THE BATTLE OF LAKE CHANGJIN II (长津湖之水门桥) (2022)

Genre: War/Drama
Director: Tsui Hark, Chen Kaige, Dante Lam
Cast: Wu Jing, Jackson Yee, Duan Yihong, Zhu Yawen, Li Chen, Elvis Han
Runtime: 2 hrs 29 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 10 February 2022

Synopsis: During the second battle of the war to resist U.S. Aggression and aid Korea, the 9th Corps Command issues an order for the 7th Infantry Company to attack the Sumun Bridge. The 7th Company suffers a tough march to the Sumun Bridge. The soldiers are near their limits, every step forward in the midst of the harsh weather only means another great challenge to the body and mind... When they inch close to the Sumun Bridge, the 7th Company perseveres with sheer and steel-like willpower. They bomb and destroy every attempt the US Army makes to repair the Bridge. Three grueling clashes and the 7th Company finally manage to block the US Army’s retreat to Xingnan Port.

Movie Review:

What better time to release the sequel to China’s war blockbuster than the Spring Festival holiday. It is a movie made to stir the patriotism of the Republic’s people, and during this period when families get together to celebrate the festivities, it is the perfect movie to catch on the big screen, and everyone can step out of the cinema feeling proud of what their forefathers’ achievements and appreciative of all the sacrifices made.

Following the events of the first movie, the soldiers of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army's 7th Company continue their quest to fight for their country. They are now at the titular WatergateBridgewhich guards a strategic point on the enemy Americans’ retreat route. You can expect 149 minutes of non stop war action with massive tank battles, sniper shootings and arm to arm combats. Of course, this is the guys’ battleground, where the men are sweaty, muddy bloody and fully committed in deterring the enemy troops.

Like the first film, the sequel boasts countless explosive action sequences. Those who are not interested in this genre of movies may find the scenes repetitive (the characters are all donned in army uniform, so everyone looks similar after a while), and some may even argue that the storytelling is extremely one sided (read: the Chinese are the good guys, and the Americans are the bad guys). But if you see the movie as a piece of work to celebrate the patriotism of the men who gave their lives to the cause, the concerns become invalid.

Wu Jing, Jackson Yee, Duan Yihong, Zhu Yawen and Li Chen reprise their roles from the first movie, and this concluding to the two parter will reveal the fate of the characters. There are some truly intense scenes that may make you squirm in your seats, but it is also a reminder that a real war is probably many times more brutal than what you see on screen.

The movie showcases extensive special effects, and it is evident that expenses are not spared to make the war scenes as realistic as possible. The film rarely slows down to distract viewers from unnecessary side plots. There is a flashback sequence about a character’s farewell with his wife, and that’s much appreciated and memorable because it is a moment in the movie that features an actress and a scenic countryside backdrop – it’s a nice breather from the testosterone filled war scenes.

You may have heard that the first movie is the highest grossing title of all time at China’s box office. It is also the second highest grossing movie of 2021 after Spider Man: No Way Home. While it Is too early to know whether the sequel will earn more, it is expected that the title is a winner amongst the CNYmovies released during this period in China.

If you are a fan of war movies and can see beyond the fact that the production was led by the film office of the Publicity Department of the Chinese Communist Party, you may even want to give a shot and watching the two films back to back for maximum impact.

Movie Rating:

(Get a glimpse of how the Chinese People's Volunteer Army gave their all to bring down the enemy in this gripping war movie)

Review by John Li