Sequels are usually crappy

Before I begin, I would like to ask you, the reader, just how much of a badass Liam Neeson is in his films. Do you have your answer? Now I want you to multiply that number by 1000 because that's how I imagined how much of a badass he is. And that was how high my expectation was for Taken 2

Let's review what happened in the first movie, so that we understand where I'm going with this. In the first movie of Taken, we learn that Liam Neeson's character is Bryan Mills, a former high tier agent (agency not specified) who retired the secret agent life and just wants to be a part of his family whom he ended up leaving behind, and eventually lost, because of all the work that he has to do for the good of his country. During his retirement, he does odd jobs just to pay the bills, and save enough to give his daughter a birthday present.  One day, she and her friend goes to Paris to follow a Europe tour of U2, but doesn't tell her father where she was going, until he learns for himself. Having known the dangers of the real world, he is hesitant but wants to be supportive so he lets her go anyway, but tells her of the dangers of the real world. What would have been the time of her life turned to chaos as she and her friend are taken by Albanians who kidnap tourists in France and turns them into sex slaves. Liam does everything in his skill set to find her, her friend, and the Albanians who took her, and sends her home where she appreciates her father even more. It's the action movie of fathers who would do anything for the safety of their children. And that was why Taken was an awesome movie.

Taken 2, on the other hand, is the product of a good action concept, but poorly conceptualized on how the pieces of the puzzle fit together. And here are my points as to why that is so.

• Similar to the first movie, the action that happens here is very fast paced, and I would have forgiven that given that Liam does have to save his wife and protect his kids from the wrath of a vengeful Albanian syndicate. Normally, I would forgive that given the time frame of how things should happen. However, the editing of how the viewers would understand the reason behind the revenge of the Albanians was too fast. All we saw were boxes we later learn to be coffins, and the funeral they hold for their fallen brethren. Also, in the first movie, even if it were fast paced, there were moments when the movie actually slows down so that the viewers have time to appreciate what's going on in the movie. This one forced the viewers to keep with the pace, which just kept escalating very quickly. In hindsight, it's an interesting concept, but it didn't work for this movie.
• I have certain expectations that needs to be checked in every movie whether or not it's okay to have a predictable movie. It's okay to have a predictable movie for as long as the production, editing, and story was executed very well. And to my utmost disappointment, this one failed miserably. Everything was too convenient, the villains were beat up like that, and in the end, you're going that?! Really?! It's as if you're saying Liam Neeson is going to retire1 from action movies forever!! 

Okay, so I only have two points, but these were crucial to the awesomeness that is Liam Neeson. There is a silver lining to the movie though. and that would of course be Liam Neeson's action scenes. These were about the only things worth watching in the movie. And I am sad to say that these were not enough to get me to enjoy Taken 2 as much as I'd hoped. Overall, you're better of watching "The Grey" because even if it didn't focus on Liam Neeson, the story of that movie was way better than this one.

P.S. - Taken 2 can also be considered the development of a new agent in Kim Mills since she got to do half of the action in the movie

Note 1 - Research shows that Liam Neeson wasn't expecting a second movie, and is not open to making a third one, which probably explains the crucial scene before the resolution of the whole story.