While Liam Neeson had certainly done action-type roles before (Darkman, anybody?), it will always be 2009’s Taken that will be seen as the start of his “Badass My Way Around The World” tour, which eventually culminated in him getting into a fistfight with a few Arctic wolves not too long ago.
But now Neeson will be returning to the role that catapulted him into action hero status, despite being old enough to be a grandfather. And judging by these three first-look images from Taken 2, this is still one mean ou toppie.
Look at his grim-set face in that final picture. Want to take a gander at how many craps he gives about the fact that he is currently sending Unnamed Terrorist #1 to an early grave, depriving Mrs Unnamed Terrorist #1 of a husband? I’d hazard it to be somewhere between zero and zilch.
My only concern is that Oliver Megaton, who replaces Pierre Morel in the director’s chair, will seriously need to up his game. His Transporter 3 was an overyly stylized mess, and while Colombiana was a step in the right direction it was a slightly above average stride at best. By contrast, the first Taken was not only universally praised but was also a massive commercial hit as well. Having a budget of only $25 million it eventually went on to make $226.8 million globally. Talk about some big shoes to fill.
Synopsis:
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 (Maggie Grace) from Albanian kidnappers. When the father of one of the kidnappers swears revenge and takes Bryan and his wife (Famke Janssen) 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.
(Source: Entertainment Weekly)
Last Updated: May 18, 2012
James Francis
May 18, 2012 at 08:58
Maybe Megaton’s problem is not having worked with actors that anchor a movie. By the third Transporter Statham was clearly not into it any more and Zoe Saldana isn’t a lead just yet. Maybe Neeson will carry this. He carried the first one. Morel is not a great director, either. District B13 was mostly style and From Paris With Love was just as bad as Transporter 3, though I do love it when Travolta chews the scenery.
Btw, Neeson is only 59. What are you, 19? 🙂
Kervyn Cloete
May 18, 2012 at 09:32
Agreed on Morel not really bringing the goods in his other movies. He took a grounded flash-less approach to Taken, which was in complete contrast to B13 and From Paris, and that’s what made it work.
I am also hoping that Neeson will carry Megaton. Colombiana had some well put-together action set-pieces, and he had enough of the grit that Taken will need. The problem was that Saldana, as decent an actress as she may be, was physically just not up to the role.And hey, Neeson’s from a generation where they made babies as soon as they spotted the first bit of fuzz on their jaw. So while I may be 30, he COULD be my grandfather :p
James Francis
May 18, 2012 at 11:31
Providing your mom was 14 when you arrived and Liam was 15 when she was born.. hey, I understand. I’d also try and warp time to argue that I’m related to Neeson.
Good points on Morel pulling back with Taken. And Megaton has a nice CV for cinematography. His problem seems to be weak scripts. Colombiana’s story really fell over, exposing Saldana’s inability to carry the action. Perhaps with Luc Besson looking over his shoulder, he could do a good job. Then again, Besson was involved with Paris. Then again again, I should’t admit this but I enjoyed Paris. No doubt, though, that it was a shit movie.
My bigger concern is the movie itself. One reason Taken worked so well was because everyone underestimated Neeson. Nobody thought he could be that bad-ass. So how will they up the ante and keep it fresh, not lapsing into sequel cliches? Sadly we know Neeson did not agree to the sequel because it would be good. The Titan movies and Battleship shows he’s feeding his bank account (can’t blame the guy).