Taken all the way with Taken 2!!

Liam Neeson is back ! Back with his two sexy ladies! Maggie Grace playing Brian's daughter Kim and Famke Janssen playing his wife Lenore, and they are both looking as beautiful as ever.

There has been many high hopes for this Autumn's release of Taken 2 (12A) after Taken had us on the edge of our seats the whole way through while we rode on the roller-coaster of emotion! It had everything from gruesome torture scenes, heart warming father-daughter bonding and Liam Neeson pretty much kicking ass the whole way through. Well director Olivier Megaton has done it again bringing us an exciting thrill ride throughout the whole film.

How is it different?

The plot was inevitable, mainly from the film title 'taken', someone had to be kidnapped in some form just like the first film. However the tables have turned this time, without giving much of the film away, its all down to Kim to help save her mum and dad. The main bulk of the film is based on Neeson's former victim's fathers and families seeking  revenge as they kidnap Brian and Lorane in the most stereotypical bag over head fashion. Around 40 minutes into the film it really starts to heat up as we get to witness Neeson work his way through about twenty men in a row through a mixture of bullets, mixed martial arts and cardboard box throwing.

What I really loved about this film was the bond between Brian and Kim even though it was borderline cheesy at some points. For instance at the beginning of the film Brian finds out Kim has a new boyfriend and the reaction that follows is definitely something I could see my own dad doing.  Furthermore throughout the film there are many references including an exciting car chase in a bright yellow taxi throughout Turkey, which  show how desperate Brian is for his daughter to pass her driving test awwww! Both these examples are so delightful and heart-warming to watch.

Moreover another likeable feature the film had to give was the frustration we could see within Liam's character. Just like the first film Brian is left to fight his way to his family, in this one it is his wife Lorane that really needs his help and it really made me feel hopeless watching his desperation to save her! I felt many times throughout watching Taken 2 that there was no hope at all. For example there are so many (some might say even too many) times in which you are led to believe that Lorane is dead and Brian  is never going to save her. However like every Scooby Doo episode the bad guy always loses and hope is eventually restored!

So why was Taken so much better than the sequel?

Alarm bells were ringing as soon as the 12A certificate appeared before me I could have sworn that the first one was a 15.....which indeed it was. Ok so I'm going to be honest what really really gets on my nerves in actions films is when you can't actually see any action! The majority of the fighting scenes were all distorted, either that or Megaton hired a really bad camera man. Now I don't mean that the screen was fuzzy or blurred, I honestly mean that while Liam Neeson was kicking ass the camera was all over the place, I spent most of my time  looking up at sky shots. For whatever reason the producers chose to use this filming technique it really didn't work.

Secondly...a 12A!! I really can't get over this. I needed to see blood and hear dirty after the watershed words! instead I witnessed necks being slit clean and a rather nicely put revenge speech! Normally I find that no swear words is quite intimidating especially if your going for the more sinister effect. Nevertheless he didn't swear in Taken so who am I to demand it in this one? On the other hand we are left feeling slightly confused and dazed  as in the first Taken Brian was willing to torture his victims through punishing electrocution whereas in the second Taken the worst we probably see is elbows being karate chopped backwards and chain choking. I personally felt like the closest we came to a 15 were the noises Janssen made throughout the film, instead of screeching like any other girl would when being bagged and kidnapped her approach was a more of a sexual in the bedroom kinda' moaning! Definitely a cover your children's ears moment.

I really did enjoy Taken 2 it just needed a bit more umph .. you know what I mean? It just can't beat the legendary Taken. 6/10

Braveeeeeeeeeeeee!

Disney and Pixar have joined forces this year to bring you the most exciting new Disney princess ever!! (excluding Rapunzel of course)  Brave (U) hit the cinema screens this summer starring the likes of Kelly McDonald as rebel Princess Merida and Billy Connolly as one of Scotland's toughest kings as well as a loving dopey father to Merida. I promise you this film will brighten up any bad day as this animated adventure incorporates some of Scotland's most wonderful landscapes alongside its most marvellous accents!

Brave definitely isn't your average Disney Princess film! For starters both of the main characters parents are alive and there is no evil step-mum, talking animals or even a bad guy! In fact this heart warming film includes a big giant brown bear as the'bad guy' and instead of an evil-step mum this film focuses mainly on the true meaning behind mother-daughter relationships. Honestly I cried pretty much the whole way through!

So why are we all so excited?

Well firstly if we take a glimpse at the main character Merida, she is definitely not your stereotypical princess. For instance she has a head full of ginger curly hair, a cheeky grin and carries around a bow and arrow! I was without a doubt a tad bit unsure of what to make of the princess's image at first. However as I started to watch the film I became engrossed in this Princess's personality! Merida is cheeky, funny and extremely stubborn which I personally believes relates a lot more to everyday girls than the like of Cinderlla and Sleepy Beauty did! I couldn't help comparing Merida to Disney's latest princess Rapunzel. Although they both have a completely different image, they both want to escape the hectic routine of everyday life and explore the world, simply trying to discover who they are. Disney have brought to the table a new character in which young girls will definitely aspire to be like as she brings excitement and freedom into the film.

Moreover Brave has many other awesome characters such as Fergus, Merida's father, Elinor, Merida's mother voiced by Emma Thompson and the witch voiced by Julie Walters. All theses characters play huge roles in the storyline which is as follows. Merida has grown up her whole life with routine, being prepared by her overly organised and controlling mother Elinor...Sounds almost like my mum! Once her mother organises a competition for all the kingdom's  Lords and their sons to compete in which the prize is Merida, Merida of course Rebels and runs off to the forest. In other words Princess Merida throws a strop. There she is led to the home of a witch whom at first seems harmless and friendly. However the witch gives Merida a spell in which to change her mother, of course Merida accepts as she is in a moment of fury and anger. I wont spoil to much of the story however Elinor's change is not what Merida had in mind and therefore the rest of the story is about how Merida must fight to get her mother back and their relationship is restored.

I love this film so much because Director Mark Andrews  also known for The Incredibles and Ratatouille, knows exactly how to pull on your heart strings. For example there are scenes which involve a young princess running away from home, riding on a horse in distress after a fight with her mother. Now as a young lady myself I have obviously experienced the emotional pubescent age where I would fight with my mother so I could relate to this scene quite well. Also there are some scenes where you are sat on the edge of your seat as Merida has to fight against bear in the middle of a dark and eery forest amongst the ruins of an old castle! You simply have no idea what is around the corner when watching this film which is what I loved about it!

However when watching Brave I couldn't help but have a few concerns. For instance I'm not to sure how this film is directed at children. I know that sounds silly a kids film not for kids, but in all honesty when watching it there are quite a few dark scenes, full of shadows and eery music. Also the message that Disney and Pixar try to get across about Mother-Daughter relationships is sweet and heart-warming however they way they do it, ie through the form of forced marriage is slightly too grown up and formal for my liking. I know my sister Scarlett (6) absolutely loved this film she was especially enthusiastic towards Merida's younger triplets brothers who are the comedy throughout the film, causing mischiefs and turning into bears. On the other hand I know she was scared and found herself hiding in the cinema chairs at some of the more darker scenes such as when Merida finds herself lost in the Forest.

All in all I couldn't help but feel like the film was a bit bland almost like Crackers without Cheese, there was definitely something missing throughout this film, but it was Disney and Pixar's first film together so we can give them a little bit of leeway  I definitely recommend this as a family film, watch it with your children the first time and definitely bring popcorn. 5/10