Kill Zone 2 (Sha Po Lang 2: A Time for Consequences 殺破狼Ⅱ)

[GeneChing]

Best news I've heard all day.


SPL2, Wolf Totem get China govt green light (http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/spl2-wolf-totem-get-china-govt-green-light)
By Kevin Ma
Thu, 08 August 2013, 11:30 AM (HKT)

http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSIrMjAxMy8wOC8wNy8yMC8xOS8wMS80NzIvd2 9sZl90b3RlbS5qcGcGOgZFVFsIOgZwOgp0aHVtYkkiDTUwMHgx MDAwBjsGVA?suffix=.jpg&sha=71c2a377

The latest list of film projects approved to go into production by China's State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) 國家新聞出版廣電總局 was released yesterday.

Last month, 86 films were approved over a two week period (6-21 Jul), of which 75 are modern films set after 1949. The remaining 11 titles are period films.

Several high-profile projects have recently passed preliminary censorship, including Edko's reboot of the Wong Fei-hung character, Rise of the Legend 黃飛鴻 (see separate story).

SAPPRFT releases only basic information, including the license numbers, screenwriter credits, investors and a short synopsis of each title. Most of the films do not yet have an official English title.


Newly approved productions include:

Sil-Metropole Organisation Ltd 銀都機構有限公司's SPL 2 殺破狼２, the thematic sequel to Wilson YIP 葉偉信's action thriller. Donnie YEN 甄子丹 is attached to star. Jill LEUNG 梁禮彥, who co-wrote Champions 奪標 (2008) and Revenge: A Love Story 復仇者之死 (2010), is one of the screenwriters.

Sil-Metropole also has 衝鋒車, an action thriller written by Andy LAU Ho-leung 劉浩良. The writer's credits include Painted Skin 畫皮 (2008), 14 Blades 錦衣衛 (2010), The Great Magician 大魔術師 and the now shootingLast of the Best 一個人的武林, directed by Teddy CHEN 陳德森.

微信時代的文藝愛情 (literally, "A Literary Romance in the WeChat Era"), the GU Changwei 顧長衛 romantic comedy announced by Huayi Brothers Media Corporation 華誼兄弟傳媒股份有限公司 during the Shanghai International Film Festival 上海國際電影節. The director is also credited for the screenplay.


Approved co-productions include:

Wolf Totem 狼圖騰 (pictured), a period drama set during the Cultural Revolution based on the novel by JIANG Rong 姜戎. Directed by France's Jean-Jacques ANNAUD, the US$38 million Bill KONG 江志強-produced film stars William FENG 馮紹峰 and Shawn DOU 竇驍 and is currently in production.

Bona Film Group Ltd 博納影業集團有限公司's From Vegas to Macau 賭城風雲, the WONG Jing 王晶 gambling-themed film starring CHOW Yun-fat 周潤發, Nicholas TSE 謝霆鋒 and JING Tian 景甜. It recently began production and is set for theatrical release during Lunar New Year.

Urban Games 城市遊戲, an extreme sports film directed by Hollywood stunt coordinator Bob BROWN starring Shawn Dou and Michelle CHEN 陳妍希. The film is co-produced by China Film Co Ltd 中國電影股份有限公司 and Hong Kong's Media Asia Films Ltd 寰亞電影有限公司.


Here's our thread on SPL 1 (http://ezine.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38795).

[GeneChing]

No Donnie in SPL2? WTF?!?!?

SPL 2: Donnie Yen Out? Soi Cheang To Direct And Wilson Yip To Produce (http://twitchfilm.com/2013/09/spl-2-donnie-yen-and-tony-jaa-are-out-soi-cheang-to-direct-and-wilson-yip-to-produce.html)
Andrew Mack

[Twitch has spoken with representatives of Tony Jaa, who assure that while Yen is indeed out of the project, Jaa remains very much committed and the reports of his departure are incorrect. Original story follows.]

Donnie Yen has announced that he will not star in SPL 2 but won't rule out the possibility of a cameo appearance. Because of commitments to two other projects, Dragon City and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2, he will not be available. Wilson Yip, director of the first SPL film, will return as a producer of the project.

Soi Cheang, director of solid action films like Dog Bite Dog, Accident and Motorway, will take over the helm. He recently completed production on Monkey King with Donnie Yen which is why Yen may make a cameo in this film. Sammo Hung, Wu Jing, Andy On and Francis Ng are still attached to the project. It has been suggested that the second film will be a prequel.

Tony Jaa is no longer attached to the project either. He may still be busy with Fast & Furious 7. But we all know how that is coming along now, don't we? There may still be an indication in translated reports that there are still Thai roles to be filled for the production. We'll keep our eyes and ears peeled.

