Olivier Megaton’s second and final contribution to the Taken franchise offers reinvention through self-destruction, but does little with it once risen from the ashes.

Taking little from either side of its thriller origins, Taken 3 seemingly forgets its position in the trilogy, dispensing tired and superfluous bouts of exposition from just about every difficulty encountered, while needless and varied subplots leave little room for the sensitivity required by Megaton’s powerful opening gambit.

Although Taken 3 suffers from a regrettable lack of singular direction, it nonetheless features some impressive setpieces – sadly these are often too few and far between.

Taken 3‘s inability to commit to and fully explore the significance of its leading issues leaves much of the emotional payoff uncharted and muddled in the wake of unwarranted complications.  

RATING: 2/5

INFORMATION

CAST: Liam Neeson, Forest Whitaker, Maggie Grace

DIRECTOR: Olivier Megaton

WRITERS: Luc Besson, Robert Mark Kamen

SYNOPSIS: Accused of a murder that he did not commit, Bryan Mills sets out to clear his name and find the true killer.