[Seulssine] 'The Outlaws 2' Ma Dong-seok's Iron Fist, Come On In, Bring Jang Chen, Got It?

[Lee Isul's Wise Cine Review]

Movie 'Crime City 2' Opens May 18
Return of Ma Dong-seok's 'Nuclear Fist'
Action Depicted Like a Game
Questions on 15+ Age Rating
Villain Kang Hae-sang Trapped in Clich?s Disappointing

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Running and grabbing, chasing and being chased, hitting and hitting again. Striking and countering, breaking and throwing, flying through the air. Relentlessly pounding with bare fists, lifting and slamming down, cornering the enemy. It’s a story of good overcoming evil, nothing more, nothing less. How will the movie 'The Outlaws 2,' packed with cinematic thrills that stimulate the peripheral nerves like a game, perform in the endemic theater market?

'The Outlaws 2' was unveiled on the afternoon of the 11th at a press screening held at Megabox COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It is the sequel to 'The Outlaws' (directed by Kang Yoon-sung), which was released in October 2017 and attracted 6.68 million viewers, achieving box office success. Lee Sang-yong, who participated as an assistant director in the previous film, took the helm as director. The action was choreographed by martial arts director Heo Myung-haeng, whom lead actor Ma Dong-seok trusts.

Continuing from the previous film, Ma Dong-seok plays Detective Ma Seok-do, anchoring the story. Following the first film set in 2004, the second installment shifts the timeline to 2008, four years after the Garibong-dong sweep operation.

The Geumcheon Police Station’s violent crimes unit is tasked with extraditing a suspect who fled to Vietnam back to Korea. Detectives Ma Seok-do (played by Ma Dong-seok) and squad leader Jeon Il-man (played by Choi Gwi-hwa) roll up their sleeves. They sense something suspicious about the suspect they meet on-site. They laugh at the suspect’s claim of turning himself in out of conscience, but the suspect keeps lying and refuses to speak. "It’s okay. I can know everything," Detective Ma says with a gentle face as he heads to the room of truth with the suspect.

Detective Ma learns about Kang Hae-sang (played by Son Seok-gu). Instinctively deciding he must catch this ruthless villain, he pursues him. After confirming each other’s presence, Hae-sang and Detective Ma engage in even fiercer confrontations.

'The Outlaws 2' shifts its setting to Vietnam. While one might expect exotic, humid, and pungent action scenes, it falls short of expectations. There are no scenes that truly capture the local charm; it only evokes the atmosphere of Vietnamese or Thai restaurants. If you expect action unfolding in new landscapes, it’s better to lower your expectations.

Of course, the charm of 'The Outlaws' lies in Ma Dong-seok. Because it’s Ma Dong-seok, scenes where enemies go down with a single punch are convincing, and there’s satisfaction in seeing villains soar to the ceiling without wearing a hero suit. While the previous film focused on introducing Detective Ma’s character, the sequel concentrates on showcasing his abilities in earnest. The returning action is exhilarating, and the humor is welcome.

A downside is some scenes that don’t quite connect with the previous film. The sound of Ma Dong-seok’s punches and the effects of people flying feel excessive. This choice was probably made considering audiences whose standards have been raised by Marvel movies, but Ma Seok-do is not a Marvel hero. As a detective wearing a T-shirt and jeans, it comes off as somewhat contrived. Ma Dong-seok himself is strong and entertaining enough, so it’s questionable whether there was a need to indulge in special effects.

It’s also disappointing in terms of plausibility. Of course, this is not a movie where you should overthink why certain characters behave as they do. However, it gives the impression of something catching on the foot while running at full speed. 'The Outlaws 2' suffers from loose directorial flaws. The film stays true to the fun that action provides. From the start, 'villains' and 'our side' appear. It kindly signals the beginning of the duel, and the scene where our side thoroughly defeats and beats the villains is impressively designed like a precise game.

The bus scene that decorates the climax is expected to be talked about for a long time. It recalls the bathroom showdown between Ma Seok-do and Jang Chen (played by Yoon Kye-sang) from the previous film. The action between the detective and the criminal on a city bus, the 'citizens’ feet,' delivers catharsis. The film excels in spatial settings such as elevators, buses, narrow corridors, and cars.

The flaw lies with the villain. Recently, there’s a saying that a hero movie lives only if the villain lives. However, Kang Hae-sang, played by Son Seok-gu, falls short of Jang Chen’s role. Given Ma Dong-seok’s significant presence, how the villain appears and what abilities he possesses are crucial.

When news of Son Seok-gu’s casting came out during the sequel planning stage, it was welcomed. As an actor with a chilling look on one side of his face, it was hoped that a villain surpassing Jang Chen would be born. Perhaps because expectations were high, the portrayal feels weak. The action is a repetition of clich?s from existing crime thrillers. It’s not particularly new, and the visual impact is lacking. Whether this is a directorial issue or the director’s intention, it’s regrettable.

There are quite a few blatantly brutal scenes. Some scenes naturally make you turn your head, but they are not new images. There are also scenes that make it hard to understand why the film received a 15+ age rating.

Actor Park Ji-hwan, who plays Jang Yi-soo, cannot be overlooked. With his lively performance, he preserves the original flavor of 'The Outlaws.' Jang Yi-soo, the leader of the Yi-soo faction, appears running a job placement agency after leaving his past behind, evoking nostalgia for the previous film. He plays an important role in refreshing the story and wrapping up the work with momentum. A very well-crafted character. If you were to pick the longest-lasting character in the series, it would be Jang Yi-soo without hesitation. Opens on the 18th. Rated 15 and over. Running time 105 minutes 55 seconds.