MFields Review: Taken 2

Rating: 8/10 (5 October 2012)

I was really excited about just the idea of making Taken 2 that I couldn't wait for some kind of info about the movie. I remember getting a plot synopsis that went like this: "Bryan Mills and his wife are taken this time and held hostage against a group of guys seeking revenge of the people Bryan killed in the first movie." I thought this was a joke. Then the trailer came out and it confirmed it. Not only that, I was led to believe Bryan was stupid or something because it was almost like he was trying to get themselves caught. That's what it led to believe.
Finally I saw the movie with my mom and apparently that wasn't the case. He was smart in this movie, thank God, and even his daughter had some action scenes. The whole revenge plot didn't bother me. I thought it was a pretty decent plot line and as long as I see Liam Neeson kick butt, I'm happy.
The set up for the movie was really good. It reminded me of the first film. Bryan Mills is a car washer. I thought that was pretty funny. It establishes his relationship with his ex-wife (who is now separated) and his daughter (who has a boyfriend and trying to get a driver's license). The set up was really good all the way to Istanbul. What's strange, though, and maybe this is just me but the set up felt longer than the action sequences. Also, it felt a little anti-climatic. It came so sudden to me and I really didn't think the film was going to end at that point.
Speaking of the ending, and I will try to be spoiler-free here but there's a touching moment at the end that I was hoping the film producers stuck with... but it didn't happen. An action happened (when I thought it would) and man, it was so touching up to that point. Man!
Taken 2 is a worthy sequel. I loved the first one. I hear they aren't making a third. Even though it's too bad it won't be a trilogy (I mean, they could end it with his daughter's marriage or something) this one is a good conclusion. I just hope this doesn't end Liam Neeson in action flicks. He's awesome at it!