An Unworthy Successor to TAKEN

Rating: 6/10 (24 February 2011)

The main reason to compare this film to TAKEN is that Warner;s told us it was ten times better. It isn't; it is not even half as good as TAKEN. The film TAKEN established gut-level interest from the get-go ("I will find you.. and I will kill you!" was Neeson's promise to the men who took his daughter, The tension never let up. UNKNOWN is soft in comparison, although Warner's seem to have delivered "studio feed" ratings of 10; most unlikely to be authentic ratings for this so-so movie.
UNKNOWN provides a halfway decent espionage plot and will keep most film-goers interested, but it is neither brilliant or exceptional. Enhansements include some really good on-location shots in Eastern Berlin, Unter den Linden, the Adlon Hotel. However, was it necessary or even entertaining to destroy so much property in order to solve Neeson's problems. Today's Hollywood empty-heads understand no limits.
IMDb has no real protection from studio-generated 10-ratings on this site, and I wish Warners would hold back on this. But old habits die hard. Studios have bought positive reviews in publications for decades and dishonest film reviewers in newspapers have gladly accepted the extra income; be it cash or perks.. Honest feedback from real moviegoers is so much better.