When the Cheshire emerges...

Taken 2 (MA15+)

THE CHAMELEON that is Liam Neeson continues to turn heads as he surfaces on our screens time and time again with something different. We know from the Batman trilogy that sequels are not beyond the Irishman, but his return to the character that revealed him as an action hero still managed to surprise.

The first film was an unexpected hit (even on his account), so in retrospect it was a no-brainer to try and make something more from it. The team from Taken returned to see how they could turn the tables on Bryan Mills (Neeson) and saw fit to create a story around a complete reversal of the first film.

Former CIA agent Bryan and ex-wife Lenore (Famke Janssen) are in Istanbul when they are taken by the Albanian group seeking revenge for Bryan’s prior killing spree on their comrades. The only person who can find them is their daughter Kim (Maggie Grace), who still being a teenager has to prove extremely capable to do what her father asks of her.

That includes throwing grenades and learning to drive stick through Istanbul’s streets while being chased by Mercedes SUVs. It’s not child’s play but she manages to put the pain of her experience from Taken behind her and do whatever it takes to save her parents.

Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen’s script is extremely tight at just 92 minutes, with everything progressing rather quickly. It works for most of the story, but even Neeson feels the strain by the last 20 minutes, where the pace slows down just a bit to suggest everyone’s rather tired.

This thrill ride purely focuses on the revenge of the Albanians, but does give glimpses of how the Mills family have gotten on since the last bit of trauma. Never to weigh an audience down though, director Olivier Megaton (replacing Pierre Morel) makes sure they get their frustrations out on the run. The action sequences are quick, and while there’s a whole lot of Neeson saying "Drive!" and "Go. Go now!" Megaton still creates plenty of credible suspense.

Grace as Kim grows up a bit and Janssen is more of an emotional wreck, but Neeson well and truly carries the film as he finds himself to be the one in a bit of a spot. He’s menacing as a ruthless action hero but manages to retain a soft side with those close to him. Luc Besson has said there won’t be any more sequels, and for good reason. This still leaves the Mills story on a good note after throwing their lives into disarray all over again.

Taken (MA15+) (2008)

A bundle of nerves form in your mind as Bryan uses his smarts to track her down, killing anyone who stands in his way. He’s not a bad guy though, merely doing what he must to get Kim back.

It’s a great mix of thrills and suspense with an interesting plot involving European human trafficking. Neeson is constantly imposing as Bryan, and doing what he does best is a good watch. A surprise hit but well deserved.

Rating: 4

The Killing Fields (1984)

WHEN films have the impact to influence a whole generation, one must applaud the efforts of those who played their part. The true story of two journalists in Cambodia reporting on the Khmer Rouge regime resonated so highly in the Ukraine that it was included in their school curriculum, presented as an example of what would happen if their country’s Orange Revolution escalated into civil war.

New York Times reporter Sydney Schanberg (Sam Waterston) and Cambodian Dith Pran (Haing S Ngor) work together in covering the development of the gradual takeover in Phnom Penh. When Pran gets the chance to leave, he sends his family but stays with Schanberg as their friendship strengthens.

Trying to get out when it becomes vital to leave is futile for Pran; a ploy to make him a Western citizen fails and he becomes privy to the horrors of the Year One cleansing regime. As Ngor himself had lived through much of it, scenes portraying Pran were often too much to emotionally handle. Watching it on a DVD is enough to see why.

Stanley Kubrick considered tackling the project, but Roland Joffe handles it brilliantly, getting the best out of the locations and his cast, which also included John Malkovich and Julian Sands. Ngor deservedly won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar and the film remains an eye-opener just as much as a vehicle to reinforce the importance of trust, friendship and tolerance.