TAKEN 2

France/US, 2012, 91 minutes, Colour.
Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Rade Serbedzija, Luke Grimes.
Directed by Olivier Megaton.

Liam Neeson is an actor who seems to be able to bridge any gap between action fans and more serious cinemagoers. In recent years, he has opted for a number of action films, The A- Team, Taken, Unknown. On its first weekend in the US, Taken 2 gained $50 million at the box-office, audiences being older rather than younger.

The original Taken (with some flashbacks here for reminders) was an abduction story, security agent Bryan Mills (Neeson) has to rescue his young daughter who was taken in by a smooth-talking Frenchman and found herself captive with a group of brutal Albanian sex-trade smugglers. Mills hounds them down and rescues his daughter – of course.

This sequel is far more straightforward. The head of the Albanian gang (Rade Serbidzija) is bent on revenge for the death of his son. His wife and daughter (Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace) join Bryan for a holiday in Istanbul. As foreseen by the audience, Bryan and his wife are abducted, his daughter escaping. And, after shootouts and a smasheroo car chase, Bryan confronts his enemies – and wins, of course.

One very interesting aspect of this thriller is Bryan’s skill, not just with guns (no doubts of that) but with his mind. During the abduction, he notes all street turns, counts between each turn, notes any sounds. This enables him to calculate where he is – with the help of a concealed mobile phone and conversations with his daughter, her setting of grenades so that he can count and calculate distances from the sounds… Brains and brawn.

Down with the Albanians – again. They seem to be ready villains these years in the movies, especially targeting Eastern Europe and the sex-trade.

Liam Neeson is a big man, commanding with his screen presence, always a good man, even a nice man at times, who nevertheless draws on his guns and his wits to rescue those in peril, a hero that appeals to older audiences who can accept him as an action hero.

The film ends comfortably back in LA with some humour about his daughter’s passing her driving test (after surviving all that speed and crashing in Istanbul) and a meal where her boyfriend is invited. Well, of course, he could be the subject of abduction in Taken 3 – all that is needed is a photogenic city, after Paris and Istanbul, for it all to take place.

1. The popularity of the original film? The story? The action? The subtheme of abducting women for trading? The popularity of Liam Neeson?

2. The sequel as a reworking, less complex, the straightforward revenge theme?

3. The American settings, ordinary, homes, offices? The contrast with Istanbul, the city, the landscapes, the beauty, the streets, the roofs, the dingier aspects? The thumping musical score for atmosphere?

4. The audience familiar with the characters, the quick scenes of flashbacks, Kim’s abduction? The reminder of the Albanians and their brutality?

5. Bryan and his life, separation from his wife, his love for his daughter, visiting Lenore, her warning about Kim having a boyfriend, his going to the house, using his GPS? Kim and her reaction? His surveillance, his wanting her to be at the driving lesson? The tensions in the family?

6. Lenore, upset, her relationship with Kim, the possibility of a holiday? The failure of the plan? Bryan being in Istanbul? The surprise visit?

7. Bryan as an agent, security guard, his being careful, the case with his weapons, being well paid? The abduction of his wife and himself? Blindfold, his counting between turns in the streets, identifying the sounds, calculating the distance, his ability to reconstruct? The mobile concealed? Using his foot, lifting it, ringing Kim? The calculation of where he was, his getting her to use the grenades, the steam and the (**or ‘in the’? not clear) chimney, freeing his wife, Kim on the roof, putting the gun down the chute? Using his wits, his skill with his gun, the drive to the American embassy? The buildings, his return, the confrontation with Murad? Murad’s lying, reaching for the gun, its being empty, his death?

8. Kim, the driving in Istanbul, the special effects, the stunt work? The irony of her driving lesson at the end?

9. Lenore, her ordeal, her neck being cut, the blood draining to her head, her being taken again by Murad? The final rescue?

10. The embassy, the crash, the phone call to the agents and their playing golf, being freed?

11. The final pursuit of Murad, his bodyguards, their deaths? Bryan and his skills, his motivation, his trying to persuade Murad to go home and be at peace with his surviving sons? Murad, his followers, the brutality of the Albanian hierarchical system? His vengeance – no matter what his son had done? Family honour? His giving his word – and his lying? His death?

12. The easy ending, Kim and her driving lesson, a perfect score, the meal at the diner – and Jamie turning up? A future Taken 3?