Review : Taken 2 (2012)

Bad sequel?

Some time after the incidents in the first movie, Bryan has been posted in Istanbul for some work. His ex-wife Lenore is now separating from her second husband and going through a tough phase. So Bryan invites her and Kim to Istanbul for a holiday unaware of the fact that the Albanians have arrived to avenge the death of their brothers and sons at the hands of Bryan .......


Critically panned. Utterly destroyed by the critics. People just didn't buy into the story anymore. Many glaring loopholes were pointed out everywhere. And that compounded the matter. The first movie with its simplicity and great action scenes won many hearts but sadly this story was simple and a little dumb and so couldn't replicate the first movie's success. Although I didn't hate it as some of my good friends do, but I didn't expect such a downturn. The first now resembles a classic, i must say. But to be fair if you just let all the logicality balckholes go, you can enjoy this too. Not as much but trust me you won't hate it. It takes some harsh political stands maybe unintentionally and that's never good for any commercial movie. Multiple helicopter shot of a mosque from which the call for prayers emanated and then somebody is getting shot at. You can join the dots and cry foul or just let it be and say that it wasn't meant to hurt the sentiments. But Islamic countries arent good but it isn't what Hollywood says them to be. Such baseless depictions plus some over sight in the script means that there are message boards and more message boards dedicated to the "Loopholes". But forget it ever exists and enjoy it just as a time pass popcorn action entertainer. Guaranteed your opinion of it will improve. I never take such movies seriously and thank god i had a nice time watching it. Drop the baggage and go have a watch.......


Luc Besson had written the first one perfectly. Just the right amount of action and exposition and length. So even if there were errors we chose to ignore it cos it was such a fast ride. But this has a lot more setup and very less action. And as I already said, errors abound. Besson and co=writer Robert Kamen do a nice job but it isn't good enough. Yes a simple popcorn entertainer need not be too deep. But it doesn't mean it can get away with too much. And it does have too much. Plus not so good director Olivier Megatron(Transporter 3) doesnt get the same level of enthusiasm in it as Pierre Morel. Some nice helicopter shots of the magnificient city of Istanbul but sadly the fight and action are less and not as good. Plus the setup is so good and the payback just so sad that it feels like a wasted premise. Hell it could been a all guns blazing action thriller but sadly it peters down to some stray moments of goodness from Liam. Just not good enough a sequel. Expectations of many people truly hurt and shattered. I didnt expect much and I enjoyed it a little bit more than most. Thats the way you watch such movies. Don't read between the lines and just let the hell go of everything...... and ENJOY!!

What bad luck??

Acting was pretty decent in the first. And it was an all Liam thing. But not here. Maggie Grace joins the fun as she throws grenade, drives like a pro and helps her Dad escape from the rogue Albanians. But her acting left many things to be desired. As a damsel in distress she did fine but in an extended role she doesnt do the same magic. Also she struggles a play a girl when she's a beautiful women of around 26. And it makes matter worse when Liam too doesnt do it right. He says the lines not as menanacingly but more mechanically. But he's a fine actor and sails through it decently. Famke Jenson is a stuck up as the wife who leaves a good but busy husband for someone wealthy and then is seen coming back to square one. Not much to do except cry out for help. The villains are more scary in this one and atleast the first 20-30 minutes go very well. Alas all that set up gets destroyed as the climax is not something they can be proud of. A sermon , a cliche and The End. Not  a great ending considering the first ended with a great shootout. Rade Serbedzija as the father of one of the slain kidnappers in the first movie excels and maybe outdoes Liam. And with a hero who is not gonna be scratched we sadly have no tension to look forward too. Just decent work from everybody which means this remains mediocre even on the acting front......

Great!! I am gonna shoot the Director...

Camerawork is decent. Some nice swooping shots of Istanbul and the Bazaar. Plus the great background in some scenes. Its a beautiful city captured with some great lights. Editing isn't as good. The background music is decent. All in all the crew tries their best but the writing and direction let this movie down.


HighTension Verdict: If xenophobic nations make a movie on a Muslim nation this is what they will come up with. And for those not looking for too much meaning but more Masala then this is for you. 

 HighTension Meter: 6.5/10

BEST Quote:

Murad: I have come to take you to Tropoje to face you to the people whose lives you have ruined. To give them justice.
Bryan Mills: You mean to give them revenge.
Murad: If it gives us peace call it anything you wish.

Review : Taken (2008)

Just a little short of mindblowing!!

A father, who is a retired CIA agent, reluctantly gives permission to his daughter to go to Paris with her friend. There she gets kidnapped by human trafficking dealers and now he has to fight it out like the good ol' days to get back his daughter.......


