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Taken 2 (2012)

Rate: 5
Viewed: 11/21

Taken2
11/21: In many ways, Taken 2 is a remake of the original with the same story, same structure, and same results.

This time, the wife is kidnapped, but who cares about her? Ditto for the daughter. They've become more unlikeable and detached this time around. Liam Neeson is okay but goes through the motions. The funniest thing is that the bad guys are supposed to be Albanians but only one is actually so.

The first film was relentless, entertaining, and somewhat original, but Taken 2 is mechanical and formulaic. It doesn't help when the head honcho is played by Rade Šerbedžija. Didn't he do this before in The Saint? Predictably, his character would be defeated because he's weak.

What bothers me a lot is the hand-to-hand fight between Bryan Mills and Suko in the bathhouse. Who fights like that in real life? They've become common in films released the past two decades. Show me an example that isn't pre-choreographed.

Oh yes, let's not forget to mention the incredible record-breaking long jump by the daughter. What's that...forty feet in the air? It'll take about 30 MPH to accomplish it, and the daughter has that much leg muscle in her? By the way, nobody has broken the world record in long jump since 1991 when Mike Powell did it in Tokyo which was about eight inches shy of 30 feet.

All in all, effortlessly putting Istanbul in a bad light, Taken 2 is average.