By Jeff Rosz | October 7th, 2012  The studio numbers have just been released for the weekend, and they verify what we have seen going into today. Taken 2 flat out dominated the box office since Friday with a stunning $50 million debut which qualifies the pic as one of the biggest openings ever in the month of October on par with that for Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) and Jack-Ass 3D (2010.)
A story might be held elsewhere though in this is by far and away Liam Neeson’s best debut ever in regards to films that he has led. The veteran action star has never even backed an effort beyond $30 million in its first three days, so this is a fairly big deal. Going into the weekend, numerous reports surfaced sourcing director Olivier Megaton and the movie’s star that this was the end of the Taken series, but this is the type of success that might have Europa and Fox backing up a Brinks trunk on Liam Neeson’s lawn to ensure a third outing. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | October 6th, 2012  The lesson in the weekend’s box office report is that critics are not everything. In proof of one of the biggest gaps between audience response and what reviewers had to say in the action genre since Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Taken 2 is absolutely dominating the first weekend of October. What we are seeing is an $18.6 million Friday leading to a near-$50 million weekend. Early numbers late last night said $40 million and even that was adjusted up which gave us the feeling the Liam Neeson fans were content with the latest Taken movie. Verification came eventually in the CinemaScore which came in at a B+.
The fall has been really dry so far at the box office with exception to last weekend’s successes seen with Looper and Hotel Transylvania, so this is certainly positive. Hollywood is getting the sense that the hangover spell from after the Aurora Massacre has subsided and audiences are returning to normal levels. Ultimately, I do not buy into this notion of Taken 2 being just one hell of a movie–so powerful that Neeson kick started an entire industry. Let’s not forget that the studios pretty much ignored the mass-market PG-13 sector for a solid month. Three words: Pent up demand. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | October 5th, 2012  In spite of absolutely dreadful reviews, Taken 2 is receiving success never before seen in Liam Neeson’s three-decade-long career. Early box office data suggests that the movie has a legitimate shot at banking $40 million by Monday morning–bigger than A-Team, bigger than Unknown, bigger than any other film that the veteran actor have starred in front and center by a clear margin. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | October 4th, 2012 As of this moment, the much-anticipated sequel to Taken is standing at an exceptionally soft 16% on Rotten Tomatoes. With over 50 critics already reporting in, the number is expected to stay low and possibly drift further into sub-par status as first-in reviews often are the most favorable. Having said that, it looks entirely possible that Olivier Megaton has struck out at Luc Besson’s EuropaCorp as this is the third dud in a row from the director who also helmed Transporter 3 (the worst-received in the franchise) and the mediocre Zoe Saldana-led Colombiana. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | October 3rd, 2012  Liam Neeson took his press tour to The Daily Show last night for Taken 2. Opening on Friday, the film looks to be getting really terrible reviews, so this might just be the last time the veteran actor is treated with such warmth. Once more critics weigh in, look for a full on analysis of what they are saying, but it looks to be another dud from director Olivier Megaton who is best known for killing (or at least pausing) the Transporter series with his mediocre third installment. Having said that, it must be acknowledged that Jason Statham still gets a lot of love regardless of what happened in 2008. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | October 2nd, 2012 Last night gave audiences yet another look at Liam Neeson promoting his upcoming sequel to Taken. The veteran actor was on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon where he talked about his past with Helen Mirren, the movie, and played some shuffleboard. Will this sell tickets? Who knows, but it is at least entertaining. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | September 28th, 2012 Early reviews are not being too kind to the sequel to 2009’s Taken, but that is okay because the action film still has one thing going for it regardless of quality: It has Liam Neeson. The actor is starting to do press for his new film, and fans of the actor got a chance to see him plug the feature on The Tonight Show last night. For the most part, his appearance was mostly set up to point to an ancient performance from the action star as a villain in Miami Vice. To prove that it did happen, Leno showed the footage and it was spectacular. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | September 10th, 2012 If you noticed that the weekend’s football coverage was draped with promotions for the upcoming Taken sequel, you are not alone. Fox is definitely rolling out the red carpet for this film that will have Liam Neeson’s Bryan Mills rescuing his family from the clutches of evil Eastern Europeans yet again. On that note, they had the series lead introduce a handful of featurettes for ‘exclusives’ and here is one the studio gave to Machinima that covers stunt work. It should definitely look familiar to those of you who saw Neeson’s introduction for the latest Taken 2 trailer. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | September 5th, 2012 There is some brand new footage to show off in the latest trailer for Taken 2. This video debuted on Youtube which you will gather from the Liam Neeson introduction, but that is not what is cool about today’s look at the Olivier Megaton-directed sequel. It is more so the part where we see the circumstances under which Neeson’s Bryan Mills and Famke Janssen’s Lenore get taken.
Beyond that, we get to see a little ‘express parenting’ by Neeson of Maggie Grace’s Kim in which her father coaches her how to throw tails in epic car chases. This is good stuff that only excites us at the possibility that this sequel will not be as bad as we once feared. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | August 30th, 2012 Let’s not forget that the fall offerings this year include a sequel to the well-received Taken. There is a new featurette out to promote the Liam Neeson-led offering that will have him using his ‘particular set of skills’ yet again. This time it would appear that he has to save his ex-wife played by Famke Janssen after the two both get…taken.
The latest video concerning Taken 2 has Neeson expressing how he finds his character Bryan Mills to be a bad ass in addition to his feeling that the plot is extremely relatable. Hit the jump for the quick view. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | August 27th, 2012 Check out this new trailer for the upcoming sequel to Taken. The Liam Neeson-starrer may have a new director (Olivier Megaton) and a tiring plot, but it still promises to have Bryan Mills ‘do what he does best’ and that is kick a whole lot of crime lord ass. The latest promotional spot goes a little darker and faster than what audiences have already seen, but it is worth acknowledgement if only for the fact that it has some never before seen footage. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | July 30th, 2012 Upon hearing that there would be a second Taken movie, a lot of fans were justifiably confused as to how any sequel could live up to the surprisingly solid first effort. Many were chalking it up to EuropaCorp’s affinity for sequels (most notably on display with Luc Besson’s treatment of The Transporter series) and really not because there is ‘more story to tell.’
While the plot last time around centered on retired CIA operative Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson) rescuing his daughter from the clutches of an Eastern European sex slave ring, the second is set to 180 the situation entirely by having Mills and his ex-wife kidnapped. Needless to say, audiences are less than enthused; however, the trailers are showing that the plot may be masking what we will really see on the big screen come October. Continue Reading
By Jeff Rosz | June 21st, 2012  Behold, the first trailer for Taken 2 starring Liam Neeson. Continue Reading
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