RBR: Taken 2

The first Taken film was pretty stupid and forced audiences to severly suspend belief when it came to its story. But what ultimately made that film a winner was the testosterone-fueled emergence of Liam Neeson as an action star. There was a certain joy watching him cut down foreign bad guys with reckless abandon. If this sequel had managed to give us another dose of that, this would have been fine. Instead we get an even dumber film that also lacks the satisfying action sequences needed to offset its stupidity. This time around Neeson and his ex-wife (Famke Janssen) are taken by the living family members of the people he killed in the first film. Of course, daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) is along for the ride as well. Kim is the source of a lot of the film's problems. First there's the disorienting fact that this character is supposed to be a teenager despite the fact that the actress playing her is 30. The film doesn't help this problem by shoehorning a ridiculous subplot involving Kim learning how to drive, which of course will come into play as the film progresses. Not only does Kim need to drive, but she also needs to display some of Neeson's "particular set of skills" for him while he's abducted. This includes recklessly throwing grenades on the rooftops of Turkey so that she can find him. Again, all of this would be forgiven if the action was satisfying. However, director Oliver Megaton, taking over for Luc Besson, once again displays his inability to film a fight scene that doesn't include at least 50 edits. In the first film, Neeson was filmed in a way to make it look like he was a believable bad ass. The use of quick shots in this one makes it seem like they are trying to mask the abilities of a senior citizen. Taken 2 is a complete downgrade over the original film and just makes your head hurt as you watch it. This one gets an easy thumbs down from me. Rating: * 1/2

2012 Fall Movie Preview (October)

BUTTER (October 5)
Plot: A tale of competition at its most cut-throat, "Butter" surveys the raw ambition of Laura Pickler (Jennifer Garner), the wife of Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell), Iowa's long-reigning champion butter carver. For 15 years, Laura has relished her high-profile role as the beautiful, loyal helpmate to her affable, artistically gifted husband. But when Bob is pressured to retire and allow someone else a chance at glory, an indignant Laura decides to enter the competition herself. She is first in line on sign-up day, only to see her odds of victory fall below 100% with the arrival of an unlikely yet formidable contender: 10-year-old Destiny (Yara Shahidi), the African-American foster child of local couple Julie and Ethan (Alicia Silverstone and Rob Corddry). And that's not all. Bob's would-be mistress, bad-girl stripper Brooke (Olivia Wilde) also declares her candidacy, as does his #1 fan, Carol-Ann (Kristen Schaal). Facing three opponents, mocked by her stepdaughter Kaitlen (Ashley Greene) and furious with her husband, Laura resolves to do whatever it takes to win. And if that means resorting to sabotage - and recruiting her dim-witted former boyfriend Boyd (Hugh Jackman) as a co-conspirator - then so be it.

Quick thoughts: This film better turn out to be good after I've been talking it up for nearly a year. I like the cast and it is certainly one of the quirkier ideas for a film to come out recently. This will likely live and die by its political satire. In an election year, this is either going to be lovingly embraced or quickly rejected - like butter so often is in most people's diets.


TAKEN 2 (October 5)
Plot: 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.

Quick thoughts: Though the first film had its flaws, there is no denying the sheer joy of seeing Liam Neeson unleash a violent assault on anyone who dares cross him. In this second outing, I can hope they will build upon the story created in the first and make an even better film. But even if they ends up being nothing more than another couple of hours of Neeson kicking ass, I'm thinking most people will be just find with that.


ARGO (October 12)
Plot: Based on true events, "Argo" chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis--the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA "exfiltration" specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.

Quick thoughts: Argo is very high on my list of most anticipated films this fall. Affleck has shown a real talent behind the camera in his previous efforts, so I'm expecting more of the same here. It doesn't hurt the film's story, which is based on true events, is something I find very compelling. Hollywood and politics don't always make the best pair, but I think it will work out real well here.


PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 (October 19)
Plot: The continuing exploits of suburban houses being haunted by a disturbing ghostly presence.

Quick thoughts: Who would have thought I would ever be this excited for the fourth film in a horror franchise and yet here we are. The cleverness of the third film coupled with the new details in the series' mythology have whetted my appetite to see what they have in store for us next. Anyone who has been a fan of this franchise will no doubt be eager for even more answers the film's central wiccan family.


OTHER POSSIBLE FILMS OF INTEREST
Here Comes the Boom (October 12)
Seven Psychopaths (October 12)
Killing Them Softly (October 19)
Cloud Atlas (October 26)

Taken for another ride

The man with a particular set of skills is back and ready to kick more ass. Here's your first look at the trailer for Taken 2