No More Action Movies For Liam Neeson?

[Mitch Henessey]

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/liam-neeson-action-movies/story?id=29512987

There's a chance Neeson had a spur-of-the-moment reaction here. After all, if I remember correctly, a while ago Neeson said he was done with the Taken series, but after another successful run at the box office for Taken 3, Neeson said he was open to doing a fourth film.

Still, it wouldn't surprise me, if Neeson is serious about throwing in the towel with action films. More recently, Run All Night was not a bad film, but the movie featured the usual Neeson action routine, where he risks everything to save his family.

Neeson consistently delivers in his action flicks, but he's 62, so maybe he's at a point in his life, where he realizes the window is starting close. I have to believe Neeson considered a short shelf life during his action streak. He's still in good shape for a man of his age, but as Neeson inches closer to 65 and 70, you're running into some believability problems for Neeson portraying a lethal and unstoppable killing machine.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think Neeson's pretty underrated when it comes to his work in action films partially because he just doesn't fit with the stereotypical views many have for actors in such roles, he's not all jacked up or uses quippy one-liners or any of that other stuff and always struck me as more of a thinking man's action star. He's well known for taking on the titular role of Oscar Schindler in the film Schindler's List, his portrayal of controversial biologist/sexologist Alfred Kinsey in the biopic Kinsey or Scottish folk hero Rob Roy MacGregor in the film Rob Roy.

He's worth about $75 million, he's won or been nominated for a number of prestigious industry awards, he's established himself as a presence in some major franchises like Star Wars & The Chronicles of Narnia, movie goers have really enjoyed the Taken film series, etc. The guy's a versatile actor and he's proven that over the course of the past 20 years or so in particular, so he'll have no trouble finding work when he wants it and an audience to watch said work.

When actors reach a certain age, I personally think it's kind of ridiculous to see them in action movies, though it can depend upon how over the top the role is. For instance, we've seen Stallone & Schwarzenegger playing the sort of roles that they were known for 30-35 years ago; Schwarzenegger turns 68 about the end of July whereas Stallone will turn 69 in the first week of July. Harrison Ford, a great and pretty underrated actor in my opinion, is another good example as it's just so hard to picture a 72 year old man playing the lead in an action film. I know that it's just make believe and all that but it's just too tongue in cheek for me. Seeing actors step into roles designed for much younger men to portray often strikes me as enticing as hearing 71 year old Mick Jagger today singing about "Brown Sugar" and asking how come she tastes so good.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

I'm surprised if he has actually decided not to continue with action movies, as that genre has certainly dominated his career for the last decade or so, and he consistently delivers in the lead role in that type of film. I didn't realise Neeson was 62, hes certainly in excellent shape for a man his age and I haven't yet thought of him being unbelievable in a role he's been cast in. I thought he was excellent in "A Walk Among The Tombstones".

But dear god, end the Taken series now. The 3rd one was absolutely awful, I was shocked at how little I enjoyed it, having been a big fan of the first film. However, if it's been another box office success then it seems highly likely they'll do another one (although what else is there left to take, except his dignity?!), as at the end of the day it's all about making the almightly $$$$$.