Director: Pou-Soi Cheang
Writer: Lai-yin Leung, Ying Wong (Screenplay)
Starring: Tony Jaa, Jing Wu, Simon Yam, Jin Zhang, Louis Koo, Ken Lo, Jun Kung
Plot: While undercover officer Kit is taken prisoner by the syndicate, he befriends his keeper and discovers an organ trafficking ring.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Emotional Charged Action Film
Story: Kill Zone 2 starts as we learn about an organ trafficking ring going on through China operated by Hung Mun-Gong (Koo), Kit (Wu) is an undercover police officer trying to break and expose the ring but finds himself in a Thai jail once his cover is blown. Inside the jail a prison guard Chatchai (Jaa) is dealing with his own daughter suffering with leukemia with little hope in being able to afford a cure.
With Mr Hung also needing a transplant he finds himself searching for his missing brother with Kit even with the language barrier working with Chatchai to find his daughter a cure and bring down the crime syndicate.
Thoughts on Kill Zone 2
Characters/Performance – Chatchai is an honest hard working prison guard, he is going through heartache as his own daughter is suffering with leukemia and in desperate need for bone marrow transplant. He risks his career and life to find a cure for her, much like any father in this situation. Kit is the undercover Chinese cop that is trying to bring down a crime syndicate that is trafficking human organs, he ends up in a Thai prison where he doesn’t speak the language and the only person that shows any kindness is Chatchai. Mr Hung is the man running the organ trafficking mostly so he can find a cure for his own sickness. Warden Ko is one of the loyal followers of Mr Hung that uses his position to help cover up the problems in another country.
Performance wise, we know we are going to get good action performances from the whole cast with Tony Jaa, Jing Wu and Jin Zhang all get scenes where they dominate the screen. There is also good emotional range because of what is going on to the characters through the film
Story – On the surface this could have been a very basic take down the crime boss who is doing something illegal in organ trafficking but this story is so much more. We have characters that have true stakes going, the prison warden fighting to save his daughter, the cop needing to recover from his undercover position and a crime boss willing to sacrifice his own brother to survive. Mixing this altogether leaves us wanting to see what happens and rooting for all the characters.
Action/Crime – The action is great and just what you have come to expect from Tony Jaa action films, but I would point out this isn’t just about him and his action appeal, this is a combined effort. The crime side of the film is crucial but at times doesn’t feel like it gets all the attention it starts off with.
Settings – Mixing the settings between China and Thailand works because it builds the idea of things getting lost in translation between the two heroes.
Final Thoughts – We all know I like a good action film, I also love an action film that has heart behind it all and this film does have that and then some. I like the stakes in play for the characters as we can all understand how far a parent would go to save their child and the mix in fighting styles is something to truly enjoy.
Overall: One for all the action film fans to enjoy.
Rating
