'Taken 2' - Don't get taken by this one!'

Liam Neeson is back as former CIA operative Bryan Mills in 'Taken 2', whose family has once again been taken, this time by the family members of the Albanian kidnappers he killed in the first 'Taken'. There should be a rule, some movies just aren't set up to be made into a sequel. 'Taken 2' should have followed just such a rule. 

This was a lazily put together film with the entire first 1/2 hour or so made up of flashbacks from the first film to set up the characters. Improbable situations, even more improbable dialogue made this more of a spoof than an action movie. You know it's bad when I can quote the line before it is even uttered by the lead characters. Sequels are meant to amp up the story and action, carry the characters through, develop them more. 'Taken 2' simply tossed the same characters in the same situation without improving on anything, rather, the action was less kinetic, less breathtaking and more of a 'ya, been there done that'. Even the dialogue wasn't much different than the first film and, surprisingly, they set up a 3rd 'Taken' at the end. My sincere hope is that the film makers (or Neeson) let the character walk off into the sunset. But judging from the box office take, we will see a 'Taken 3' next fall.

It's 3 years since the first kidnapping and mess with the Albanians. Surprisingly, the family of the slain kidnappers are just getting around to burying their comrades and swearing vengeance on Mills. Apparently, the transfer and burial of bodies is a long process. Even more surprising, Mills is in Istanbul for a security job and just happens to invite his ex-wife and daughter to join him. Being the super CIA agent he is - the Albanians track him and his family and are able to capture Mills and his ex. Luckily, Mills has a cell phone hidden in his sock (Albanian gangsters NEVER search their captives) and he is able to warn his daughter. What follows is a series of 'Are you kidding me' moments as Mills directs his daughter across rooftops, tossing hand grenades so that Mills can guess her location by the sound of the concussions. Apparently, Istanbul has no issues with an American tossing grenades from the roof tops.

Of course, the 60 year old Mills is able to escape his captors (leaving his wife behind, of course, he needs to leave another trail of bodies after he gets his daughter), find his daughter by following the concussions of grenades, steal a cab and while his daughter (who doesn't know how to drive by the way) peels through the streets of Istanbul to the American Embassy, firing a gun that never seems to empty, at their pursuers. In perhaps the largest 'What the f..'; they crash through the gates of the American Embassy and the very next scene, Mills is searching for his ex (instead of ending up in Gitmo).

I could go on, the movie is filled with these tired and worn moments. With little creativity and absolutley no effort to improve on the first film, 'Taken 2' should be taken out to the trash.