SPL: Sha Po Lang was one of those films that reaffirmed that Hong Kong still had game when it came to action cinema. Fans of the Golden Age had almost lost hope that it had come and gone and there was no one left to pick up the pieces of broken glass. Yen and Yip brought new life and energy to the screen with this film and others like Flashpoint and the first two Ip Man films. Let's hope their influence is still felt and Cheang and company bring us another kick-ass chapter to the story.

[CLFNole]

Since he dies at the end of SPL wouldn't it be odd for him to return for Part II, without some kind of resurrection of course ;)

[GeneChing]

Spock died. Obi Wan died. They stayed in the franchises.

[CLFNole]

I know its the twin brother they forgot to mention in the 1st one...yeah thats the ticket

[Lucas]

Spock died. Obi Wan died. They stayed in the franchises.

SPOILER!?!??! wtf bro

[GeneChing]

Meanwhile, SPL2 is playing the Jaa card. :cool:


BREAKING: Tony Jaa Signs To Star Opposite Wu Jing In SPL 2. (http://twitchfilm.com/2013/11/breaking-tony-jaa-signs-to-star-opposite-wu-jing-in-spl-2.html)
Todd Brown, Founder and Editor
http://twitchfilm.com/assets_c/2013/11/TonyJaaWuJing-thumb-630xauto-43672.jpeg
It has long been speculated as to when, exactly, Thai action star Tony Jaa would turn up in a Hong Kong action film and who he would star with should such a thing come to pass. Well, we now have those answers with word coming out of Hong Kong that Jaa has officially signed to star opposite Wu Jing in SPL 2 with production slated to start in spring 2014, presumably after Jaa's commitments to The Fast And The Furious 7 have wrapped up. Here's the official word:

Tony Jaa has signed to star in SPL II which is being produced by Sun Entertainment Culture Limited. The film stars Tony and Legendary Assassin star Jackie Wu (Wu Jing), who probably has the fastest spinning back kick on planet earth.

Jaa is thrilled to be part of this film, and you can expect some surprise appearances in the film. The action choreography is being handled by Dion Lam who was heavily involved in the stunt work on Spider Man 2. Wilson Yip remains very much involved with Terrence Cheung in the director's chair. The film while targeted towards the China and Asian markets will also be released in the Americas, Europe and the Middle East. The collaboration represents a breakthrough effort in Chinese film making between a non-Chinese action star and an all star Chinese line up. The film will be shot in Thailand, China and Hong Kong. The story is an action/drama that should keep the audience very much on the edge of their seats.

Sun Entertainment will release more complete information shortly, and will update on a regular basis. Shooting begins in early Spring of 2014.

The original SPL, which featured Wu in a key villain role, stands as one of the high points of Donnie Yen's long career and was released in the USA and some other territories as Kill Zone.

[GeneChing]

Tony Jaa is grateful that he gets to act in "SPL II" (https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/news/tony-jaa-grateful-gets-act-spl-ii-091400675.html)
By Heidi Hsia | From Cinema Online Exclusively for Yahoo Newsroom – Wed, Jun 18, 2014 5:14 PM SGT

https://s3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/ktNdor.eFpu8nlVkgwsjXA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zMTM7cT03NTt3PTQxOQ--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_MY/News/YBrandCinemaOnline/7cn_tonyjaaisgrateful00.jpg
Tony Jaa is grateful that he gets to act in "SPL II"

18 Jun – Thailand's action star Tony Jaa expressed his happiness of being given the opportunity to star in a Hong Kong production film, saying that he will cherish the experience working with his co-stars, as reported on Singpao News.
The "Ong-Bak" star, who plays one of the lead roles in the action film, "SPL II", recently attended the press conference for his upcoming movie alongside co-stars Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Max Zhang, and Wu Jing.
Tony thanked the film producer Paco Wong for realising his dream of filming a Hong Kong action film where in "SPL II" he plays a prison guard.
Said Tony, "this is the first time I'm starring in a Hong Kong film. In addition to the action scenes, there will also be psychological drama and emotional scenes."
The actor also revealed that his scenes are mostly with Max Zhang and Wu Jing, who are also skilled in martial arts.
"They are so strong. I hurt my legs when I filmed the fighting scenes with them," said Tony. "They are determined to do their best as we all have martial arts experience."
Directed by Cheang Pou Soi, "SPL II" began its filming since May 2014. The movie is a prequel to Donnie Yen's hit 2005 movie, "SPL: Sha Po Lang". Tony acting. Yea, that'll bring audiences in. :rolleyes:

[GeneChing]

The Inquisition: Tony Jaa, martial arts actor (http://www.scmp.com/magazines/48hrs/article/1544788/inquisition-tony-jaa-martial-arts-actor)
The Thai martial artist thanks Buddha for his star turn in Hong Kong action thriller
Text: Edmund Lee

https://www.scmp.com/sites/default/files/styles/236w/public/2014/07/02/20140703_48_jaa.jpg?itok=WeBbC_e3

48 HOURS: You're going to star in the upcoming Hong Kong film SPL II: A Time for Consequences. How much of it is going to be set in Thailand?

