This is a serviceable sequel let down by mediocre writing that missed a perfect opportunity for Neeson to make a comment on his daughter's driving after she led multiple police cars and a couple of bad-guy cars on a high-speed chase around Istanbul. Given passing her driving test was literally the top and tail of the entire movie, you'd think the writer would have the wits to put a tension-relieving little joke after she crashes the car into the courtyard of the US Embassy. But, alas, there was nothing.
The main disappointment for me was the inexplicably fast jump-cut editing in every single fight sequence in the film. The final fight goes on for about roughly 90 seconds, during which it cut to a different shot more than once per second. As a result, the fight scenes had no flow and were at times confusing. As a directorial choice, it just didn't make sense.
And let's be honest, in the first film the sequences of Neeson dismantling one bad guy after another is what made it such a success. To me the editing of the fight scenes in Taken 2 ruined what would otherwise have been an above average, fun movie.
The main disappointment for me was the inexplicably fast jump-cut editing in every single fight sequence in the film. The final fight goes on for about roughly 90 seconds, during which it cut to a different shot more than once per second. As a result, the fight scenes had no flow and were at times confusing. As a directorial choice, it just didn't make sense.
And let's be honest, in the first film the sequences of Neeson dismantling one bad guy after another is what made it such a success. To me the editing of the fight scenes in Taken 2 ruined what would otherwise have been an above average, fun movie.