With July Right Around the Corner.....

........you know what's comin' folks. That's right, the Four Corner's Official Top and Next Destinations Lists. Let's get right to it:

The Top Destinations List remains unchanged, because I have not traveled since March. March! That's three months gone not exploring the planet! Write your Congressman, stage a hunger strike, do something folks to protest this gross injustice! Ahem, right, ok, well, here it is, remember, in no particular order:

1. Istanbul, Turkey
2. Buenos Aires, Argentina
3. Tel Aviv, Israel
4.Barcelona, Spain
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Jerusalem, Israel
7. Kyoto, Japan

Now, for the Next Destinations List. Exciting stuff here folks. I have, for the sake of my readership, decided to make a change to this section. Instead of listing the places that I most want to go next, I will focus on writing down some travel destinations that one might not hear too much about, don't receive a lot of attention, aren't considered typical places to visit, or just plain fly in under the radar. They are all still places that I want to go, but then again, I want to go everywhere (the representatives from Somalia, North Korea, Libya, and Afghanistan all perked their head up at that comment, but, sorry boys, get your shit together first). So, here is a newly improved Next Destinations List, shockingly sans Cape Town, South Africa.

1. Siem Reap, Cambodia- Siem Reap is located up the Mekong River from Cambodia's capital, Phnom Pehn. If you have heard of this place, it is because it is home to the Angkor Wat temple complex. Angkor Wat, a World Heritage Site, is home to over a thousand temples, and, looking at some photos of the place, it definitely looks like a must see. I have only heard good things about it. Hey, if it is good enough for UNESCO, it is good enough for me. However, it looks like the nearby city, Siem Reap, shouldn't be overlooked either. Check out the wikipedia page on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siem_Reap

2.  Ilha de Mocambique- OK, Siem Reap was cheating a bit, it is still a popular tourist destination, but I thought one still worth mentioning. Now were are getting into less traditional territory, but this destination, which translates from Portuguese as "Island of Mozambique" looks really sweet. The island lies off the coast of northern Mozambique, and it is linked to the mainland via causeway. It once served as a post for Arab traders, and its history and stone architecture also landed it on the UNESCO World Heritage list. It is small, both in terms of size and population, being home to only 14000 people. Now Mozambique is a developing country, and can probably get kind of uncomfortable, but it is a safe country, and its locale and any reputation that comes with it should not be an immediate turn off. This tiny island looks like a very nice step off the beaten path. A description, as provided by the folks at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_Mozambique

3. Varna, Bulgaria- Located in northeastern Bulgaria, Varna is a Black Sea resort town. Apparently it is a popular destination for Bulgarian vacationers, but the city looks pretty impressive. The wikipedia article has some good photos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varna, while Lonely Planet has got all the info: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bulgaria/black-sea-coast/varna

4. Lyon, France- I'm sure that many of France's other cities are overlooked for the country's tourism powerhouse, Paris, and Lyon is probably a case in point. It has history, architecture, culture, and good food. Just check out wikitravel's piece to see what we are all missing by just honing in on the City the Light: http://wikitravel.org/en/Lyon 

5. Kashgar, Urumqi, China- I unfortunately did not have enough time to make it to this part of China while I was there last year, but I intend to visit there at some point. Kashgar and Urumqi are two cities in China's Xinjiang province, located in the far west near the border with Kazakhstan. Though not as much as before, the Uyhgur ethnic group are still the main group in this province. The Uyghur are normally Muslim, and speak a language close to Turkish, and nothing like Mandarin. Oh, and their food is absolutely fantastic. I frequented some Uyghur restaurants in Beijing. With all the culinary delights in the city, that was my favorite. Kashgar was a stop on the famous Silk Road, but unfortunately it is losing some of its history as the government demolishes old buildings, ostensibly for safety reasons. I don't think there is an absolute ton to see in either city, and the area got bad press after violence broke out between Uyghur and Han Chinese in 2008, but to be in China,  in an area that is (for now) distinctly not Chinese, where there are mosques and the call to prayer can be heard, should be interesting indeed. For some reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashgar and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urumqi. Also, if you have 20 or so minutes, check out this documentary on Kashgar, produced by the always excellent Journeyman Pictures: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm4uVWNAc0k&feature=watch-now-button&wide=1 

6. Santiago, Chile- I think that Buenos Aires and various cities in Brazil eat up all of South America's attention, and it may be justified to an extent, but I am not going to overlook Santiago, Chile. It may not be alight with sites, but it looks a cosmopolitan city and should be good for a few days stay: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santiago_Chile


That is it for this month's installment of the Four Corners' Lists. I hope I performed up to snuff on the Next Destinations List. The end of the month kind of crept up on me, so I didn't have much time to perform research, and most of these places are off the top of my head. Granted, I have a lot of places up there just waiting to get mention.

