"... I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."
How can I ever forget such a troubling line spewed out by an angry father trying to negotiate the release of his abducted daughter? Before watching Taken I hadn't seen a lot of Liam Neeson's movies. But after seeing the 2008 blockbuster, I look out for every movie he acted in, from the Taken franchise to Battleship and the others. I became his fan.
Brian Mills was a retired CIA operative trying to enjoy some tranquility after a long career as a field agent, only for an unlucky dude to abduct his daughter and her friend. This led to Mills going all out to get back the only person that mattered to him-his daughter. Mills' skill set was crucial to getting back his daughter from the abductors. Firstly, he is a master at tracking and surveillance, with his ability to stay one step ahead of the game proving very crucial.
Mills is very unorthodox and unpredictable, making him very hard to track or notice. A master tracker will know how to cover his tracks and use that to his advantage. Also, Mills is adaptable and always thinks outside the box. In a combat situation, he can improvise and use anything around him as a weapon. This means you won't even know he's coming until he hits you like a thunderstorm.
Is it possible to talk about a rescue mission without talking about Tyler Rake? I mean, the guy's major work is all about extracting people from hostile territories and getting them home safe. He was so good at his job that his ex-wife had to look up to him for help. One of Rake's most significant attributes is the ability to improvise and adapt to rapidly changing situations. When kidnapping happens, there are lots of variables that must be considered. Those variables doesn't derail Rake. They make him stronger.
Other skills that make Rake a good candidate for the job include strategic thinking, exceptional proficiency with firearms, mastery of various martial arts styles, an expert driver, and a skilled swimmer. And, oh, he's a military tactician, which means he's vastly experienced in evaluating situations and determining the best course of action. Such skills are vital in abduction cases where eccentric and volatile abductors are involved.
Lastly, is John Wick a villain? I am struggling to place Jardani on the hero vs villain table. Agreed, he's more of an executioner than a saviour, but the fact that he can find anyone that needed to be found makes him a strong candidate. Also, his plethora of skills, which include hand-to-hand combat, martial arts, proficiency in the use of knives, handguns and rifles, and his fiercely independent nature cannot be overlooked. John Wick is that one person you don't want coming after you.
Choosing one of the three fictional characters above for a rescue mission is relative. John Wick is fierce and has a strong sense of justice and morality. I mean, he whacked a lot of people just to avenge his dog that was cruelly murdered. Even at that, he can't cleanse the world of all that is wrong with it. Bryan Mills went nuclear only because his precious daughter was abducted. I doubt if he would've gone ballistic as he did if the abducted person was his daughter's friend. So, his loyalty lies with protecting the things he loves.
The character I'll choose to get me out of the kidnapper's den will be none other than the freakishly dominant Tyler Rake. He is a machine for hire and always completes his mission even at the detriment of his well-being. Also, this is exactly what he does and has mastered every aspect of the kidnapping process. He's learnt how to play whatever card he might be dealt with in the course of his rescue mission. That's the guy, for me.
