Along With the Gods: The Last 49 Days

A wonderful follow up to its predecessor, the movie picks up directly after the first. While I was doubtful on how they could make the story as compelling as the first one, this sequel delivers by focusing on the backstories of Ganglim and his crew. It also slowly builds around the previous story without retreading on the old plot. Furthermore, it also provides closure to the first part by seeing the aftermath of the events of the first movie. In fact, there are three layers of stories, the conclusion of the first part, Ganglim and his crew's backstories, and a new mission for the team while Ganglim is occupied. Jung-woo Ha returns as Ganglim and is every relatable while maintain a charismatic performance. Ji-Hoon Ju's character is given another side the audience has not seen, while the ever-likable Hyang-gi Kim's still shines. Dong Soek Ma's portrayal as the benevolent kitchen god is an great addition to the series, and his talent is not wasted. Plot-wise there are many twists and though some could be predicted, others are not. There are great after credit scenes too, and something that looks like the starting of a franchise. But the storytelling is still good, and most of the protagonists get to shine.