Cheers. 

Movie Review- Winter's Bone: Deliverance, Part Deaux

If its depiction in this movie is true to life, then the Ozark Mountain area in Missouri is a pretty messed up place. On the most recent episode of "Real Time with Bill Maher" journalist David Carr referred to Missouri, Kansas, and other middle-America states as the "dance of the low-sloping foreheads". Now, I can't say he was  far off, because "Winter's Bone" makes the Ozarks look like a, lets say........strange place, indeed. I think I would rather walk around Beirut after night then check in with my fellow Americans in the Ozarks.

Right, anyway, to the movie. I had heard good things about it, it even got some recognition at the Oscars, even though "The King's Speech" just took everything home anyway. Not too many big names it in, and the director was no one I had ever heard of before. But it was still pretty damn good.

"Winter's Bone" tells the story of a 17-year old girl responsible for raising her two young siblings because her mother is in a persistent catatonic state and her father is long gone. Well, turns out she has to find her father, or else they will lose their house, since he put it up for his bond but skipped his court date. Nice dad. So begins the odyssey through what has to be one of America's creepier places. The women are pretty butched-out, people talk about cooking meth like it is an actual job, and everybody still calls the police "the law". Yikes. I think this setting is what made the story so interesting. It is part of America that one rarely ever hears about, but visiting it, or so it appears, would be akin to visiting another country......a third world one.

The acting all around was very good. Again, I can really attest to any of these actors' previous work, this is the first time I ran across them. Jennifer Lawrence plays the lead role, and does a very nice job. I think she was up for best actress award, and it was a deserving nomination. Her creeping, cocaine-snorting, chain-smoking uncle is played by a guy named John Hawkes, and I really liked his character. It was good to such performances from actors rarely ever heard about.

An interesting story, a fascinating (in a car-accident kind of way) setting, and overall solid performances made "Winter's Bone" a decent viewing.

Verdict: See it Grade: A

If you liked this movie you might also like: Skinning squirrels, making meth in your kitchen, and speaking grammatically incorrect English 

Movie Review- Kill the Irishman: Potato-eating Mick!

When you see a line-up that includes an actor few have probably every heard of (Ray Stevenson) in the main role, and has been actors like Vincent D'onofrio and Val Kilmer, you might be a little skeptical.

Don't be. "Kill the Irishman" is a fantastic film. You might say, well, it has Christopher Walken in it, and seeing as he is God, he probably carries the whole thing. Yes, Walken is indeed God, but he is only in like three or four scenes. Sure he is great in all of 'em, but those other guys I mentioned do a neat job, and the film was like a book that you couldn't put down. It grabbed your attention just like that.

"Irishman" tells the true story of Danny Greene, an Irish thug who became big stuff in the Cleveland mob scene during the 70s. If you didn't know that there ever was a mob scene in Cleveland, well, neither did I, but the industrial wasteland of the city served as a great back-drop for the story. Speaking of which, the story did at times bounce around so as to make it slightly confusing, but it wasn't too big a problem. Otherwise, it is pretty fascinating. Val Kilmer (sadly, he went the way of Seagal, he's a fat shit now), playing a detective in the CPD, narrates us through Danny Greene's exploits in Cleveland's crime scene, including run-ins with the Italian mob (Paul Sorvino makes an appearance in this picture, if you need an old Italian mobster who looks like he just eats pasta, meatballs, and Italian bread, Paul is your guy) and a Jewish gangster, played wonderfully by God-himself (see above). The movie had everything, some action, good acting, no hokey-lines that have become far too common in films nowadays, some nice dark-humor. The violence in the film was at times over the top, not grotesquely violent with blood squirting everywhere a la Tarantino, but nothing you could take all that seriously, which is I kind of like. You will have to see it to know what I mean. The only thing wrong with it was that Walken was, again, only in a few scenes. Hell, even the soundtrack was top-notch (I am a sucker for bagpipes though......).

