Taken 2
2012 · Directed by Olivier Megaton
Original language: English
- action
- crime
- thriller
The story
In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter.
What it’s like
Bright, hard daylight over Istanbul's rooftops and crowded alleys, then tight handheld framing that jolts through narrow streets and cramped apartment interiors. Taken 2 leans on glossy digital sheen, saturated and slightly overlit, with grimy shadows in the locked rooms where the captives are held. The score is a driving synth-and-strings pulse that rarely lets up, and chase sequences are cut fast, so the rhythm is relentless: short bursts of motion broken by tense stillness while a wife and ex-husband wait in the dark. The vibe is brisk, fraught, and pumped-up, a popcorn thriller with a family-reunion warmth underneath. Violence is frequent and physical, with gunfire, close-quarters fights, and car crashes; blood is present but not lingered on, and the menace is more of a jolting threat than sustained gore, with some scenes of kidnapping and captivity that build dread. It suits a Friday night with friends, or a comfort-action watch when you want momentum over quiet. Made for viewers who enjoy fast, muscular action and a protective-parent streak, not for anyone seeking something gentle.
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