Wolf Warrior II (2017)
Wolf Warrior 2 (Chinese: 战狼2) is a 2017 Chinese action film co-written, co-produced, and directed by Wu Jing, who also starred in the lead role. The film co-stars Celina Jade, Frank Grillo, Hans Zhang, and Wu Gang. The film is a sequel to 2015’s Wolf Warrior. It was released in China on 27 July 2017.[2] The film tells a story of a loose cannon Chinese soldier named Leng Feng who takes on special missions around the world. In this sequel, he finds himself in an unnamed African country protecting medical aid workers from local rebels and vicious arms dealers.
Wolf Warrior 2 is the highest grossing Chinese movie (at this point in time) and is the basis for “wolf warrior” diplomacy. It is in essence a version of Rambo III, set in Africa with a late 1990s direct to video feel and ex-Chinese special forces protagonist. The action scenes sometimes work (the underwater opener and the man v tank showdown) but some are just over the top craziness. It is pro China (in the way most films are pro USA) but it may not be a bad thing, as long as you try to live up to idolized version of your county as opposed to justifying your own actions.
Everything about this sequel to Wolf Warrior exceeds the first. The acting, the special effects, the story- all an improvement over the original instalment. Wu Jing returns in this sequel. He also wrote, produced, and directed the film. The film surrounds Wu Jing’s attempt to live a peaceful life in Africa when he his peace is disrupted by a mercenary army and a deadly disease outbreak. One of my criticisms of the first film was that I did not feel Wu Jing commanded the screen as the lead. Nothing could be further from the truth in this one. Rather than playing a Jackie Chan-esq character, Wu King finds his own as a compelling, interesting, and exciting action star in this one. He is very good. As for the supporting cast- Frank Grillo is always fun to watch. He appears to be the hardest working action star/character in the world. His fight with Jing in the finale of the film is well choreographed. Celina Jade is commanding as the love interest. Nwachukwu Kennedy Chukwuebuka steals every scene he is in as Jing’s “Godson”. This movie was one of the highest grossing pictures of all time. Sam Hargrave, martial artist, stuntman, and Director of the highly successful “Extraction, stunt choreographed the underwater fight as well as many of the action scenes. This explains a lot about its success. This one is worth watching. The ending foreshadows a “Part 3” and I hope it is at least as good as the sequel.
Well that was an experience. This was up there with Rambo 2008 & Punisher Warzone’s level of action and violence. Maybe even surpasses it in some ways and its down right gratuitous at points.I liked the movie but this is definitely a so bad its good kinda movie. It definitely will not be everyone’s cup of tea and it isn’t really something you could take serious.
