KILLZONE 2 - original title SHA PO LANG 2 - is a belated sequel to the Donnie Yen-starrer of the early 2000s, not that it has anything to do with that movie. As a film, it's a mixed bag, with a little too much influence from mainland China to be truly successful. The film is mired down with bad direction (from the guy who did NEW BLOOD, a similarly poorly-directed B-movie) and a rather convoluted storyline that mixes in a corrupt prison warden with a plot involving illegal organ harvesting and the like. Truth be told, none of this is very interesting, so it's a good job that a top cast helps to make the tired material work. Wu Jing is typically dynamic as the hero of the hour, but my money's on Tony Jaa as the main man here, and it's great to see him delivering hard-knuckle action once more. Further along in the cast list, veteran stars Simon Yam and Ken Lo elevate the work by their presence, Louis Koo gets an odd little incognito role, and Zhang Jin's big bad is spoilt by an excess of wirework. Still, the action scenes are generally dynamic and exciting, although there's not enough of them. Jaa battles Jing in a couple of fun fights, there's a big bus set-piece, some prison brawling, and then an extended bout at the climax. None of it is fantastic, but it passes the time well enough and lifts the spirits a little. A shame about that unresolved literal cliffhanger ending, though.
Review of Kill Zone 2
