Friend
II: The Legacy (2013/aka Chingu 2/CJ Entertainment DVD)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: B Film: B+
Joon-seok
(Oh-seong Yu) after being released from 17 years of imprisonment and
returns to gangster life... but things have changed. Now, all his
former brothers/friends have been replaced by a younger, more
ruthless generation that uses money to control and influence others
and 'buy' their way. They welcome him back, he is only welcomed back
to be told that he is NOT welcome, that he should 'retire' and take a
vacation. But once a gangster, always a gangster... and Joon-seok is
about to teach the price of loyalty in Kyung-Taek Kwak's Friend
II: The Legacy (2013)
Joon-seok
was a top boss, but after serving all that time for the 'family' in
prison, he returns to find all those changes and they want him step
down without a fuss, but Joon-seok reminds that these youngsters that
in the 'family' loyalty, honor, respect is not something so easily
bought, but something you earn by blood. As he rebuilds a new gang
(loyal to him) he remember his younger days and what it took to build
the organization, and the organization has gone soft lesson in
manners in this sequel to the 2001 hit Friend from the
director of Champion (2002).
This
was your typical Mafia/Yakuza/Triad movie, the pattern of old versus
new as the younger generation forgets about the sacrifices and blood
which made the organization, and then makes the fatal error of
thinking the organization's power lies within it's fiances. But it
works and is recommended.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.85 X 1 image was shot on an Arri Alexa HD
camera and looks good, if not always great, while the lossy Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix is pretty active. Extras include characters, Making
of Friend II, cast and crew interviews and trailers.
-
Ricky Chiang
