisa struggle to protect their gifted part-alien daughter, Allie, from Crawford's granddaughter Mary, who also works for the military. The final conflagration reveals nothing less than the UFOs' true intentions for humanity.

Full Story (http://slate.msn.com/?id=2074656&device=)

Ryan
12-03-02, 01:29 PM
So anybody watch the first ep? The Washington Post gives the series a good review ('Taken' grabs you and won't let go (http://msnbc.com/news/842101.asp?0dm=L17ML)).

I've recorded the first two episodes and I'm trying to decide if I should commit 20 hours (well, probably more like 18 once I skip commercials, credits, etc) to it.

bogi
12-03-02, 03:33 PM
I watched it and it was very very good(Unlike Spielberg's last films). He should stick to Sci Fi. The first episode was very interesting I am recording tonights episode.

JMikeF
12-11-02, 11:34 AM
I don't know quite how I feel about Taken. It has some of the most despicable, selfish and evil characters ever. Maybe there is a point showing how humans can treat each other so brutishly, but I don't get it yet. Don'tja just love Owen Crawford and his brood...

Also, the pacing is very uneven - long drawn out scenes that go nowhere, and then - WAM: Mary Crawford is sleeping with the way icky Chet Wakeman (I almost blew my lunch over their bedroom scene). Maybe it will all come together, but I doubt I'll ultimately care.

Frankly, I'm disappointed. Sci-Fi did such a terrific job with DUNE. I expected more....

jeffr
12-11-02, 12:15 PM
I think its pretty good. Certainly better then a lot of stuff on TV lately.

Only thing that is starting to annoy me are all the "Steven Spielberg presents Taken....." promo's. It is on pretty much all night so I don't see a lot of benefit to running three consecutive promo's between the back to back episodes.

JMikeF
12-12-02, 07:23 AM
Oh, and some of the upcoming shows for next year look like rejects from Fox - not a good sign!