Movie: Taken 2
Director: Oliver Megaton
Cast: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace
Rating: **1/2
In a scene in Taken 2, Kim asks Bryan, what are you going to do now? He says what I always do best! At this juncture, you’re thrown into a dilemma whether what is about to unfold will be exciting or a boring replay of action sequences from the 2008 blockbuster ‘Taken’. Undoubtedly, Oliver Megaton-directed ‘Taken 2’ is not the best follow up to the predecessor, but that doesn’t stop Liam, 60 now, to engage the audience in the best way possible.
Little did retired CIA operative Bryan Mills anticipate that his impromptu family vacation, which appears to be his desperate shot to woo his wife all over again, will go haywire when members from the families he killed in Albania while rescuing his kidnapped daughter, are hatching a plan to avenge the death of their sons and brothers. Now, it’s up to Mills to take care of his family, and how he does it forms the rest of the story.
The reason ‘Taken’ clicked and was well received by the audience is because they witnessed an adrenaline-pumping action film starring Liam, 56 then, in a role even Sylvester Stallone or Jean-Claude Van Damme will completely envy. Nevertheless, the makers, in collaboration with writer Luc Besson again, produce the sequel that fails to excite even half as much as the first part.
With the third installment already been announced, ‘Taken 2’ will barely be remembered unlike the first part, which still excites most of us whenever it becomes a topic of discussion. Much before even people in the film are held captive, this sequel presents moments of boredom as no time was spent on introducing the characters or even builds sub-plots. Moreover, this film is confined to narrow streets of Istanbul, unlike several cities and location that were covered in the first part.
Besson and Oliver reintroduce a killing machine with a purpose a la characters Jason Statham in ‘Transporter’ or Jean Reno in ‘Leon: The Professional’.
Liam, needless to say, is the star of the film. He shows the potential of a true action hero even at an age, most of us think he’s too old. Bryan Mills is most definitely one of the best CIA agents anyone could’ve ever created if it was not for Luc Besson. The best quality you may find in him and wish you had it in you too, is his ability to stay aplomb and handle all situations with conviction.