TONY JAA: I'd say around 80 per cent. The majority of the story takes place in Thailand.

Are there going to be elephants in it? That's your signature after all.

[Laughs] I hope so, but I don't know yet.

What appeals to you about this project?

I've been a big fan of Chinese martial arts movies since I was a kid, and I practised really hard in my rural home after watching them. It's my dream to come and make a film in Hong Kong. I'd watched the first SPL before I read the script for the new film. There's much room for me to express myself in it — apart from the fight scenes, there are also drama scenes that deal with my character's thoughts and emotions.

What's your character like?

I play a prison guard whose daughter is suffering from leukaemia and waiting for a bone marrow transplant. He's doing everything to look for a donor, and he has to protect not just his daughter but the person who could help her. So the role is about what a father would do to save his daughter.

What do you think is the greatest difference between shooting a Thai production and a Hong Kong one?

I heard before that Hong Kong movies expected the actors to do all their own stunts, but once I got here I realised that's not the case. Although injuries can still happen, it's safer than Thai filmmaking, which requires the actors to hit each other for real. I did a four-minute-long take in a Thai film that saw me fight my way up several floors. That gave me a really hard time. By contrast, Hong Kong filmmakers use camera angles and editing to achieve what they want. It's much more comfortable shooting here.

Many consider that four-minute fight sequence you mentioned - from Tom Yum Goong (2005) - a classic in Asian action.

My intention then was to create the longest fight sequence possible. I was determined to accomplish it — and so I did. The preparation for that took two weeks.

It's a well-known fact that you started watching Hong Kong films when you were a kid. What are your best memories?

I really like Bruce Lee, Jet Li, Chow Yun-fat and Stephen Chow Sing-chi. They have all been my heroes. I have to thank Hong Kong cinema for inspiring me.

If you were to fight Bruce Lee in his prime, who would win?

He's a hero — let's not talk about who the better fighter is. Whenever I encounter difficulties in executing certain moves on the film set, I think back to Bruce Lee and the way he pulled off his moves. I find motivation in him.

Would you agree that you essentially play the same character in most of your films?

There's a bunch of action movie fans out there who demand that I play this kind of character. It's like Bruce Lee, his side kick was what everyone looked forward to seeing, and if he stopped doing that he'd be disappointing his audience. In my case, people are waiting to watch my knee drop and elbow assault every time. It's not for me to say no to them.

Apart from SPL 2, Fast & Furious 7 is another film of yours that will open in 2015. Can you tell us about your role?

I can't talk right now; it's a secret. I'm just very glad to be participating in a Hollywood production. I'd like to tell you more but, if I do, someone's going to kill me.

You became a Buddhist monk in 2010, only returning to the screen last year with Tom Yum Goong 2. What happened there?

I've been a monk for about five years now, and my objective was to recharge myself. In Thailand, men have to become either a soldier or a monk to mature — those are our traditional rites of passage. It's a period during which I talked to Buddha a lot. Once I became a monk, my fortune suddenly turned for the better. I mean, now I'm making films in Hong Kong and Hollywood! Here's our F&F7 (http://www.kungfumagazine.com/forum/showthread.php?66507-Fast-and-Furious-7) thread, just for reference.

[GeneChing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aI8vjd2gPak

[GeneChing]

Monday, 6th, 2015 | 5:18PM Updated
‘Sha Po Lang 2’ to Land on the Big Screen on June 18 (http://en.yibada.com/articles/22308/20150326/sha-po-lang-2-land-big-screen-june-18.htm)

EL Borromeo | Mar 26, 2015 06:57 AM EDT

http://data.en.yibada.com/data/images/full/26405/sammo-hung-will-join-the-cast-of-sha-po-lang-2-which-will-be-released-on-june-18.jpg?w=685
Sammo Hung will join the cast of "Sha Po Lang 2," which will be released on June 18. (Photo : en.wikipedia.org)

The sequel of the Hong Kong action film “Sha Po Lang” is set to land on the big screen on June 18.

The film follows the story of a retiring policeman who decided to utilize unconventional methods to catch a major gangster.

“Sha Po Lang 2” will be top billed by Sammo Hung, Jacky Wu Jing, Louis Koo, Andy On, Francis Ng and Tony Jaa.

