Fuerza Bruta

This time the presentation is far more refined and more smoothed around the edges! Almost all the issues that I have encountered on the previous occasion have been rectified except for a couple. We've got ourselves better fights, comparatively more space for the primary cast to breathe, and last but not least, a competent portraiture of an unrelieved and an unyielding antagonist, who will make you terrified.

But, hey you don't need to worry. Don Lee (Ma Dong-Seok) is here to save the day (yet again) with his overpowering charm and his heavenly fist, and boy oh boy! Doesn't he pack a punch!

Gilgamesh, I mean Ma Dong-seok, and his incomparable vigor is the star of this devilishly entertaining action-thriller-comedy. The plot might tad shaky in its focus, but the film never strays in delivering its ravishing thrills.

I would like to note that I've been up on Don Lee for a minute. Ever snice I saw Champion (quite literally a Korean adaption of Over the Top), and before he did the Eternals, which unfortunately, was not the movie to introduce the Train to Busan star to American audiences.

My man is going for a Slyvester Stallone style here. For me as an American it's very much a though back to 80s and 90s action movies, before the Kenau Reeves era. He's so tough, that he's got a bad ass guitar riff score he enters all his coolest scenes to.

The action is raw and brutal, like we kind of expect from a Korean film. These guys don't shy away from the violence. Plus, it's a good and gritty police drama at its core. I had so much fun seeing it in theatres man!

Plus, I discovered it's a Sequel to another movie! I got to see that now!!

After months of waiting got to see the sequel to my all time favorite action thriller, The Outlaws. Just like a million other reviews I have only good things to say about the Round Up and yes it thrilled me to bits. Unlike the first movie Deputy Ma has softened up and he is seen laughing and having fun. I liked the earlier version of Ma, he was damn serious and made everyone who watched him laugh..the Venom-Jang Isu compromise scene for example. The Round Up also has a flamboyant musical score, projecting Ma as 'the beast cop', very cliched. The Outlaws on the other hand had a subdued score which came alive ferociously only at the right time. The title scene and Ma and boys approaching the Venom thugs gave me goosebumps. MOWG..what a composer. In the Round Up the supporting cast gets a lot of screen time, Jang Isu, The rookies,Dong-gyun all gets to do some rollicking action.

Of course the icing on cake is Sukku Son, brutal and fits the role to the t. The final confrontation should go to some action hall of fame. Ju Seong-rims' camera and Kim Sun-mins' cuts are top notch.

With all due respect to Sang Yong Lee, kindly bring back Yoon Seon Kang as director and Mowg as composer for the franchise. Please..

This movie kicked major butt!!! Excellent acting, witty writing and precisely choreographed action sequences really brought it in this Korean cop action film. Apparently it's a sequel, but honestly you would never know it. The film holds its own quite well. It was very reminiscent of the Steven Seagul movies from the 80's & 90's, in which there is a lot of awesome fight scenes, but it also has a story that kept you interested throughout. I highly recommend this one for fans of Korean films, or action films in general. 4 hard punches out of 5.