The first thing I noticed is the simple storyline. Kudos to the writers to bring out such a simple story in times of Inception and stuff. And then even the investigation is not so deep and almost is there only to let Liam kick some ass and blow up things. Just the things a true blockbuster is made of. When you don't have too deep a storyline then you can let yourselves go and enjoy it. But with the topic of human trafficking involved, you tend to be a little more sympathetic to all the victims and survivors. And from the start you know who gonna get behind. Not much complexity on that front too. Just Liam on drugs who wants his daughter back before the Sheikh takes her virginity. She is "Certified Pure'" and goes for a hefty price in the auction. Amazing to know such things happen in the most developed places even today. So I think with the enjoyment a lesson too should be learned. Maybe that's why this film was made. A commercial Hollywood movie is seen by many people all around the globe. And if you can send a message through it. Absolutely great. I got it. May everyone take the responsibility to end this menace forever. Bravo!!


Directed well by  the Frenchman Pierre Morel, who went on to direct Paris With Love. Which I liked. But unfortunately not many backed me up. But he has a knack of directing fast action movies. He's an ex cinematographer who has worked in action thrillers like The Transporter & Unleashed. So no wonder he gets most of the things in this right and gives an enjoyable ride till the end. He knows France and gets some fine location for the scenes. It looks utterly gorgeous and so makes the harsh ongoings look even more dreadful. The action scenes and the fight scenes are just adrenaline pumping and the quick pace makes this one of the best action thrillers of the last five years. And being written by another enormously talented Frenchman Luc Besson(The Fifth Element, Transporter) makes this a great piece. You get a quick glimpse at the family and bang before you know it we are right in the middle of a prostitution ring. Heavy issue handled well. And not much deep so action fans can sit back and enjoy as our hero fights hard and fights well to get back his daughter. And serve death sentence on the ones who deserve it. I hope such things happen with such bastards in real life too. Nice!!

 

Distressed and "Lost" again!!

Maggie Grace(Kim) is the catalyst in this one. I have been a fan since her "Lost" days. And again in this she acts well. Though the movie totally belongs to Liam Neeson(Bryan). She's the next with most screen time. And she does well. Others are there but not much to anyone except Bryan's ex wife and Kim's mother played by Famke Jenson(Lenore) and a corrupt French officer Jean Claude played by Olivier Rabourdin. So in short this movie totally in whole belongs to Liam who justs blazes his way perfectly. Kind of Bourne thing. He is not young anymore but you can't tell when you see him fighting like that. Driving cars through tankers, blowing up things, killing the scums. And the hand to hand combat. Fuck!! Those are brilliant. Pacy and action packed this sure does take Liam to new heights. But the villains aren't as convincing so maybe it loses its sheen a little. They are so many but not one looks or acts dangerously. But a bullet train of a movie that it is, we enjoy it anyhow. Although it would have been mindblowing with more scary villains. But they do scary things anyway, so cheers!!


Great camerawork by Michel Abramovicz. He captures the underbelly of France quite beautifully. As also the sights and sounds with great lighting which makes us feel more troubled. A land so beautiful and horrible things which one can't comprehend. Plus a decent musical score with quick edit makes this a sumptuous ride to hell and back. Go for it!!

Great multi tasking dude !!

HighTension Verdict: Action thrillers like Die Hard and Bond are hard to come by. The Bourne series too is teetering on the edge. So this comes at the right time. Fast and furious this brings enjoyment and loads of French talent to look out for in Hollywood. You have to see this if you like the idea of Liam blowing the French capital and single handedly taking on the whole mafia...... Plus if you are an action fan and haven't seen this, cheers you aren't one anymore!!


HighTension Verdict: 8.5/10


BEST Quote:

Jean Claude: Just like the old days.
Bryan: Would you have it any other way?
Jean Claude: Between you and me, no. But now that I sit behind a desk, the world looks different.
Bryan: You mean it looks boring.
Jean Claude: I mean different. Okay, a little boring. But is being retired any more interesting?
Bryan: It wasn't until my daughter disappeared in Paris yesterday. She and her friend were marked by a spotter at the airport. Albanians took her.
Jean Claude: How do you know this?
Bryan: I'm retired, not dead.
Jean Claude: And I assume you don't want to go to the police.
Bryan: I was told I have 96 hours. That was sixteen hours ago.
Jean Claude: Okay, first we should find the spotter.
Bryan: I found him. He's dead.
Jean Claude: You found him that way?
[Bryan stays silent]
Jean Claude: Bryan, you cannot just run around, tearing down Paris.
Bryan: Jean Claude, I will tear down the Eiffel Tower if I have to.