The $23-million-budgeted production will be directed by the critically acclaimed Pou-Soi Cheang (“Motorway”) and will be produced by Wilson Yip (“Ip Man”).

Yip directed the first film, which was released in North America using the title “Kill Zone.”

“Kill Zone” was a box-office hit because of its intense and well-directed fighting scenes. In the 2005 Hong Kong Film Awards, the action film bagged the “Best Action Choreography” award.

Through the “Kill Zone,” Donnie Yen’s and Sammo Hung’s stardom skyrocketed. After the movie, Hung and Yen also collaborated in the 2008 box office hit “Ip Man.”

However, for “Sha Po Lang 2,” Yen was not be able to join the cast because of two other projects: “Dragon City” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2.”

For the film’s sequel, the audience can expect for more action scenes with fully upgraded style and choreography.

The filming kicked off on May 1, 2014 and ended on Sept. 6, 2014.

“Sha Po Lang" is a set of three words rooted from Chinese astrology. These represent stars capable of doing good or evil depending on their positions.



A U.S. release too maybe?

[GeneChing]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3Z4unB9Gqg

[GeneChing]

I don't think that's a U.S. release date, just Asia.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4ezP2ljo8w

Looks like a lot of wirework, a lot of CGI, and still, a lot of fun. ;)

[GeneChing]

I'm updating the title of this thread to accommodate the film's latest title.


SPL2 sets action record in China (http://www.filmbiz.asia/news/spl2-sets-action-record-in-china)
http://www.filmbiz.asia/media/BAhbB1sHOgZmSSI8MjAxNS8wNi8yNC8wOS8xNC81Mi8zMDAvc3 BsXzJfdGltZV9mb3JfY29uc2VxdWVuY2VzLmpwZwY6BkVUWwg6 BnA6CnRodW1iSSINNTAweDEwMDAGOwZU?suffix=.jpg&sha=1d5fa2d5

By Kevin Ma

Wed, 24 June 2015, 09:30 AM (HKT)
Box Office News

Jurassic World topped the China box office over the three-day Duan Wu Festival holiday weekend, but SPL 2: A Time for Consequences 殺破狼Ⅱ proved to be a formidable opponent with a record opening for a contemporary action film.

With a screening share of approximately 23.6%, Jurassic World earned RMB306 million (US$49.2 million) over the weekend from approximately 7.8 admissions between Friday and Monday. The film passed the RMB1 billion (US$161 million) mark on Sunday and has made RMB1.09 billion (US$175 million) after 13 days in cinema.

The Hollywood sci-fi thriller is the tenth film to pass the RMB1 billion mark in China. It is Universal's second film to pass the milestone following Fast & Furious 7.

In second place, SPL 2 earned RMB314 million (US$50.6 million) over five days — including RMB246 million (US$39.7 million) from approximately 6.85 million admissions between Friday and Monday. Released in 3-D, it had a screening share of approximately 28.9%.

Hollywood sci-fi sequel Insurgent opened in third place, earning RMB68.3 million (US$11.0 million) from approximately 1.84 million admissions over four days. The film had a screening share of approximately 14.8%.

Last year, Divergent earned RMB76.5 million (US$12.3 million) during its theatrical run.

With a screening share of approximately 12.8%, local youth comedy The Ark of Mr. Chow 少年班 earned RMB34.1 million (US$5.5 million) from approximately 1.1 million admissions over four days. The XIAO Yang 肖洋 film is the first major release by CHEN Kuo-fu 陳國富's CKF Pictures Co Ltd 工夫影業股份有限公司.

Taiwan pet drama One Minute More 只要一分鐘 made RMB15.4 million (US$2.49 million) over four days. It has a screening share of approximately 5.99%.

Local drama Rock Hero 搖滾英雄 made RMB1.59 million (US$256,000) over four days. San Andreas has made RMB584 million (US$94.1 million). Stand By Me Doraemon ＳＴＡＮＤ ＢＹ ＭＥ ドラえもん has made RMB527 million (US$84.9 million).

Hollywood Adventures 橫衝直撞好萊塢, Where the Wind Settles 風中家族, Begin Again and Taiwan drama Hear Me 聽說 (2009) open in cinemas this weekend.


In Taipei, where the Duan Wu Festival public holiday was held on Friday, Jurassic World topped the box office for the second consecutive weekend.

Between Friday and Sunday, the sci-fi thriller earned NT$54.78 million (US$1.78 million). It has already made NT$178 million (US$5.78 million) in the capital.

The top new film this weekend was Dark Places, the adaptation of the novel by Gillian Flynn. From 14 Taipei locations, the drama earned NT$5.09 million (US$165,000) over four days.

