BLU-RAY REVIEW

Taken 2

Featured In Issue 174, February 2013

Picture5
Sound5
WSR Score5
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
2283296
(MPAA Rating):
PG-13 / Unrated
(Rating Reason):
Intense sequences of violence and action and some sexuality
(Retail Price):
$39.99
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Dual Layer (BD-50)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
92 / 98
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2012
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
01/15/13
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
Olivier Megaton
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
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(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

Liam Neeson return as Mills, the retired CIA agent who stopped at nothing to save his daughter Kim (Grace) from kidnappers. When the father of one of the villains Bryan killed swears revenge and takes him and his wife hostage in Istanbul, Bryan must enlist the help of Kim to escape. Bryan then employes his unique tactics to get his family to safety and systematically take out the kidnappers one by one. (Gary Reber)

Both the theatrical (01:32:07) and unrated (01:38:18) versions are available. Special features include five deleted scenes (HD 06:56), an alternate ending (HD 25:00), the Bonus View "Black Ops Field Manual" (unrated version only), the featurette "Sam's Tools Of The Trade" (03:32), Fox Movie Channel Presents (HD 05:01), the theatrical trailer, upfront previews, BD-Live functionality, and an UltraViolet digital copy.

The 1080p AVC picture is terrific, with a wonderful cinematic appearance. The imagery exhibits a gritty, dense quality with bluish gray hues. Fleshtones are nicely balanced throughout and natural. Colors are strongly saturated. Contrast is excellent with deep, solid blacks and revealing shadow delineation. Resolution also is excellent, with fine details exhibited in facial features, hair, clothing, and object texture. The overall impact of the visuals really intensifies the tenseness of the storytelling. This is an exciting visual experience that won't disappoint. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-channel soundtrack is aggressively spatial and immersive, with a driving, warm string orchestral and rhythmic synthesizer score that completely envelops the soundfield and builds excitement. Atmospherics and sound effects are effectively integrated, for a natural soundscape, with enhanced effects to enhance the action and tension—such is immersive and directionally enveloping. Deep bass extension to sub-25 Hz frequencies emphasizes the action scenes and effectively stirs the emotions. Dialogue is naturally delivered with an integrated spatial balance. This is an exciting and tense sonic experience that builds intensity. (Gary Reber)