2016, Edko Films Ltd./China Film Co. Ltd./Irresistible Beta Limited/Edko (Beijing) Films Limited/Tencent Penguin Pictures (Shanghai) Co. Ltd./Irresistible Films (Hong Kong)
Directors:
Longman Leung
Sunny Luk
Producers:
Bill Kong
Ivy Ho
Jiang Ping
Writers:
Longman Leung
Sunny Luk
Jack Ng
Cinematography:
Jason Kwan
Jimmy Kwok
Yip Shiu-Kei
Wong Man-Nok
Editing:
Jordan Goldman
Ron Chang-Woo
Cast:
Aaron Kwok (Commissioner Sean Lau)
Tony Leung Ka-Fai (M.B. Lee)
Charlie Yeung (Phoenix Leung)
Chow Yun-Fat (Oswald Kan)
Janice Man (Isabel Au)
Eddie Peng (Joe Lee)
Aarif Rahman (Billy Cheung)
Tony Yang (Roy Ho)
Chang Kuo-Chu (Peter Choi)
Wu Yue (Tin Man-Wu)
Ma Yili (Michelle Chan)
Frankie Lam (Alan Au)
Kenny Wong (Stephen Han)
Cheung Chi-Kwong (David Mok)
Terence Yin (Man To)
In this follow up to the 2012 action thriller, politics is the name of the game as the true colors of its characters are revealed.
After the success of Operation Cold War, which resulted in the arrest, trial, and sentencing of Joe Lee, Deputy Commissioner Sean Lau has been hired to become the new Police Commissioner while former acting commissioner M.B. Lee is put on pre-retirement leave. One day, Lau gets a mysterious call in which his wife Michelle has been kidnapped and to get her back, he must free Joe Lee, who also happens to be M.B.’s son. When the exchange proves damaging for the Hong Kong police, Lau takes it upon himself to take full responsibility.
A committee has been called in to investigate Sean Lau and his methods as there are those who fear that the commissioner may be acting on his own accords. A prevalent lawyer, Oswald Kan, is determined to get to the bottom of things. Meanwhile, M.B. finds this to be the perfect opportunity to lure Lau out of office so he can become the commissioner. And while M.B. learns of a secret behind the plot, Lau and Kan soon find they are the players in the plot, one that can possibly turn the tables with the respectability of the police at stake.
While the film is shot four years later after its original film, the duo of Longman Leung and Sunny Luk, set the film right after the first film ends. It starts with the funeral of a character from the original film, then from there, the sequel really begins. Once again, the focus of the film is the rivalry between Sean Lau and M.B. Lee, reprised by Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka-Fai. However, after the events of the first film, one would think these two would finally have a sense of respect for each other and it starts out that way.
However, as the film progresses, Lee’s true nature is revealed thanks to a major conspiracy that also involves the villain of the first film, Joe, reprised by Eddie Peng. Peng, who has been wowing fans with his role in recent action films, once again plays a very sly villain in Joe. While many cast members of the previous film return, the most welcome new addition is truly Chow Yun-Fat as lawyer turned committee member Oswald Kan. Chow’s character is clearly someone who doesn’t believe in taking sides but just wants things to be right for the sake of the law. While he has no qualms about Lau’s methods, the cause of the committee’s investigation, Kan truly sees Lee as an opportunist and wants to know why and how he plots to achieve it.
It is safe to say that Cold War II is one of the rarities where a sequel just ups the ante when compared to its predecessor. Once again, Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka-Fai’s characters are at a game of wits, but it’s something bigger with Chow Yun-Fat’s practically serving as a mediator who isn’t for either side, but for the side of the Hong Kong law as a whole. And yes folks, it is looking like a Cold War III may be in the works with this film leaving off on a bit of a cliffhanger.
WFG RATING: A-
Well Go USA Home Entertainment will be releasing this film on DVD & Blu-Ray on March 7. Extras include featurettes on the cast, story, the visual effects and action, as well as previews for this and other Well Go USA films. To pre-order your copy, click on the link below:
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