Chasing The Dragon 2: The Wild Wild Bunch (2019) Review
Chasing The Dragon 2: The Wild Wild Bunch (2019)
Directed By:Wong Jing & Jason Kwan
Starring: Tony Leung Ka Fai, Louis Koo, Lam Ka Tung, Sabrina Qiu, Sherman Ye
Synopsis: Based on real-life crimes that terrorized Hong Kong in the 1990s, Logan (Tony Leung Ka Fai) is the head of leading a notorious human trafficking gang, abducting the children of Hong Kong’s elite. Police forces decide to send in Sky (Louis Koo), a Hong Kong undercover agent whose mission is to infiltrate and save
the hostages, all while bringing the gang and their leader to justice in this action-packed thriller.
Review: I was fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to view this movie before release, and if I’m being honest I missed the first movie, but it seems to have a whole different cast, so I am assuming it’s kind of like the SPL series, the movies are only linked by name.
I thought this movie was going to be an actioner but I was pleasently surprised to see it was a solid thriller. Tony Leung Ka Fai is our main villain Logan Long, but he plays Logan so charasmatic and charming, and is a solid leader, calling his crew his ‘Family’. Sherman Ye plays Logans biological brother, Farrell Long. Farrell has a gambling addiction and constantly uses his brothers notoriety as a bragging right. He is the main reason Logan is constantly needing money. But no matter how much of a burden he is Logan never turns his back on him. On the good side of the law we have Louis Koo who stars as Sky He. Sky was the leader of a special explosives unit in the Hong Kong PD, he reluctantly gets signed up to go undercover in Logans gang by his best friend Hong Kong Police Inspector Li Qiang (Simon Yam).
The movie has its clear boundaries, good guys and bad guys, but in all honesty I found Logan quite awesome, his charisma and how he treated his team is very similar to the way Dom from The Fast And Furious treated his ‘Family’ and then Louis Koo played the sort of Brian Character, as he goes undercover to infiltrate the gang. Instead of hijacking trucks this group kidnaps the richest in HK to get their loot.
The movie itself is very well acted and you really get to see every side to all the characters and the pacing of the movie is great, their is never a dull moment and you don’t find yourself drawn to your phone or any other distraction, especially with the moments involving Louis Koo having to disarm bombs or make bombs for Logan’s group. Their is the constant feeling that Logan may actually get the upper hand on the good guys as he always seems one step ahead and knows how to play his hand whtrn it comes to his kidnapping plots. The finale of Chasing The Dragon 2 is quite enjoyable we are treated to a shoot out followed by a car chase, both are well executed and are not over the top, which adds a great element of realism. The ending for myself was unexpected and while I can’t delve into it, I did find it a unique way to finish the film.
Once again the Asian Cinema market has made a solid thriller, filled with great characters and on the edge of your seat suspense!!
