Oscar nominee Liam Neeson returns as retired CIA operative Brian Mills in “Taken 2.” It takes place at about a year or year and a half after the first film. This time, the family of the villains in the first film are after not only Kim (Maggie Grace), but Mills and his ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) – lead by the ruthless Murad Krasniqi (Rade Serbedzija, “Snatch”). While Mills and his family are on a trip in Istanbul, Mills and Lenore are taken – leaving Kim to aide in the rescuing of her parents.
“Taken 2” is pretty much everything you might expect it to be, which can be seen as awesome or disappointing. It is not a filler sequel for a third to make a trilogy, co-writer Luc Besson and Neeson both have confirmed this will be the last one. Besson delivers the best in action films, making “Taken 2” no different. It is entertaining and worth seeing as long as you’re always okay with seeing Liam Neeson “do what he does best.”
Jon Gries and Leland Orser also reprise their roles as two of Mills’ buddies Casey and Sam, respectively. The film is directed by former graffiti artist Olivier Megaton, whose films include “Transporter 3” and “Colombiana” – he’s certainly no stranger to the action genre. The film sets itself up for continuous action – car chasing, shoot ’em up perfection.
“Taken 2” is now playing in theaters everywhere.
