Taken 2 (2012)

Title: Taken 2

Series: Taken

Director: Olivier Megaton

Starring: Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, and Maggie Grace

Rated: Unrated ('cause why watch the PG-13 version?)

Released: 2012

Personal Rating: 5/5

Oscars: N/A

Plot: In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Bryan Mills' Motives Compared to the First One
One of the differences with Taken 2 compared to the first Taken is that the first one was very much focused on the deep bonds between father and daughter. In Taken 2 Mills is still very protective/caring of Kim (and why wouldn't he be, he nearly lost her in the first movie), but his love for his ex-wife Lenore (who has broken up with her second husband) is also shown. While in the first movie the capture and rescue of Kim was deeply moving, I didn't feel the same way about Lenore's. I think it might've been because her second husband being dropped was too contrived for me (the only explanation in the movie given for their separation is that they were "growing apart"). However, this doesn't mean the scenes of her in distress weren't tense. Though they didn't move me enough to make me care if she lived or die (though that's more due to me not ever really caring about the character).

A Little Bit of Complexity
I feel the bad guys in this movie are a little complex (not a lot, but a little). Murad Krasniqi is seeking revenge on the murderer of his son (and also the sons of those he knew). This would make Murad a hero if it wasn't for the fact that the sons were in the Sex Trade and in the way of Bryan Mills rescuing his daughter Kim (who was going to be sold as a sex slave). So you get a confliction of good intentions. Bryan's good intentions in this movie are keeping his ex-wife (though they'll probably be married if there is a sequel) and daughter safe. Yeah, he keeps himself alive but it seems more so that he can keep the ones he loves alive. Some might have found it stupid when he gave Murad a choice to live or die (that's the short version of the scene). I found it pretty smart since Bryan found it better to let Murad live to see his own sons (since Bryan himself has a daughter and understands the bonds that form) and so Bryan wouldn't have to worry about getting abducted (as well as any of his family) again.

Kim's Expanded Role
Kim's role in the first movie was damsel in distress. It was nice to see her being something else in this movie (though she was still not a very useful character, unless you want to blow random shit up) and even forced her father into letting her help. revrezner thought it stupid that Kim wasn't more afraid of being captured again. But I had to point out that the movie was going with the "I want to be normal" cliche instead.

Final Thoughts
This movie was not as good as the first. However, it was still awesome and should've been longer (both revrezner and myself thought it ended a little too early). This movie followed up on the first with showing us how the characters we knew were doing now (which is always good to do). Liam Neeson does another great performance as Bryan Mills (Famke Janssen, Lenore, was lucky to get to really kiss him hard in one scene). If they make a Taken 3 I will see it. Hey, maybe Jamie will turn out to be a bad guy and threaten Kim's life. I'm sure Bryan will be more than happy to take him down.