TheLittleSongbird Having moderately enjoyed, if finding some faults, the first 'Taken', part of me was hoping for a sequel along similar lines while still having some degree of freshness. Despite that it was reasonably poorly received and, although with notable exceptions, sequels tend to be inferior.Count me in however as another person who was underwhelmed by 'Taken 2'. Not irredeemably awful and there are worse sequels about (naming them would take up a whole review's worth), but 'Taken 2' was a real waste of reasonable potential, considering that it has the always watchable and often very good to great Liam Neeson as the main star. Even those who don't expect much in the first place will find themselves having big problems with the film. Before anybody says anything, am not the sort of person who is always with the general consensus, have been known a fair few times to go against the tide and part of me wanted to do so watching this but the film was just too problematic to enjoy it more and take it for what it was.'Taken 2' is not without good points. Neeson is a strong presence throughout, thoroughly badass yet with some heart. It's photographed slickly and stylishly, some of the imagery thrills and chills. Music is a decent fit while not being intrusive. Some of the action is exciting and thrillingly choreographed, like with the rooftops, and again the violence is uncompromising without being too gratuitously so.However, there are a lot of problems here. Only Neeson gives a halfway decent performance. Famke Janssen has next to nothing to do and doesn't look interested, while Maggie Grace's character was just too annoying and shallow for me to endear to Grace herself or resonate with the father-daughter relationship. Of which there is more of, but to me there was not enough heart or development to it. The rest struggle in very underwritten and stereotypical roles. 'Taken 2' fails to bring the best out of Turkey or make it the star or its own character, in fact it looks cheap and everything is represented in a fashion rife with lazy stereotypes.Dialogue continues to lack clarity and be too over-the-top and the direction this time round lacks rawness and the same amount of momentum, pretty go-through-the-motions. It's the story that is the biggest failure. It is too much of a rehash of the first, except with a more fatigued pace, constant over-familiarity and even more ridiculous far-fetchedness and with wider lapses in logic and sense. Furthermore there is nowhere near the same amount of suspense or excitement. The climax is badly rushed and anti-climactic.Overall, okay but rather tired. 4/10 Bethany Cox

muhammedduman-36273 Cheap police vehicles, women walking around like ninjas, people not caring about explosions like it's a normal thing, this movie is absolutely a political slander attempt. Only giving it 2 stars because of my respect to the effort made creating it. The scenes in the US have bright - white filter, while the scenes in Istanbul have a dark filter. Yep, totally buying it! If you lob a grenade in Istanbul, and the whole PD will be after you. You lob the second one and a police sniper will pick you off. Istanbul is not a place where you can go Rambo. Maybe Beirut is, but Istanbul isnt.

pat_healey After reviewing other reviews I am left thinking what do I see and enjoy on this movie, Taken 2 that is the first of the series I have seen. I thought it was great and like any movie the location is never spot on, and that's what makes it even more enjoyable and fun to watch.I thought Liam Neeson and Kim did a fantastic job. Well done. Now I want to see taken 1 and hope there might be further movies.I'm not sure what others see to say it was nothing but a comical movie filled with laughter.I also think the goofs adds to the movie and it makes it much better for a first time viewer.It's a movie I would highly recommend for many. And I know many who don't have their drivers license that would drive automatic, who hop right in and know how to drive a stick shift more than anything.Love the ending where their having Sundaes and Jamie joins them. It was a movie filled with lots of action; heck when it gains my attention as people try to text and chat with me on facebook it must be good.When's the next one coming out?

Cardinal Biggles OK, it's a sequel. But uniquely, it's actually rather good.OK, there are one or two clichés with that Romancing the ex-wife thing, but even so this is excellently written, and makes use of superb locations.It takes about 20 mins to really get going, and then you are on the edge of your seat. All the essential elements are there from any decent thriller, but you never find the movie formulaic.You probably know the good guys are going to win - they always do! - but even so the masterful direction manages to build suspense, and the ingenuity of our Hero when faced with his predicament is both novel and entertaining. A refreshing and fully engaging movie from a talented team of writer, director and cast.