The Roundup: No Way Out is a flex for action star Ma Dong-seok

It takes a lot of shifting elements to make a film’s action work. The choreography, digicam placement, and modifying all need to be in sync, and also you want individuals who know what they’re doing in entrance of and behind the digicam. But maybe an important component is matching a film’s action fashion with its stars’ superhuman abilities. And there’s no higher synergy between a fashionable action franchise’s combat scenes and its star than the pairing of Korea’s Crime City franchise and burly star Ma Dong-seok.

Ma, often known as Don Lee, has made a profession of his attraction, comedic supply, and tree-trunk-like biceps. After years of success within the Korean film trade, he rose to worldwide consideration along with his glorious supporting position in Train to Busan, which led Hollywood to come back calling, resulting in his position as Gilgamesh in Marvel’s Eternals.

His profession has reached new heights lately with the Crime City films, a franchise of action thrillers the place Ma performs hard-hitting detective Ma Seok-do. The second entry, The Roundup, was Korea’s highest-grossing home film in 2022, and the newly launched third film, No Way Out, could also be the very best within the franchise but. A fourth film is set to come back out in 2024, with many extra installments deliberate.

Returning director Lee Sang-yong is aware of precisely the way to spotlight the whole lot that makes Ma particular. All three Crime City films make full use of his jaw-dropping physique, notably in the best way they first introduce him on display. Each introduction begins with a scene of mayhem in a public place, like a visitors incident that has spilled into a fistfight on the street. Then the digicam cuts to Ma’s imposing determine from behind, letting his shoulders take up all the width of the display as he strides ahead to ship justice along with his palms or fists, resolving the state of affairs so visitors can let up and he can get to work.

Image: BA Entertainment

Ma, who turned the president of the Korean Arm Wrestling Federation in 2018, is unbelievably charming — whilst a hard-hitting cop, he’s affable, humorous, personable, and sometimes dense in a very endearing means. He walks with confidence, and he continuously warns folks to not mess with him. His physique can fill a body, however his smile can fill a room.

Ma’s comedic supply, each in his phrases and his actions, helps elevate these films from brutally enjoyable action to all-around rollicking good instances. In No Way Out, he walks in on a group of criminals attempting a harmful new drug, and casually asks them to place the medication in a Ziploc bag whereas he takes photos. They robotically obey earlier than they notice they’re incriminating themselves; such is the ability of Ma’s bodily presence and charisma. When confronted with folks trying to take him down, he reacts with annoyance greater than something. It’s like he’s disciplining unruly kids — who occur to be charging at him with weapons, and should be disciplined with head-splitting punches.

Image: BA Entertainment

Image: BA Entertainment

Now in his 50s, Ma hasn’t slowed down as an action star one bit. His character has aches and pains, stretching out his arms after a lengthy combat or exclaiming “Gosh, I’m tired” in the midst of one. But he strikes with stunning quickness for a man of his age and dimension, and he hits more durable than ever.

And the Crime City films acknowledge that these punches are the true primary attraction. Ma was as soon as an aspiring boxer himself, and it exhibits in his clean actions and impeccable type. He has jaw-droppingly huge fists and arms, and he hits more durable than another action star working at the moment. While his huge physique suggests his energy by itself, No Way Out director Lee additionally is aware of the way to spotlight Ma’s distinctive traits. Lee’s digicam strikes with the action and follows the punches, accentuating the blows for most affect. When Ma fells a notably huge opponent, the digicam shakes as if there was an earthquake.

Image: BA Entertainment

Adding to the kinetic camerawork is No Way Out’s sensational foley work, which amplifies each blow — the mixed impact makes it really feel like Ma is slugging dangerous guys with a truck, not his fists. The punches hit loud, however crucially, so do the misses — when fists or knives whiff, the air whooshes with the pressure and hazard of the strikes. When Ma makes contact, although, the recipient goes flying.

The collection does have the drained trope of “good cop restrained by pesky human rights concerns,” together with a gag in No Way Out the place Ma and fellow officers provide you with artistic methods to cowl the digicam whereas beating somebody they’re questioning. These films dwell within the shared fantasy world of many police films the place cops solely query dangerous individuals who deserve no matter extralegal punishment they get. If you might have the persistence for that archaic concept, you’ll be rewarded with among the best action collection being made at the moment.

You don’t want to look at the earlier Crime City films to comply with No Way Out, however it’s best to, as a result of they rule, and any excuse to look at Ma Dong-seok punching fools is a good one. His years of coaching as a film star and as a boxer repay on this collection, and the folks behind the digicam know the way to use it to most benefit. As these films proceed to indicate, that’s a recipe for success.

The Roundup: No Way Out is now in theaters. The first film within the franchise, The Outlaws, is streaming on Viki, free with advertisements on Tubi, and rentable on Amazon. You can stream the second film, The Roundup, on Viki; watch it free with advertisements on Tubi, Plex, and FreeVee; or hire it on Amazon.