And see it you should. A lot of movies out there today are crap. "Irishman" has only a modest rating of 7.1 on IMDB, while "Thor", the movie which made me come closest  to performing self-immolation, has a 7.4. What, may I ask, in the hell is going on? Its enough to make one shake their head and just pop in  their DVDs of "Saving Private Ryan" and the Jason Bourne trilogy to restore their faith. Well, "Kill the Irishman" flew under the radar, and it is a shame it did. I doubt it will get the attention it deserves. Well, its going to get it here.

Verdict: See it. Grade: A

If you liked this movie you might also like: potatoes, Bushmill's Whiskey,bagpipes, and directing ethnic slurs at fat Italian men.

Dreams: Cheap Entertainment

I promise not to make a habit of using this space for this reason, but this is too good to pass up.

I had a bizarre dream last night. I was inside, or so it appeared, a video game. If you know of the movie "Gamer" with Gerrard Butler, I haven't seen it, and I don't recommend it, but if you know the premise, you know what I am talking about. I was actually participating in the game, which was of the shooter variety. I was leading two girls, both of them unknown to me, through increasing changing environs. Jungle, urban areas, fields, the whole nine yards.

We eventually reached the end of the game, or map, or whatever, which was filled with cow pens. Still with me? Ok, so, apparently one of our enemy (aka, one of the other players) was patrolling one of the cow pens. The thought occurred to me that there was some sort of blade available in that cow pen, so, leaving my two female partners behind, I sneaked into the pen, grabbed the weapon and sliced one of the cow's throats. Why this was an important element of the game I don't know.

So, having accomplished that minor mission, John Cusack, yes, the actor John Cusack, randomly appeared in the game and told me, in no uncertain terms, that I needed to raise my situational awareness.

Then I woke up. 

Bridges

BBC Travel can usually be counted on for some neat stuff. I am a fan of suspension bridges, and here they have a short photo essay of some of the better one's around the World:

http://www.bbc.com/travel/gallery/20110616-worlds-most-spectacular-pedestrian-bridges

You will notice the Puente de Mujer listed. That is, of course, where your humble correspondent once tread in Buenos Aires.

They have some other neat stuff on that site as well, check the bottom for some other photo essays.

More to come.......

Movie Review- Battle Los Angeles: Black Hawk Down with Aliens

Aliens invade earth. If they aren't stopped, the human race will be wiped out, or at least significantly decreased. What an original plot line. Never been done before.

Ok, despite the derisory opening remark, Battle Los Angeles is actually a pretty fun movie. Aliens invading earth, Los Angeles being one of their main points of attack, and they are here for our water. Thank God, just don't let them get to our porn. Ahem, right, so this isn't the most original of screenplays, but its implementation was pretty solid, and made for a decent hour and fifty minute viewing.

Aaron Eckhart plays a Staff Sergeant bound for retirement when the attack hits, and he is assigned to a squad led by a young Lieutenant. While out on patrol on the streets of LA they are ambushed, and it was all a roller coaster ride from there. The action was virtually non-stop and intense, the camera movement and choreography were both quite good. The CGI was also not bad either. The film could have been ruined by bad effects, but Battle LA did a good job here. The attention to detail, such as aliens showing injury or reloading their weapons, was top notch, or so I thought.

It obviously was not without its downfalls. The acting and, in particular, the dialogue, were pretty bad. Basically any movie involving aliens and lots of gunfights features Michelle Rodriguez. This is quite unfortunate, since she is a joke of an actress. I actually think there is a collective joke in Hollywood amongst screen-writers and directors to give her the worst lines they can think of, and just see how funny/awful she will sound saying them. "Hey, Rodriguez is in this film, lets make every line she has an a terrible cliche". Aaron Eckhart, who I think is pedestrian to begin with, didn't really shower himself in glory either. Bridget Moynahan (she's a cutie, you can disagree on this point, but I still think so) had a minor role, as did Michael Pena. Pena is the guy that everybody picks when they need an Hispanic character. "OK, so Mr. Rincon is obviously Hispanic, any ideas on who can take this role?.......nothing, really? No suggestions at all? Christ, get Pena on the phone....." Its ok though, I expected the acting and dialogue to be bad, I just wanted to see shit get shot up/blown up on Nick Decker's big screen HD television.

