I finally used my free ticket to TAKEN 2. For those of you not familiar with Liam Neeson’s retired CIA agent, Bryan Mills, he’s a dedicated agent who finds himself divorced from his beautiful wife (Famke Janssen) and estranged from his teenage daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace). In TAKEN, Kim is kidnapped in Paris and Neeson uses his spy skills to track down her kidnappers. TAKEN 2 follows the same template. Neeson, his ex-wife, and Kim take a family vacation in Istanbul (yikes!). And, sure enough, the father of one of the Bad Guys Neeson killed in TAKEN, wants revenge so he and his gang kidnap Neeson and his ex-wife (Kim manages to avoid capture). Yes, Neeson escapes (shocking!) and goes on a killing spree. I imagine that TAKEN 3 will center around Kim and her husband getting kidnapped after their wedding. Mildly entertaining. GRADE: C+
I wondered about this one. Certainly enjoyed the fist go-round. Sounds like they followed the same tired template, the same but different.
And don’t forget, Randy, with the free ticket, the price was right!
I am surprised at the trajectory his career has taken. After Schindler’s List…I guess the money is good but as a rather wooden actor, he now has no chance to extend his range.
The number of movies Hollywood makes keeps shrinking each year, Patti. I suspect Neeson is just trying to keep working.
TAKEN 2 was taken in over 130 million dollars domestically, so I guess the formula works George, you’re probably right about a third film.
Last thing I saw Neeson in was THE GREY, a fairly entertaining man vs. wolf flick.
TAKEN 2 was okay, Drongo. Nothing to write home about, but Neeson is a compelling figure on the screen.
We liked the first one but as with so much in Hollywood this just looks like a rehash. We’ll wait for the DVD or cable showing.
I did like Neeson in LOVE ACTUALLY playing against the type he’s fallen into in recent years.
If I hadn’t had a free ticket to TAKEN 2, I would have waited for it to show up on cable, Jeff. There’s no urgency to see this movie. LOVE ACTUALLY is one of my favorite romantic comedies! Love the soundtrack, too!
It’s a classic formula so it’s easy to see why it gets wheeled out for a spin so regularly – personally I thought UNKNOWN was more fun (but then I love amnesia stories) – Neeson has been remarkably prolific of late, averaging 3 to film film appearances a year, which probably also tells its own story …
I liked UNKNOWN, too, Sergio. Neeson might be a bit wooden, but he certainly has Screen Presence.