Last October, Gone Girl opened with NT$10.4 million (US$337,000) over four days. It made NT$79.5 million (US$2.58 million) in Taipei during its theatrical run.

From 17 Taipei locations, the film version of Entourage opened in fifth place with NT$2.20 million (US$71,500) over four days.

Child 44 opened in seventh place, earning NT$1.05 million (US$34,100) from 12 Taipei locations over four days.

SPL 2: Time for Consequences opened in tenth place, earning NT$770,000 (US$25,000) from six Taipei locations over four days.

Japanese drama Mindset 想いのこし, Blue Spring Ride アオハライド, Ted 2 and What We Do in the Shadows open this weekend.


Jurassic Park also easily dominated the box office in Hong Kong, where the Duan Wu Festival public holiday fell on Saturday (considered a working day in the city).

From 46 locations, the thriller made HK$23.2 million (US$2.99 million) between Friday and Sunday. It has already earned HK$67.5 million (US$8.71 million), making it the highest grossing film of the franchise in Hong Kong.

SPL 2 opened in second place. Distributed locally by Bravos Pictures Ltd 巴福斯影業, the action film earned HK$6.24 million (US$805,000) over four days.

South Korea comedy Twenty 스물 opened in fourth place, earning HK$456,000 (US$58,800) from 13 locations. The film is released locally by Deltamac (HK) Co Ltd 得利影視股份有限公司.

Entourage opened in sixth place, earning HK$307,000 (US$39,600) from 11 locations over four days.

From ten locations, Japanese youth drama Strobe Edge ストロボ・エッジ made HK$237,000 (US$30,600) over four days. Japanese supernatural drama Twilight: Saya in Sasara トワイライト　ささらさや made just HK$64,200 (US$8,290) from four locations.

Midnight Diner 深夜食堂 has made HK$4.03 million (US$520,000). Imprisoned: Survival Guide for Rich and Prodigal 高登闊少踎監日記 has earned HK$7.48 million (US$966,000).

Ted 2, Far from the Madding Crowd and Eva JIN 金依萌's Crazy New Year's Eve 一路驚喜 open this weekend.

[GeneChing]

Hong Kong Actioner ‘SPL 2’ Set For 2016 North American Release (http://variety.com/2015/film/asia/spl-2-set-for-2016-north-american-release-1201567367/)

http://i1.wp.com/pmcvariety.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/spl2-2.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1195px%2C665px&resize=670%2C377
"SPL2: A Time For Consequences"
Courtesy of Bravos Pictures
August 11, 2015 | 02:52AM PT
Patrick Frater
Asia Bureau Chief

“SPL2: A Time For Consequences,” the Hong Kong action hit, will get a release in North America in early 2016.

Rights to the film, a sequel to Wilson Yip’s 2005 police action thriller “Sha Po Lang: Kill Zone,” were acquired by Texas-based WellGo USA from Hong Kong sales agency Bravos Pictures.

The film had its premiere in June as part of the Shanghai festival’s focus on action movies, and it has since been a hit in mainland and Hong Kong cinemas.

“SPL2” is directed by Cheang Pou-soi (“Motorway,” “The Monkey King”) and stars Wu Jing and Simon Yam, who return to the series, albeit in different roles. Joining the cast is Thai martial arts star Tony Jaa and versatile Hong Kong actor Louis Koo.

The story follows an undercover drugs cop who unintentionally lands up in a Thai jail, alongside a particularly dangerous fellow prisoner.

WellGo’s president and CEO Doris Pfardrescher says the commercial release will follow premieres in several North American festivals through the fall.

“Combining Tony Jaa with a cast of stars from our best-selling martial arts and action movies was beyond our expectations. It’s been worth the wait,” she said.


One local friend I know saw this and wasn't impressed. And he's a solid Kung Fu flick critic, or he wouldn't have even seen this yet. ;)

[GeneChing]

One local friend I know saw this and wasn't impressed. And he's a solid Kung Fu flick critic, or he wouldn't have even seen this yet. ;) Nevertheless, this is a fairly positive review....


'SPL 2: A Time for Consequences': Film Review (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/spl-2-a-time-consequences-801496)
1:45 PM PDT 6/10/2015 by Elizabeth Kerr
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/thumbnail_medium_200/2015/06/spl_2.jpg
Courtesy of Bravos Pictures

The Bottom Line
A tight, entertaining action flick

Venue
Opens in Hong Kong June 18

Director
Cheang Pou-soi

Cast
Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Zhang Jin, Simon Yam

Cheang Pou-soi follows up 'SPL' with a pan-Asian romp that features Thailand’s Tony Jaa and emerging mainland stars Wu Jing and Zhang Jin.

