Taken 2

20th Century Fox/Europa

Back in 2008, there was a film called Taken, which did “take” a lot of money home from the box office. (See what I did there? The word “take”?) Then in 2012, the same producers decided they wanted to “take” more of our money, so they released a sequel, creatively entitled Taken 2. (See, I used “take” again. Never mind.)

20th Century Fox/Europa

"I see what you did there, and I don't like it."

Taken

And who thought Liam Neeson couldn't carry an action flick...

Taken isn't your run-of-the-mill action movie. Well, of course, there are similarities with the typical spy-action thrillers like the Bourne franchise. For one thing, it's set in Europe. Somehow, the best spy chases are always set in Europe. And then there's fight scenes, car chases, and more fight scenes.

What makes Taken different from the rest of them is Liam Neeson. Yes, he is actually director Pierre Morel's secret weapon, as the fight scenes in this movie are actually more realistic because of Mr. Neeson. Let me put it this way: the fight scenes in this film are more...brutal. You have Liam just giving one of the villains a chop in the windpipe, another a twist on the neck. In short, his fighting arsenal is composed of the same moves a retired spy actually has. And only a personal search for a kidnapped daughter will actually draw a spy out of retirement.

Liam Neeson gives a really great physical performance, and for those of you who thought he was growing old, you thought wrong. Mr. Neeson is as fit as a Jedi master. Famke Janssen, on the other hand, does nothing more than grace the screen with her pretty face. And she is noticeably older than we remember her from her Jean Grey days.

From a simple plot to complicated action sequences, master storyteller Luc Besson does it again (the screenplay was co-written with Robert Mark Kamen). Taken is sure to keep Besson fans entertained, as well as eagerly anticipating what movie he has next up his sleeve.


Taken. France. 2008.

Rating: Seven out of ten.