Writer: Roy Lim Jian-Min

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Watch this if you liked: "The Taking of Pelham 123", "Taken", "Banlieu 13"

A play on the James Bond novel and film classic "From Russia With Love", filmmaker Pierre Morel follows up on his "Taken" with yet another fast-paced espionage actioner that requires your fullest attention throughout the whole show, casting a resurgent John Travolta in a role similar to the one in "Taking Of Pelham 123". Expect to see John Travolta and Jonathan Rhys Meyers all over the historic and iconic monuments in Paris as the film is shot on location.

Without giving anything away, the plot of this adventure is very good and tight, keeping you engaged up until the end. It's just like Morel to keep us in this kind of suspense! The performances of the cast are wonderful and Travolta can be singled out as particularly intriguing to watch as Charlie Wax, the eccentric, trigger-happy secret agent who still manages to get the job done despite his unorthodox ways. This just shows how good an actor John Travolta really is. On the other hand, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a bit shaky in the beginning but he gives a solid turn for the second half of the film. The 'good cop, bad cop' routine is also given a decent run-out by the screenwriter in this buddy movie. Also, look out for a cameo by Travolta's wife Kelly Preston as an extra.

In retrospect, this is a testosterone-charged outing that is definitely a must-watch if you are an action fan. "From Paris With Love" may have less character development than "Taken" but it's still a highly entertaining and enjoyable flick. Let's keep a lookout for the other films by Morel that are currently in development: "Pursuit", "Signals" and "The Messenger".


Cinema Online, 22 February 2010