If there’s such a thing as a surgical thriller — literally, not figuratively — SPL 2: A Time for Consequences may be it. The more blatantly entertaining follow-up to Yip Wai-shun’s 2005 corrupt cop drama SPL (or Kill Zone) aims for a regional vibe that jumps from Hong Kong to Bangkok and unfolds in four languages. Far from being the convoluted mess it could have been, incoming director Cheang Pou-soi (Yip serves as a producer) crafts a tight, swiftly paced action yarn that ensures viewers won’t be pining for the presence of the first film’s stars, Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung.

The frantic energy and creative fight choreography in Consequences are the only returning elements from the first film, a sequel in name only; co-star Simon Yam (playing a different character) is the sole actor to return. But the “franchise” is in good hands with Cheang and action director Li Ching-chi, who are blessed with a top-drawer cast of martial-arts performers in breakout roles rounding out the cast. Wolf Warriors’ Wu Jing (looking like the hybrid clone of Nicholas Tse and Michael Wong), perpetual supporting player Zhang Jin (Rise of the Legend, The Grandmaster) and Ong Bak’s Tony Jaa (who gets to show off more of his talents than he did in Furious 7) are stellar additions who compel audiences to overlook narrative glitches. SPL 2: A Time for Consequences isn’t going to make anyone forget The Raid anytime soon (and it does try and recall that film), but it’s strong genre material that should earn solid box office returns in Asia-Pacific and in overseas markets where Asian action plays well.

The story that brings new meaning to “medical tourism” opens with terminally ill organ trafficking crime boss Hung Man-keung (Louis Koo at his least sexy) carrying out his business, little realizing there’s an undercover cop within his ranks. In a vague case of history repeating itself, Chan Kwok-wah (Yam) has placed Chan Chi-kit (Wu) so close to the thugs that Kit has developed a thug’s drug habit. Still, they’re close to a major arrest. At the same time, Hung is busy looking for a heart donor that’s a match for his extremely rare Bombay phenotype blood — and it looks like he may have to resort to taking his brother’s (Jun Kung). In traditional Hong Kong crime-thriller fashion, the major arrest goes south, a gunfight erupts, the gang gets away and Kit winds up in a Bangkok prison after his cover is compromised.

One of the prison guards is the desperate Chai (Jaa), who works at the prison because it’s his best chance at earning enough cash to find a bone marrow donor for his leukemia-afflicted daughter Sa (Unda Kunteera Thordchanng, the only female role of note). In the kind of coincidence that only happens in movies, a match has been located in Hong Kong, and it happens to be Kit. Of course, they can’t locate him because his phone was pitched into the harbor after the OK Corral. In another bit of movie magic the phone works just fine after being submerged for who knows how long in Hong Kong’s harbor.

Those are just a few of the narrative threads Cheang and co-writers Jill Leung Lai-yin and Wong Ying must weave together in between bone-crunching action and gasp-inducing fights. By the halfway point of the film there have been at least three significant set pieces, including the shootout at Hong Kong’s new cruise ship terminal (no shiny buildings escape target practice in Hong Kong) and a prison riot, complete with gloriously contrasting visuals — the former all stark, sterile glass and steel, the latter grimy, rusty, dank concrete. Things kick into even higher gear when the role of the prison’s corrupt warden, Ko (Zhang), is revealed. Ko is somehow indebted to Hung and uses the prison as a way station for the organs that are being trafficked. When Chan finally susses out Kit’s location and makes a trip to Thailand at the same time as Hung is prepping his brother for surgery, also in Thailand, all the pieces line up for a showdown (or three) for the ages.

That the ridiculous story somehow hangs together — and is easy to follow for the most part — is a testament to Cheang and editor David Richardson’s careful construction; production specs are also strong across the board. Ultimately the story is secondary to the action, which rarely lets up and never lets viewers down. In a film overflowing with fighting talent, everyone gets their moment in the sun and it never feels contrived. Wu does some of his best work in his most memorable film so far, even though his performance falls a bit flat when he’s not throwing down. After making a splash in Ong Bak back in 2003 and then seemingly vanishing for a time, Jaa returns in fine form, proving he may be Hollywood-ready. The standout, however, is Zhang, who blends imperiousness with high style for his dangerous warden. He’s so cool you know the fight takes a turn to his disadvantage only when a few of his impeccably placed hairs fall out of place. Ko is the kind of old-school badass action movies don’t have enough of these days. SPL 2: A Time for Consequences is also something a lot of action films too often forget to be: fun.

