Taken is an exceptional movie. It has a simple premise, a tight script, good action sequences, and Liam Neeson being a complete badass. Taken 2 is going to be phenomenal, correct?

Unfortunately not, or so the critics would have us believe. Taken 2 is taking a pasting from all sides, and even Jeremy Jahns, who is often a little more forgiving than most, condemns it.

The problem seems to be that Taken 2 is essentially a remake of the original, just with the order of things changed around a little. Hence reviewers are describing it as formulaic, predictable, and even a cash-in.

I suspect it won’t matter all that much what the critics have said, as people will go and see it regardless. When a film is as popular as the first Taken was, most moviegoers will choose to make their own mind up on the sequel.