Predictable and hum-drum sequel

Rating: 5/10 (11 October 2012)

Warning: Spoilers
Taken 2 is a predictable, by the numbers sequel which unfortunately plays everything too safe and lacks the excitement of the first movie. What made the first movie work was Bryan Mill's (Liam Neeson) drive to find and recue his daughter from those evil traffickers and it worked because we felt his anger and wanted everyone of those responsible to get dead. Taken 2's villains are out for revenge, it's a continuation from the first story and while look mean they're far less intimidating because they haven't done anything too sinister on-screen for us to see. What this flick needed was a jump-start and to make it work somebody needed to die and they had ample opportunity. Lenore (Famke Janssen) is a stupid character there to be screamed and rescued much like Maggie Grace in the first but her roles been updated here, she plays Neeson's sidekick and does a surprisingly good job but back to Lenore. She was wasted in this movie and offing her would have created an emotional chord which would have made Taken 2 that much more impactful because like the first we would've felt the anguish, we would have felt the anger and we would have wanted everyone responsible to pay but the opportunity after being teased was wasted here and the result is a very average and predictable follow-up to a movie that had merit. The stakes should have been higher, the fight faster and more brutal but somehow it was a generic romp. The kills less exciting, the cutting of the action was questionable and confusing especially the scene with the metal bars what's more and there was absolutely no 'bloody' impact to any of the violence including the very tame climax which felt like it came out of nowhere. It's watchable but just not very good.
5/10