Verdict: Give it a rent, especially if you have a big screen. Grade: B

If you liked this movie you might also like: War of the Worlds, Independence Day, District 9...shall I go on?

WE INTERUPT THIS BROADCAST

Tickets for Australia in February 2012 have been booked! Mark it on your calender folks, your humble correspondent, from the 10-25, will be down under. Expect me to battle dingos, play the didgeridoo with aborigines, and to say "bloke" and "mate" for two weeks straight.

Sydney is a definite. Other destinations remain up in the air. Melbourne and Perth are the leading contenders, but there are other options. Be sure to watch this space.

With that out of the way, planning for a sooner trip, Southeast Asia, is underway. Bangkok for sure, but Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia could sneak their way in. Back with more on that.

Normal service has been resumed. 

Travel Update- Got Austerity Measures?

This blog is all about (well, for the most part at least) travel, right? Well, here you go:

Planning a trip to Greece? Birthplace of civilization, democracy, and the gyro. Should be good. But for the moment, maybe you should reconsider.

I think Greece's economic crisis is pretty well documented. Well, if you really just have to make it to Athens, be sure to bring your riot gear:

http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures/slideshow?articleId=USRTR2NP17#a=1

That is right in front of the Greek Parliament, at the end of Syntagma square, one of the city's more popular areas.

Oh and, another thing. When I went to Athens last year, it was still considered one of the safest cities in Europe. I found that a bit strange, seeing as people could be seen openly using drugs on the street during the daylight hours and prostitutes would make themselves known in some spots (ok, I am assuming they were ladies of the night, they gave that vibe). Well, according to the trusty New York Times, violent crime is spiking in the city. This includes knifings, and robberies involving criminals wielding Kalashnikov rifles. Yeep!
If you don't believe me, check out the article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/world/europe/15iht-greece15.html

So, Greece, and Athens in particular, might not be your best bet for a travel destination at the moment. If you are just in a Balkan state of mind, here are some perhaps lesser-known options.

Mostar, Bosnia-Herznegovina. I will let the article and the photos do the talking:
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/946

Croatia, including the capital Zagreb ( I have it heard resembles Vienna, Prague and Budapest. Which, you know, is pretty good company), and the beautiful Adriatic cities of Dubrovnik and Split.
Here is some stuff:

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/croatia/dalmatia/split   Lonely Planet Guide to Split, Croatia

http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Croatia/Dalmatia_Dubrovnik_Region/Dubrovnik-387793/TravelGuide-Dubrovnik.html    Virtual Tourist Guide to Dubrovnik, Croatia

http://wikitravel.org/en/Zagreb Wikitravel Article on Zagreb.

So there are some other places that will put you in the Balkans and close to the sea, without having to worry too much about economic collapse, riots, and getting shanked for your wallet.

On another note, expect a lot more postings with neat articles/photo essays that I happen upon. The Matt Taibbi article from yesterday is a good example. The above links really don't count, I just found it my journalistic/travel-junkie duty to inform you that Greece, while still an interesting place to visit, is probably best moved down the list for the moment (Also: If you are from the Greek government/tourism authority, my apologies).

A quick word....

If you enjoyed my recap of the first Republican Presidential Debate, check out Matt Taibbi's thoughts on his Rolling Stone blog:

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/taibblog/bachmann-won-and-other-thoughts-on-the-gop-debate-20110614

Matt is one of my favorite writers and commentators. If you don't normally follow him, try to pick up the habit, he has always got something insightful/freaking hilarious to say.

Right, anyway, expect some changes on this blog folks, they are in the works. It might take some time, but I really want to move this along, don't get impatient on me though.

