While we know that humans sometimes act like cats, the film’s assertion that the cats are just like us is somewhat dubious. With a little imagination, however, we can see some remarkable similarities. Sari is known as “the Hustler” who makes the rounds every morning, roaming the streets, shops, and houses to corral some food to bring back to her kittens. The black and white Psikopat is called “the Psycho,” a familiar label often used in our political culture today. Psikopat has earned this moniker because she is aggressive, brooks no incursions on her territory, makes sure that she eats first before leaving some food for her husband, and chases away cats that make a play for her husband.

Gamsiz is called “the Player,” another black and white cat who paws at the window of a bakery everyday looking for goodies and charms a woman who lives on the second floor of her building. Gaining entrance by sitting sideways alongside the glass door of her balcony and politely raising his paw in the air, the woman says that she cannot refuse the adorable Gamsiz. Taken care of by the community, we can also learn much about the benefits of compassion and caring on our own health and well being. One man tells us that his taking care of stray cats near the harbor helped him regain his sense of balance after he had suffered a nervous breakdown, saying that cats “remind us that we are alive.”

Caring for the cats is not a frivolous pastime for the residents of Istanbul. One handwritten sign warns people about removing the water cups nearby. “These cups are for cats and dogs,” the poster says. “If you don’t want to be desperate for a drink of water in the next life — don’t touch these cups.” As many cats as there are in the city, there are also plenty of stories. A sailor whose ship was destroyed during a storm claims that a cat pointed him to a lost wallet filled with enough money to repair his ship, though it would have been more impressive if the man had returned the wallet to its rightful owner.

One man has a religious approach. “Dogs think people are God, but cats don’t,” he says. “Cats are aware of God’s existence. Cats know that people act as middlemen to God’s will. They’re not ungrateful, they just know better.” Kedi is a love affair not only with the cats, but with the city of Istanbul itself. Remarkably photographed by cinematographer Charlie Wuppermann (“Blood Moon”) with the assistance of the lovely score of Kira Fontana, the camera takes us to side streets, bustling markets, and lively neighborhoods that are not on the list of recommended tourist attractions. “I really wanted to show the world that Istanbul isn’t like what we see in news headlines or a Bond movie or through a tour guide,” Torun says. “Capturing the real city was very important to me,” and the film indeed gives us a new sense of the city’s beauty and the diversity of its people.

Torun reports that since the film was made, the tramline has been paved over, buildings have changed and, because of gentrification, many of the charming spots seen in Kedi may have already disappeared. Whatever the reality of the city’s changing profile, the warmth and the film’s message of caring will continue to resonate.

Dishing out justice.

In 2008 audiences were wowed by ex-CIA operative Bryan Mills’ (Liam Neeson) skills in “Taken” as he put them to good use rescuing his daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) who had been snatched whilst on a holiday in Paris by Albanian gangsters. In Taken 2 it’s now a year or so on and Mills is called upon to put those savant-esque skills to use yet again — relatives of the gangsters are back to seek revenge for the loss of those that stood between Mills and his daughter.

Essentially Taken 2 is a flip-reverse of the first film. Instead of Mills hunting after human traffickers to get his daughter and her virginity back, the gangsters are tasked with tracking and chasing Mills, Kim and his ex-wife through picturesque Istanbul where they are on holiday. And whereas the original was very serious in nature, this sequel is, more often than not, quite tongue in cheek (even if not always intentional). The lessening of the drama was a smart move on director Olivier Megaton’s part; using Mills’ legendary skills and his overbearing love for his daughter as a source of “comedy” separates the films just enough so viewers won’t see the second installment as the simple rehash it really is.

What is unabashedly rehashed, though, is the fast pace that keeps audiences glued to the edge of their seats and the violent justice meted out by Mills that causes audiences to wince.

Liam Neeson has definitely reinvented himself as an action hero and thankfully he’s good at it. His ability to make viewers believe he can single-handedly beat the snot from mobs of “baddies” intent on harming him and his family is the big draw. There’s a sense of satisfaction watching justice get delivered so meticulously and over-the-top even though Megaton’s frantic camera work is often a hindrance and many of the premises drafted up by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen defy logic.

Taking aim.

Neeson isn’t alone to carry the film, though. Maggie Grace plays a more intrinsic role in Taken 2 as it’s now daughter Kim’s turn to do a sizable chunk of the saving (Mills, along with his wife, is also taken). She more than cuts the mustard as a tough teen despite probably being a little too old for the role. Famke Janssen on the other hand doesn’t fare so well, unfortunately. Her portrayal of Mills’ ex-wife, Lenore, is slightly on the cheesy, damsel-in-distress side and her character is severely underwritten.

As for the Euro sex-slavers, we never really get to learn anything about them, other than there are lots and lots of them available to be killed. Their kingpin, Murad (Rade Serbedzija), makes for a good sleazebag but really anyone could have been substituted in with similar results.

All in all, Taken 2 is sadly underwhelming in light of how unexpectedly brilliant the first film was. The paper thin plot suffers greatly from believability issues (these criminals are literally the dumbest criminals on Earth) dampening all sense of danger — we know precisely how every encounter is going to end well before the encounter even begins. Plenty of entertaining thrills are still to be had at the hands of Mills which is probably reason enough to give a look-see, but one has to question whether these skills will be enough to float a Taken 3 when it invariably gets green-lit.

Previous trailer can be seen here: Taken 2 Movie Trailer #1.

Taken 2 stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Rade Sherbedgia and Luke Grimes.

Taken 2 disrupts US and UK theaters on October 5, 2012.

Taken 2 stars Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Rade Sherbedgia and Luke Grimes.

Taken 2 disrupts US and UK theaters on October 5, 2012.