Liam Neeson reprises his role of former CIA super spy and killing machine, Bryan Mills.

After saving his daughter from terrorists and killing at least half of Albania's bad guys in the first movie, the other half go after him in an attempt at revenge in Taken 2.

This time its Mills and his ex-wife, Lenore who are grabbed and its up to daughter Kim to help dad save them all. Maggie Grace reprises her role as Kim. Famke Janssen is Lenore.

Embedded into the plot is a hint of reconciliation between Mills and his former bride.

Written by Luc Beeson and Robert mark Kamen, who did the first film, and directed by Olivier Megaton, Taken 2 is a tedious rehash of the same bad writing, acting and editing of the original. Feel sorry for the stars of this bomb. All are better actors than the material they are given. Neeson and his co-stars are forced to toss off awful lines while we sit through non-interesting, and mostly boring fight scenes and action scenes. Those sequences are chopped into indecipherable pieces thrown at you at mind-numbing speed.

And Taken 2 takes us to where? The same disappointing, and for emphasis we say it again, boring place the first film took us in 2008. And the film's title is an irresistible source of punny fodder. Here's one. Taken 2 where and Taken 2 too long to get there.

We'll spare you any more. Besides the best puns have already been -- er, um, dare we say? -- taken.

Director: Olivier Megaton

Stars: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen

Rated PG-13 for mature themes. It is playing at the Carmike 12, the Fairchild Cinemas 12 and at Walla Walla Grand Cinemas.

5 stars to 4 1/2 stars: Must see on the big screen

4 stars to 3 1/2 stars: Good film, see it if it's your type of movie.

3 stars to 2 1/2 stars: Wait until it comes out on video.

2 stars to 1 star: Don't bother.

0 stars: Speaks for itself.