Production company: Tin Tin Film Production

Cast: Tony Jaa, Wu Jing, Zhang Jin, Louis Koo, Simon Yam, Unda Kunteera Thordchanng, Dominic Lam, Kenneth Low, Philip Keung, Babyjohn Choi, Jun Kung, Aaron Chow

Director: Cheang Pou-soi

Screenwriter: Jill Leung Lai-yin, Wong Ying

Producer: Yip Wai-shun, Paco Wong

Executive producer: Alvin Chau, Alex Dong, Chen Yi Qi, Yu Dong, Andrew Chu

Director of photography: Tse Chung-to

Production designer: Horace Ma

Costume designer: Bruce Yu

Editor: David Richardson

Music: Chan Kwong-wing

World sales: Bravos Pictures Limited

No rating, 120 minutes

[Jimbo]

I will see this eventually when it becomes available. I don't have high expectations, though. I've lost a lot of faith in Tony Jaa lately. He really has no personality when he isn't fighting, and in his last couple or few films, I've been underwhelmed. It feels as if he's already jumped the shark. I hope I'm wrong about him. Maybe it'll be different with this being a Hong Kong (or China?) film.

I am looking forward to seeing Wu Jing's performance.

[GeneChing]

Ok, instead of calling this SPL, it should be WTH? Gone are Donnie and Sammo. Wu Jing and Simon Yam are still with the franchise, and they've picked up than Tony Jaa. For this reason, the film is half in Thai. My version = no subs. My Mandarin is weak; my Thai is non-existent. I only spent a few weeks in Thailand, kickboxing, lounging on the beach, and eating, and I never learned a lick of Thai. As for SPL2, I could hardly track the story. Was this a prequel? A sequel? I have to watch the original again to see if it fits. The only story arc I could follow was about a little dying girl. And there was this undercover mole, ala Internal Affairs. Maybe it's better if you know what's going on. Maybe not.

The film is really dark and dingy. Everyone is greasy with tropical sweat. The main color schemes are faded greens and blues. There's a lot of talking and a lot of cell phones. It's an unpleasant environment, but it did remind me of some of my less glamorous travels in Asia.

The fight scenes are way too few and far in between. The first firefight at the terminal has good gunplay. The prison fight is spectacular, the centerpiece of the film, one long continues shot of ultravi mayhem, cleverly CGI-stitched together from several extended fight scenes. There's another raid that's really grisly and has some brutal knife work. Then there are a few more fights that are way too dark so all that is seen is silhouettes. There's a final fight that happens in a bright white room, which is painful because the rest of the film is so dark, my pupils got sore from going pin too quickly.

There are some really feint homages to Ichi the Killer (Yam's restraint) and the eyeglass billboard in the Great Gatsby (2013 version). Maybe there were more but the film was too **** dark. Those were really distracting because I kept thinking 'I've seen that before' especially with the Gatsby reference, and it was bugging me all night. I only figured it out on my commute this morning.

I was very disappointed by this film but I would totally watch that prison fight scene again. Just skip to that.

[GeneChing]

In U.S. theaters next week.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iah3S6lCPvI


US THEATER LOCATIONS (http://www.wellgousa.com/theatrical/kill-zone-2)

May 13, 2016

ATLANTA

AMC Sugarloaf Mills 18
5900 Sugarloaf Pkwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30043
(678) 847-9262


BOSTON

AMC Loews Boston Common 19
175 Tremont St
Boston, MA 02111
(617) 423-5801


CHICAGO

AMC River East 21
322 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 596-0333


DALLAS

AMC Grapevine Mills 30
3150 Grapevine Mills Parkway
Grapevine, TX 76051
(972) 539-5909


MINNEAPOLIS

AMC Inver Grove 16
5567 Bishop Ave
Inver Grove Heights, MN 55076
(651) 453-1916


NEW YORK CITY

Metrograph Theatre
7 Ludlow Street
New York, NY 10002


LOS ANGELES

Arena Cinema
1625 N Las Palmas Ave
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 306-0676

AMC Atlantic Time Square
450 N Atlantic Blvd
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(626) 407-0240


SAN FRANCISCO / BAY AREA

Four Star
2200 Clement St
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 666-3488


DETROIT

Historic Howell Theater
315 E Grand River Ave
Howell, MI 48843
(517) 579-2355


HAWAII

Pearlridge West 16
98-1005 Moanalua Road
Aiea, HI 96701
(808) 483-5339


PHOENIX

Harkins Valley Art
509 S Mill Ave
Tempe, AZ 85281


SEATTLE

AMC Pacific Place 11
600 Pine Street - Ste 400
Seattle, WA 98101
(206) 652-8908



May 8, 2016

DALLAS

Dan's Silverleaf
103 Industrial St
Denton, TX 76201
(940) 320-2000


May 17, 2016
KANSAS CITY

Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet
1400 Main Street
Kansas City, MO 64105
(816) 474-4545



