Cold War 2

Cold War is an intense, often thrilling, delve into terrorists versus the Hong Kong Police Department. Its sequel, Cold War 2, isn't as memorable. It shifts more toward high-ranking corruption of ex-officials and includes a ton of dialogue. Still intense, though more humorously so, many scenes culminate in forced importance; each and every spoken word conning the viewer to accept and be impressed by the gravity of unfolding situation. It doesn't feel organic, and while the first film also suffered from this, it did not have the overriding impression of a cash-grab procedural. Cold War 2 is more polished than its predecessor; the cinematography is at times gorgeous and sweeping, and the set pieces, though few and far between, are impressive, still the film cannot shake its dispensable feel. No amount of Aaron Kwok's trademark faux-seriousness or Big Tony's small-eyed glances and abrupt deliveries will make Cold War 2 anything more than a carbon-copy of the first, and therefore a bore.

This also might be the most needless use of 3D I have ever witnessed.

C-