First Republican Presidential Debate: Yawn Factory

First, lets take a look at the "roles" that each candidate assumed:

Asshole-Newt Gingrich
Crazy Bitch-Michelle Bachmann
Token Black Guy-Herman Cain
Religious Freak-Rick Santorum
Guy Who Looks Like He Accidentally Walked on Stage- Tim Pawlenty
Crazy Grandfather- Ron Paul
 Greasy Businessman-Mitt Romney (I wouldn't buy a used car from him)

The first question asked was by an elderly Hispanic with a heavy accent. The candidates probably wanted to get him deported. He asked about the economy and how to get people back into jobs, and of course all the candidates just got down to slamming Obama and never really laid out their own plan. Go figure. Bachmann, sticking to her role, didn't bother to answer the question, but did the equivalent of saying "I like turtles" and  said that she had just filed to run for President before the debate. Good start.

It was all down-hill from there folks. Awful debate, if a debate is what you want to call it. There was more agreement at this thing than in the North Korean parliament. None of the candidates even attempted to call out any of their opponnents, but instead had nothing but praise for eachother. Massive circle-jerk (Michelle Bachmann somehow included in that as well) if there ever was one. It was more like a roast of President Obama, except not very funny, than it was a debate. Everyone made sure to get a good shot in, including Ms. Bachmann "I guarantee, President Obama will be a one-term President!" Wanna guess how many terms Michelle Bachmann will have as President? The same number that Anthony Wiener will have as Mayor of New York City.  Tim Pawlently, who apparently called the healthcare plan Obomney care, in reference to its similarity to the health bill passed in Massachusetts while Romney was governor, totally dodged John King's question on this point. He just said it was an allusion to the fact that Obama himself compared it to the Massachusetts plan. Way to go out and get him, Tim, a real-knock out punch there. Romney might as well just drop out now.

I really can't remember anything special from this debate, and I watched all two hours. Thats a good indication of how poor it was. If the Bruins hadn't scored 4 goals in the first period against the Canucks last night, I probably would have watched the Stanley Cup game instead of this mess. Here are some highlights though:

Most un-ashamed "back-rub" moment- Rick Santorum totally going out of his way to lavish praise on Newt Gingrich for his work while Speaker of the House. Apparently he didn't have much to say about Newt for cheating on his wife while she had cancer though.

Worst Answer- Herman Cain. He was quizzed on his purportedly stating he wouldn't feel comfortable selecting a Muslim to be in his cabinet. He said that was taken out of context. You see, there are two kinds of Muslims, the good kind, and those that want to kill us. He said he would feel uncomfortable having the second type in his administration. Well, thank God we got that cleared up. Serioulsy Herm? I mean, you are pretty much harmless, but that was embarassing. Even members of the audience could be seen looking down at the floor, feeling sorry for the guy as he self destructed. Here Herm, here is a pistol, now aim it at your foot, that's right.....

Most Outrageous Claim- Tim Pawlenty, "The Minnesota Meat-Packer", as I have dubbed him. When asked on who made the better Vice-prez pick in 2008, Obama or McCain, he said that Joe Biden has been wrong on everything that has ever happened in the history of man, including the partitioning of Iraq. He asserted that Iraq is now a "shining example" of democracy in Iraq. Really? If car bombs, political assassinations, and heavy U.S. troop presence are the characteristics of utopia, then bully to you Tim. He also claimed that Sarah Palin is just as qualified to be President as anyone on that stage. Well, a majority of voters from your own party happen to disagree on that point, and actually hope that she stays the fuck away from the race. Well done Timmy, well done. Would you like to make comment on her qualifications as a history teacher?

Most Hypocritical Moment- Everyone one on the stage, save Ron Paul, on two counts. First, Libya. Everyone thought that joining the Libya fight was a mistake, but yet called out Obama for not taking the lead on the mission, instead deferring to NATO. Well, which is it going to be folks? Want him to take the helm but not commit any forces? Does that make any sense at all? Didn't think so. The other thing, gay marriage. The whole night all the candidates droned on and on about limiting government and letting to states take care of business. Personal matters like gay marriage though? No way, we need a constitutional amendment to ensure that none of that monkey-business takes place. Only Ron Paul said it is a matter for the Church to decide on, not the federal government. OK, so lets just be sure that the government interferes with our personal lives, but provisioning healthcare to everyone? Fuck that.