May 23, 2016

DALLAS

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema Richardson
100 South Central Expressway
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 534-2120



CANADA THEATER LOCATIONS

May 13, 2016

OTTAWA

Mayfair Theatre
1074 Bank St
Ottawa, ON K1S 3X3, Canada


TORONTO

Bell Lightbox
350 King St W
Toronto, ON M5V 3X5, Canada
+1 416-599-8433

[GeneChing]

An NYT review:

Review: ‘Kill Zone 2’ Packs a Wallop With Orchestrated Mayhem (http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/movies/review-kill-zone-2-packs-a-wallop-with-orchestrated-mayhem.html?_r=0)
KILL ZONE 2 Directed by Pou-Soi Cheang Action, Crime, Thriller 2h 0m
By ANDY WEBSTERMAY 12, 2016

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2016/05/13/arts/13KILLZONE2/13KILLZONE2-master768-v2.jpg
Zhang Jin, left, and Tony Jaa in the fist- and kick-filled “Kill Zone 2.” Credit Well Go Usa

If there’s one rewarding thing about many Hong Kong action directors, it’s that they rarely dawdle in getting to what fight fans have come for: bracing shootouts and high-impact fisticuffs and footwork. Soi Cheang, a former assistant to the likes of the Hong Kong auteurs Ringo Lam and Johnnie To, honors this tradition with the generically titled policier “Kill Zone 2,” a quasi-sequel to a 2005 Donnie Yen vehicle and a hearty, layered, big-budget helping of orchestrated mayhem.

Alas, there is some nettlesome exposition, involving a principled prison guard (the martial arts deity Tony Jaa) in Thailand, whose young daughter has leukemia. Her only hope is the blood marrow of an undercover cop (Wu Jing), who, betrayed, is confined in the prison. (The Hong Kong veteran Simon Yam plays a sympathetic police investigator.) An organ-trafficking ring and a corrupt warden (a dapper Zhang Jin) make life hard for our heroes, while one subplot — involving a criminal mastermind (Louis Koo) at odds with his once-loving brother (Jun King) — faintly echoes the 1990s John Woo template.

Enough of that. The meat is the set pieces, among them a boat-terminal bust that goes awry in a blaze of bullets, a raucous cellblock free-for-all and a fracas in a well-appointed high-rise chamber in which Mr. Jaa and Mr. Wu tag-team on scores of assailants. As for Mr. Cheang, here working with the action choreographer Li Chung Chi, you could certainly say he lands his punches.

Kill Zone 2
Director Pou-Soi Cheang
Writers Lai-yin Leung, Ying Wong
Stars Tony Jaa, Jing Wu, Simon Yam, Jin Zhang, Louis Koo
Running Time 2h 0m
Genres Action, Crime, Thriller

[Jimbo]

This wasn't as bad as I had been expecting from some reviews of it, but IMO it could have been much better. The biggest issue I have is the uneven direction. The continuity and pacing suck. Scenes are shot out of order, to the point where it seems like the action is about to take over from the (considerable amount of) drama, it once again gets mired down in more melodramatics. This even happens during the final fight(!), which really screws up the continuity of an otherwise good end battle.

The fights are overall pretty good. My favorite involves one of the villains who wields short knives. Also, Zhang Jin has become a good new KF movie villain. He doesn't have loads of personality, and has maybe two facial expressions, but he's perfectly convincing at portraying almost unflappable, sociopathic bad guys. His onscreen fighting skills are also excellent. Which begs the question: Why would the action director require so much floaty wirework in his fights? His flying kicks almost look like those of a character in a wuxia film. Not appropriate in a gritty modern setting. One of the things that sets him apart from old-school villains like Hwang Jang Lee, who never needed wires to aid his complex aerial kicking skills.

Tony Jaa has more dramatic scenes than normal, but he also seems to have only two facial expressions. When he's not fighting, he appears uncomfortable onscreen. Also, his MA and stunt skills simply do not stand out like they used to. It seems as if the first Tom Yum Goong movie and Ong Bak 2 were his last "wow" physical performances.

Wu Jing does well in his role, especially in the fights towards the end. IMO, his fights stand out more than Tony Jaa's in this film.

The end fight, involving a double-team against the villain, is among the better end fights in a Chinese or Thai movie in a while, and as mentioned, would have been better without the many interruptions to other, non-action scenes. It would have been better without the wirework, as mentioned, as well as the classical music in the soundtrack, and the overuse of slow motion. Zhang Jin's character has superhuman levels of power and durability.

The coincidences in the storyline stretch credibility to the limit. But overall, I found it entertaining. The plot had a lot of potential, but IMO the execution was a little off.

3/5