‘The beast cop is back!’
The Roundup is a 2022 Korean action crime thriller in which a tough detective and his team go to Vietnam to extradite a suspect; it is a sequel to The Outlaws (2017).
Directed by Sang-yong Lee (4th Period Mystery).
The Hong film-B.A. Entertainment-Big Punch Pictures production stars Ma Dong-seok [aka Don Lee] (Eternals; Unstoppable; Bad Guys: The Movie; The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil; Train to Busan), Son Seok-koo, Choi Gwi-hwa, Park Ji-hwan and Heo Dong-won.
Plot:
Four years after the sweeping operation in Garibong-dong, Detective Ma Seok-do along with Captain Jeon Il-man and his team head to Vietnam to extradite a suspect, but soon after his arrival, he discovers additional murder cases and learns about Kang Hae-sang, a vicious killer who has been committing crimes against tourists for several years for money.
In Vietnam, the duo fails to catch Kang Hae-sang, who kills the only son of a Korean business tycoon. They return to Korea in pursuit of the killer after he smuggles himself into the country to blackmail the business tycoon.
Despite Ma’s hot pursuit back in Korea, Kang Hae-sang wriggles out of the police’s grasp, continuing his kidnapping and murder spree against Koreans…
Our view:
It’s not a problem if you haven’t seen The Outlaws because although Ma Dong-seok plays the same “beast cop” the plots aren’t connected; it’s a pretty much standalone sequel.
And because most of this movie is set in Vietnam, director Sang-yong Lee is given free rein to up the ante in terms of bone-crunching violence. Make no mistake, the no-nonsense tough cop played by Ma Dong-seok, never holds back and villains are frequently sent flying across the screen. And the physical stuff is backed up by his screen presence – and some dark humour – that will hold viewers in awe. The Roundup is gripping almost from the get-go and action fans will lap it up.
Adrian J Smith, MOVIES & MANIA
Other reviews:
“We’re once again treated to the odd couple of Ma and Jeon, but this time it’s just for fun. Sang-yong Lee raises the bar with the violence, producing even more brutality and mayhem. However, it’s the rich vein of dark humour which makes The Roundup so compelling.” Backseat Mafia
“There’s no doubt that the movie is entertaining from beginning to end, and the adrenaline-seeking fanboy in us wishes that there can be more of such no-holds-barred action flicks to enjoy.” 8/10 Geek Culture
“Each fight scene is a blast of fun. For the record, the film pointedly depicts the widespread corruption and officious bureaucracy of contemporary Vietnam (which adds an interesting wrinkle), but Ma overshadows everyone and everything. Enthusiastically recommended for action fans…” J.B. Spins
“Overall this was an entertaining action thriller movie. The investigation was not the complicated type that would require us to think too much as the film focused more on showing us the wild ride with some over the top fight scenes. There were some interesting car chases too but the main attraction would definitely be those hand to hand fights.” Mike’s Movie Moments
“Dismissing alpha male expectations with willing abandon, without ever compromising his indomitable presence, Ma proves himself to be a truly unique, utterly captivating leading man. While everyone involved in The Roundup steps up to deliver a freight train of unstoppable entertainment, all are locked in orbit around Ma’s undeniable star power.” South China Morning Post
For YouTube content and more movie info click the page 2 link below
