- Actors: Jing Wu, Tony Jaa, Simon Yam
- Director: Cheang Pou-Soi
- Format: Dolby, Dubbed, NTSC, Subtitled, THX, Widescreen
- Language: Mandarin Chinese, English
- Subtitles: English
- Dubbed: English
- Number of discs: 1
- Rated: Not Rated
- Studio: Well Go USA
- Release Date: July 19, 2016
- Run Time: 121 minutes
While the plot
is heavily reliant on moments of coincidence and melodrama which demand more
suspension of disbelief than the physical feats created with wire-work, Kill Zone 2 provides a showcase for the
most thrilling martial arts and impressive camera choreography an action film
has seen since The Raid 2. Even with
the loss of the two biggest names from the original 2005 film, this loose
sequel stands on its own merits and provides Tony Jaa with his best cinematic
opportunity in years as their replacement. Moments of the story’s drama and
some convoluted non-linear editing in the first act are far from perfect, but
all is forgiven whenever any of the film’s major action sequences begin.
Aside from a few
brief bouts, Kill Zone 2 takes its
time getting to the action, making audiences earn it by sitting through a
confusing opening act which jumps back and forth in time while introducing the
characters. Several actors from the first film return, but they seem to be
playing different characters. In any case, the story is new, involving an organ
trafficking business being run out of a prison in Thailand. When undercover police
officer Kit (Wu Jing) is discovered while working to expose the drug trade run
by Chinese crime lord Mun-Gong Hung (Louis Koo), he is sent to this prison
along with Hung’s own brother. The criminal mastermind is plagued with a heart
condition that is killing him, leaving only his sibling’s unwilling organ
donation as his chance for survival.
Kit’s
disappearance leads his uncle and colleague (Simon Yam) to defy orders and
track him to Thailand,
uncovering the conspiracy along the way. But these two need help in order to
survive, which is where the compassion of a prison guard named Chai (Jaa)
becomes their greatest asset. Rather coincidentally, Chai’s daughter is dying
from cancer and is desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant that the
corrupt prison warden (Zhang Jin) is able to provide. Even more coincidentally,
Kit is also a match for the marrow transplant, leading to some of the film’s
stranger sequences.
The moral
dilemma that Chai faces between morality and the safety of his daughter leads
down a predictable path, and eventually this pair teams up to take down all of
the bad guys. The elaborate set-up takes some work to get through, but it leads
to the typical physical resolution we watch these martial arts action films
for. While the film offers some variety in action, including a large scale
shootout in an airport terminal, it is the hand-to-hand combat which elevates Kill Zone 2. This includes the usual
final showdown in which the heroes are outnumbered and/or outmatched, but one
of the film’s most impressive sequences is a large scale prison riot that is
just as much about the choreography of the camera as it is the stunts completed
by the skilled performers.
Regardless of
how elaborate the set-up for Kill Zone 2
may be, it is a straightforward action film at its core. The film itself is far
from perfect. With a run-time of just over two-hours, the scales lean a bit
heavier on the side of melodrama rather than action, and some of these
sequences drive the story into silly territory. The final resolution also
relies on a strangely unnecessary scene involving a CGI wolf and out-of-place
voiceover from Chai’s daughter, but these are hardly enough to outweigh the
successful elements of the movie. Imperfect as it may be, Kill Zone 2 is a must-see for any dedicated action fans.
The Blu-ray
release provides an even more comprehensive way to experience the film for
those unable to witness the spectacle on a big screen. While the high
definition certainly helps enhance the slow motion sequences and subtle special
effects, it always amazes me how much the 5.1 HD surround sound increases the
impact of each punch thrown. Sound effects for martial arts movies have
improved greatly over the decades, and the impact of this work increases the
suspense in each sequence. The disc’s special features include a making-of
featurette for those who like to see how the stunts were accomplished.
Unfortunately there are only three segments of this featurette, each under
three-minutes long, but the deleted scenes include over seventeen-minutes of
additional footage. The film’s trailer is also included.
Entertainment Value:
9/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 8.5/10
Historical
Significance: 8/10
Special Features: 6.5/10
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