Taken 2 (1/15/2012)

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, and some sensuality.

Starring Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen and Maggie Grace

Directed by Olivier Megaton (Transporter 3 and Columbiana)

The first thing I did after seeing Taken 2 was to switch my vacation plans from Istanbul to Branson, Missouri.

Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, the retired CIA agent with a particular set of skills who stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim from Albanian kidnappers. When the father of one of the kidnappers swears revenge, and takes Bryan and his wife hostage during their family vacation in Istanbul, Bryan enlists Kim to help them escape, and uses the same advanced level of special forces tactics to get his family to safety and systematically take out the kidnappers one by one.

I really did like the movie, but let me tell you one or two things that I didn’t like.

A couple of years ago when I reviewed Taken I said there were two things that bothered me about the movie. 1.) Kim was possibly the most annoying character I had ever seen on film and 2.) The fact that Bryan’s friends weren’t involved was a real let down. Well here we are three years later and Kim is annoying as ever and Bryan’s friends have less screen time than before. When we first see Kim, she acts like a “normal” teenager who hates her father. But her father traveled around the world to rescue her from a life as a sex slave and killed well over a dozen men in the process. So the fact that she freaks out when he wants to know where she is is a tad bit unbelievable.

But the most unbelievable scene involves a high-speed car chase with Kim driving. Yep, Kim is driving…the same Kim who has failed her drivers test twice! And did I mention she is driving a stick and speed shifting while negotiating the tight streets of Istanbul.

And after everything you’ve been through, WHO VACATIONS IN ISTANBUL???

OK, I’m done and believe it or not, I really did like the movie.

Taken 2 does have plenty to get excited about. Liam Neeson is just jaw dropping good. And at age 60, he can still kick some butt.

The action sequences are pretty intense and the revenge storyline was well written.

Liam Neeson definitely still has some skills…I’d go see this one again…it’s “Theater Worthy.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no question Taken 2 is violent. And each “victim” is killed in a unique and disturbing way.

Conversation Starter

1. In Taken 2 CIA agent Bryan Mills and his family are taken because he killed Murad’s son (in Taken). Murad is angry and seeking revenge. When was the last time you were angry and wanted to get even? Tell me what happened.


2. In the film, Bryan comes face to face with Murad and discusses how everyone loses when revenge is pursued. He offers him the chance to forgive each other and just walk away. How did you feel watching that?


3. How difficult is it for you to forgive someone who has hurt you, and just walk away?


4. Read Ephesians 4:32
   
   Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
   
   
5. What do you think it means to forgive as God has forgiven us?


6. What can you do this week to forgive someone who has hurt you, and just walk away?