Dumbest Question(s)- The little "this or that" game John King played with each candidate, so we can get to "know" them better. Mitt Romney was asked "Mitt, spicy or mild"?. Thank God I now know he is "spicy" kind of guy, be sure to put some picante sauce on his fish at his inaguration dinner. Herm Cain will have the deep-dish pizza though, no thin crust for that fellow. Ron Paul was asked "Blackberry or iPhone" and it looked like he actually had to think for a second what those two things actually were before answering Blackberry in a very unsure way. Gingrich didn't skip a bit with his question though, he would take American Idol over Dancing with the Stars any day. Says all I need to know about you Newt: Asshole.

Thats it for now folks, I hope you could derive something useful from this recap. Hopefully the next debate won't be such a traveshamockery, and maybe, just maybe, the candidates will actually, I don't know, have a debate.

Movie Review-The Hangover Part II: Deja Vu

If it ain't broke, why fix it? The first "Hangover" film made loads of money, so, why don't we just change the setting, tweak the storyline just a tiny amount, and call it "Part II"? I imagine this is what the the people behind this film had in mind while making it. The premise and progression of the storyline are almost exactly like the first installment. The gang is together a couple days before one of their weddings. Go out for a drink. Wake up the next day in some random location having no recollection of what happened the night before. One of them is missing. Shit, what do we do now.........?

But it is still freakin' hilarious. I didn't really care that the story became predictable, or that almost all he plot elements from the first film featured in this one, you see a comedy to laugh, and laugh I, and the rest of the audience, did. Zach Galifinakis' insane character, Alan, is still a hoot, Bradley Cooper still holds his own as Phil and Ed Helms, of "The Office" fame, is indispensable as the neurotic, soon-be-married-to-an-incredibly-good-looking-Thai-girl Stu. The disaster-filled voyage to find out just what the hell happened the night before, and all the raunchy humor that follows, didn't get old, at least for me, the second time around.

Verdict: See it, its still a real riot. Don't bother seeing it in theaters though, $9.25 is too high for ANY movie.
Grade: A-

If you liked this movie you might also like: I am going to go out on a limb here and suggest the first "Hangover".  

Movie Review- Unknown: The Poor Man's Jason Bourne

Unknown is actually an ironic name for this film. I am pretty sure I have seen this somewhere before. A man is pulled out the water (albeit this time after a car accident), can't remember who he is, all of the sudden has assassins chasing him around a European capital (Berlin in this case), and enlists a woman's help to find out just what the hell is going on. Sound familiar? Yes, Liam Neeson's "Unknown" really didn't bother trying to differentiate itself very much from the Greatest Trilogy Ever Made (my own terminology, but you can use it if you like), the Jason Bourne series......

But it is a  poorer version. Have you ever been in a Dollar General or some "dollar only" store and seen a package of Oreos (that, oddly enough, are a lot more than a dollar) and then see the cheap knock-off, called Dollar O's or Choco O's are anything else with an O in it? Well, the Bourne trilogy is like the Oreos, and "Unknown" is the cheap knock-off. The storyline was not as good, the choreography and fight scenes were poor, the acting and dialogue laughable at times (one gem: Assassin: You really have forgotten everything haven't you? Neeson: I haven't forgotten how to kill you, ASSHOLE!) and the general flow of the film didn't feel right. Even the obligatory car chase scene wasn't up to the Bourne standard. One advantage though? This movie had Dianne Kruger. She is a cutie. The women from the first Bourne film wouldn't have auditioned well as a Bond girl, if you know what I mean.

I was a fan of the setting, but the only real good shot of the city came at the very end, as the credits were rolling. Despite what I said about the storyline, it is interesting enough to at least make you want to see how things turn out. Unfortunately, again, the acting was really substandard at times, but I blame it on the writers. As evidenced above, the dialogue just could not be taken seriously. Neeson, Kruger, Frank Langella, and Bruno Ganz are decent actors in their own right (lately, the jury has been out on Neeson, he has made some puppy dogs) but this movie didn't really help their cause at all. I thought it would be like "Taken", but it was not as fast-paced and even the action wasn't as good. Fans of that film will probably be disappointed. At least much of the dialogue was in German this time, unlike in "Taken", where there was zero attempt to use the languages of the locales.

Verdict: If you are really desperate, maybe give it a rent, but I can't seriously recommend it. See the Bourne trilogy again instead. Grade: C-

If you liked this movie you might also like: mediocrity in general. Not to beat a dead horse, but if you liked this movie, you will LOVE the Bourne flicks.