Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes.
Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Yes, unless you dislike crime dramas.
Score: 3.75/5
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 110 minutes (~1.75 hours)
“Cold War 2 (寒战II)” is a crime thriller that’s a sequel to 2012’s “Cold War.” The police officers continue to feel the repercussions of the previous movie’s actions, and a new menace lurks in the city. It stars Aaron Kwok (Sean Lau), Tony Leung (M.B. Lee), Chow Yun Fat (Oswald Kan), Eddie Peng (Joe Lee), Charlie Young (Phoenix Leung), Aarif Lee (Billy Cheung), and Janice Man (Bella Au). It is rated PG-13.
The best part about “Cold War 2 (寒战II)” is the three-way power struggle between the three big stars of the show. Although there is a greater threat that forces a grudging alliance of sorts towards the end of the film, it’s the clash of the three titans that creates such magnificent conflict. If this were set a few hundred years ago, it would definitely have been classified as an epic, rather than a drama. As a sequel, it manages to be a good standalone film too by quickly summarising the events of the previous movie, and helpfully labelling all the characters the first time they appear on screen. With such a gargantuan cast, we need all the help we can get remembering their names.
Highlights
Titanic stakes
There are personal stakes (with characters seeing their families kidnapped), larger stakes (the fate of the police force), and then titanic stakes (all of Hong Kong), which drive the characters to embark on their different courses of action. The characters themselves realise just how much is riding on their decisions, and this sense that they could shatter the world with just one wrong move is what gives the film such power and impact. It’s not just the weight of the world on their shoulders, as their private and intimate relationships are also jeopardised in the course of the film.
A fast-paced cat and mouse game
“Cold War 2 (寒战II)” plays out like giant game of chess. It’s breathtaking to see how each of the players tries to outwit each other in this three-way battle for supremacy, even while they protect their own self-interests. The way they outmanoeuvre each other is a thrilling contest of wits, and their reactions and counterattacks show us why they have risen to their respective positions of power.
Powerful confrontations
Aaron Kwok, Tony Leung, or Chow Yun Fat alone could have helmed the film. The presence of these three screen greats creates memorable showdowns when their respective characters find themselves in fierce opposition to each other. What makes it all the more dramatic is that there’s a puppet master who’s pulling all their strings, and generates great excitement as we see them try to figure it out.
Letdowns
Oswald Kan’s disappearance
He’s set up to be a significant character in this film, being the third party in the rivalry between MB Lee and Sean Lau, yet he disappears immediately once his plot purpose is fulfilled. It’s like the movie doesn’t even care that he’s a vital part of the story, and drops any references to him after that. A gentler exit, or even a tease about his future appearances, would have worked in this character’s favour.
Climax was unexpectedly small
In the end, the battle turns out to be less of an amazing showdown, but more of a fight by proxy. The loser is checkmated into position, and logically there isn’t much else he can do. But it brings no closure to the simmering anger between the main characters, and seems like an excuse to keep everyone around for the next film. In a movie where there were so many awe-inspiring moments, the climax feels like a flaccid whimper.
“Cold War 2 (寒战II)” is an epic battle of personalities.
“Cold War 2 (寒战II)” opens in cinemas 8 July, 2016 (Friday).
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