Taken is successful because it sets up an interesting conflict for its likeable hero and victim, and stirs in exciting car chases, unexpected twists and intriguing procedure. The first film negated its January release date and proved far superior to the studio junk normally dumped after the holidays. Sounds like a pretty good idea for a sequel, right? Unfortunately, the execution is lousy. Mills manages to warn Kim before the men come for her, and she becomes his eyes on the ground, simultaneously working to free her parents while fleeing from the approaching antagonists. Kim sends her estranged parents on a date, where they are attacked and taken to an underground prison. Kim (Maggie Grace) and Lenore (Famke Janssen), who is prepping to divorce again, join Mills in Istanbul, Turkey, where they are stalked by a new group of Eastern European bad guys. The head of the Albanian mafia and father of Kim's now-deceased kidnapers, Murad Krasniqi (Rade Šerbedžija), vows to avenge his sons. The conflict in Taken 2 is relatively simple. Director Olivier Megaton proves a poor substitute for Morel, and the film is sunk by sloppy editing, an uninspired story, and a rushed, stop-start narrative. Taken 2 manages to repeat much of the first film without retaining its good qualities. The family of said kidnapers vows revenge in Taken 2, which puts Kim, Mills and wife Lenore in danger. Equal parts lethal badass and earnest protector to teenage daughter Kim, Mills tore Paris apart to save Kim from sex traffickers. Neeson is perfect as ex-CIA agent Bryan Mills.
Pierre Morel's original Taken is an unexpectedly great thriller with solid characters and an interesting story to support its slick action. In an interview for Taken 2, Liam Neeson said he didn't want to make a "sloppy sequel." I guess that didn't quite work out, Liam.
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