fbpx
The Roundup

Geek Review: The Roundup

If there was one thing Asian fans wanted to see in Eternals, the pensive film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that left viewers polarised, it would be to catch Gilgamesh kick more ass in the movie.

After all, it is not everyday audiences get to see South Korean-born American actor Don Lee as an incredibly strong being who projects cosmic energy to ward off enemies. It was a perfect opportunity to leverage his towering physique to show how intimidating the character is, but we only remember how the gentle giant took care of Thena, the Eternal played by Angelina Jolie.

Advertisement ▼
The Roundup

Luckily for us, the 51-year-old actor is back in this Korean action flick as Detective Ma Seok-do, a detective who gets embroiled in a series of brutal murders. In this sequel to The Outlaws (do not worry if you did not watch the 2017 sleeper hit, because The Roundup plays as a nice standalone movie), we first see him travelling to Vietnam on a mission to bring a runaway criminal back to Korea. An unexpected turn of events reveals that there is a cold-blooded villain who has been kidnapping and murdering Korean tourists and businessmen for ransom, and Detective Ma is determined to bring him to justice.

Every bad guy out there should wish they do not run into Detective Ma. He is a mean fighting machine who kicks and punches antagonists into a pulp. He will knock you out of the way if you are blocking his path. We shudder to imagine the pain when a 200kg figure rams into you as this beast cop is the highlight of the movie, and his intimidating screen presence is truly captivating.

The thrilling action sequences will keep you on the edge of your seat, as you watch in awe (and horror) as Detective Ma uses his huge bare hands to fight off baddies and sends them flying across the room. There is never a dull moment as director Lee Sang-yong delivers one intense bone-jarring fight scene after another. The over-the-top action sequences can be violent and cruel, and are not for the faint-hearted.

The movie is excitingly paced throughout its 106-minute runtime, right up to the finale which involves an exhilarating car chase on the highway, a heart-stopping cat and mouse game in the shopping mall, a tension-filled shootout in a dilapidated car park and a bloodcurdling showdown in an underground tunnel.

The Roundup

Another highlight of the movie is Son Suk-ku’s performance as the merciless villain who doesn’t flinch when slashing his poor victims. The ruthless and psychotic look in his eyes is chilling and as he wields his hatchet on screen, you’d be cowering in fear. Expect quite a number of bloodbaths as you sit through the action film.

There are also light-hearted moments where Detective Ma engages in casual banter with his teammates – the camaraderie is natural and these are the dudes any guy would want to be bros with. Seeing the men enjoy beer over a hearty hotpot dinner in the closing scene brings a smile.

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.

GEEK REVIEW SCORE

Summary

With 200kg of muscle and menace, Don Lee is the eternal man to watch in this superb action flick!

Overall
8/10
8/10
  • Story - 7/10
    7/10
  • Direction - 8/10
    8/10
  • Characterisation - 7/10
    7/10
  • Geek Satisfaction - 10/10
    10/10