SPL 2: A Time for Consequences (2015)

Alright, as most people i saw this movie and tough damn its Killzone 2, the first one was very good, and it got Tony Jaa, must be a kick ass movie right? Not to mention finally Tony do something else than traditional Thai "villager movies". Don't get me wrong, Ong Bak and Protector where awesome movie, but certainly not for the plot.So at first i tough Jaa was the main character, turn out he is more like the side character, but still enough in the movie to justify the "starring" status. Jing Wu is really the main star tough. Still when you pick up a Tony Jaa movie you expect a lot of martial arts right? This movie is lacking a bit of it. There is a decent amount in the second half but at the same time the pacing is very off, at some point it goes a long moment without a fight scene and somehow the plot didn't really interested me that much personally. At least it try to not be too much too traditional either on the Chinese or thai side, but it just didn't made me care that much for the emotional side. I won't say too much to keep this a spoiler free review but lets just say it reminded me of what Pound of Flesh with JCVD was about.The fights tough, where pretty good. One fight scene in particular in the middle of the movie was very well shot. There is a bit of wirefu used in general in the movie but not enough to distract too much in my own opinion.In the end i would say the first hour of this movie felt mostly boring for me but the second one had some pretty cool stuff going on at time. This is why I'm gonna give it the average score. I had an OK time with it, nothing more. Certainly not a movie to remember. Worth a rental.

A little misleading with Tony Jaa on the poster. He plays a prison guard whose trying to get help for his sick child, but his character is not as forefront as you'd expect, but it's all good cause Jaa brings the heat.Most of Jaa's movies are designed like video games, with Jaa fighting a few random henchmen and then fighting the master of the level (sometimes more like a fighting game where Jaa fights one kung fu master, after the other). In this movie he's more dramatic than action oriented, which is why he keeps the marshal arts real basic.But basic turns out to be good. Not brushing off what a huge fan I am of Jaa, but there is a certain gimmick he's going for in films like Ong bak as he showcases all he's capable of, but there was something about Jaa just doing the basic kicks and punches that felt more electrifying.Plus he got to show that he has slightly a little more acting skill than we think (although the love he shows for his daughter is no different than the love he showed for the elephants in the Protector)As for the rest of the film, it was certainly a well done crime drama. It's a very complex story filmed well and with great action sequences that keep you interested. Good watch.

One of fave armed combat scenes is Donnie Yen and Wu Jing going mano a mano in the alley in SPL (2005). So visceral, so blood-chillingly intense and raw. Can any of the fights in this by name only sequel even approach that level of intensity and ferocity? Yes, oh yes.Frankly a direct sequel is probably impossible since Donnie Yen, Sammo Hung and Simon Yam's characters all died. What the writers did was to borrow the themes and spirit of the first and tell a different story. Like the first film, Sha Po Lang are Chinese astrology signs which symbolize destruction, conflict and greed.The first half hour is audacious filmmaking because instead of linearity for maximum clarity, director Soi Cheang went for an extended flashback for all the major characters. Did it work? I have mixed feelings about it, but the moment all the narrative threads interlocked I felt the stars were aligned for WWIII.In terms of plot, SPL 2 has more nuts and bolts than a jet plane. The story is balancing so many elements to the point it became Planet Coincidences. But sitting in the cinema I was willing to buy all the machinations and contrivances because I was enjoying all the character arcs, from the little girl to the bad guy played by Louis Koo. Plus, there is a strong element of Godpermeating throughout the story, playing with all the human chess pieces and sitting back to find out how it all plays out.Even though Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung are not in this sequel, the rest of the cast carry the movie very well. This is definitely Wu Jing's career defining role and he not only delivers the action, he has the acting chops in some of the emotional scenes. Tony Jaa put on some superb acting heft too in his scenes with his daughter. This is the best non-Thai film that showcases his talent, way way better than what was asked of him in Furious 7. The bad guys are over the top and their fighting skills do the acting for them.In terms of action we get some by the numbers beat-downs and three set-piece extravaganzas - a shootout in a ferry terminal, a Thai prison and a medical centre. The action is viscerally filmed and it is only spoiled by some slightly over-used wire-work. The prison fight scene in particular is done in one mouth-watering long take. Each of the set-pieces improves and they culminate to a no holds-barred eye-popping climax.All is going well until an extended final epilogue that feels like a quick after-thought and a CGI wolf is also inserted to bring out the Lang in Sha Po Lang, but I would be lying if I said it spoiled the entire film for me. It has been a long time since I was willing to give a story so much leeway and prayed so hard that everything would coalesce in a meaningful manner. It sort of did.

Using mostly different plot and cast from the first movie SPL: Kill Zone, the sequel keeps the tradition of brooding crime drama alive. With the addition of Tony Jaa and several other imposing actors, this marks one of the darkest oriental cinemas for years. There will be no shortage of gruesome and bloody scenes as the characters trade bone crushing blows with incredibly rapid pace.Story is a bit tricky as it is presented with many perspectives. Simon Yam and Jacky Wu are investigating a crime kingpin who in dire need of heart transplant. Fate has it that the only match is his brother. As the effort to capture him turns sour, the polices are thrown into Thailand prison where Tony Jaa as a guard is inexplicably involved in the conspiracy.The plot might be relying too much on coincidences. It rehearses the medical issues a couple of times and also the undercover agent plot line is somewhat predictable. However, the actors are convincingly daunting or determined n their roles. While it may be a bit of stretch, the story conveys the gritty predicaments of these characters so well, audiences would find them relatable.The bread-and-butter of Asian mafia flick is the exquisitely savage action sequences. In this regards, SPL 2 stands amongst the top, one of the better choreography aside from The Raid. There are plenty of extraordinary scenes involving mass fight scenes while the camera changes level continuously or all-out brawl between the main cast.These instances are nothing short of spectacular. Hits are conveyed with such vigor, the impact will be translated beyond the screen. It's meticulously done with breakneck speed, shattering walls and bones alike. Furthermore, some of these scenes are captured in viscerally dangerous manner which undoubtedly requires commitment from production crews and especially the actors themselves.Physically and psychologically brutal, SPL 2 is the epitome of dark gangster thriller. One that will keep audiences glued to the screen with fight and pleads to the very end.