White Storm 2: Drug Lords 扫毒2

[abcdefg]

Hong Kong crime action at its best, in the tradition of early 周润发 (Chow Yun Fat) flicks. All star cast, many familiar faces, intelligent directing. If you like a film in which there are innovative car chases and lots of things get blown up, consider seeing this. Plenty of sex, drugs, and no-holds-barred violence. Themes of people trying to change their lives and go straight, mixed loyalties, shifting alliances and unforeseen betrayals. Wily crooks; upright cops. Triad bosses and young punks. Lots of shoot 'em up. 

 

Spoiler

Near the end, approaching the final shootout, Andy Lau, the unstoppable 刘德华，takes a page from the 周润发 and John Woo 呉宇森 playbook. He loads up a dozen or so Beretta 92's plus a bunch of spare high-cap mags, to go face his nemesis. A great touch for people who remember "A Better Tomorrow"  英雄本色。(1986.)   

 

Don't take the kids or your prudish Aunt Mabel. 

 

The version (中国大陆) I saw was in Chinese, but the language was understandable with the exception of some slang. Best seen on the big screen, not your mobile phone. A thoroughly-enjoyable summer film. It has my 5-star endorsement. 

[mungouk]

 

10 hours ago, abcdefg said:

Hong Kong crime action

 

Is the spoken track in Cantonese or Mandarin? 

 

[abcdefg]

The version I saw was the 中国大陆 version. Spoken track in Mandarin; subtitles in Simplified Chinese.

 

This film is nearing the end of its run, at least in Kunming. If you want to see it, better not wait long. 

[Balthazar]

17 hours ago, mungouk said:

Is the spoken track in Cantonese or Mandarin? 

 

Original is in Cantonese, which isn't surprising as it's a Hong Kong film. But as with most Hong Kong films, it's dubbed into mandarin for release on the mainland and Taiwan.

 

Thanks for the writeup @abcdefg, I'll watch this when it becomes more easily available (probably not going to be released for cinema here).