For all the fans of South Korea vs North Korea movies, I’m sad to tell you that this is not the movie you are waiting for. Don’t get the wrong idea, the movie is pretty good but you would not see the NK vs SK fight you have seen on the first movie. In fact, this movie has nothing to do with the first one.
Here you will see a strange relationship between the leaders of NK, SK & USA which pull apart their differences for their common benefit. This means that the main theme of the movie is not the rivalry between the Koreas (although it takes an important part on the story), but the chase for supremacy on the East Sea (China & Japan get also involved).
The movie itself is good and entertaining, but let me tell you that the first hour and maybe a bit more is somehow boring. The first 30 minutes are only used to set the theme and the complicated relations between the rivals, which for my point of view, is something that can be done on a drama and not on a military / thriller movie. Nevertheless the movie gets really good at the final part which makes it worth to watch.
Actors, everyone played the role well, there is no discussion on that I would only talk about the characters they represent. The US president is used to bring some fun to the movie (old trick, many K-Movies have already used it and mocked the US). I would have preferred to have a more balanced character that let me laugh to some point but then play an important role in the movie.
DPRK “Chairmain”, it was well played, it was not shown as a jerk, but as a pragmatic leader that is able to construct bridges. The only critic is that he was a slim & fit guy (played by Yoo Yeon Seok), so c’mon! Make him at least slightly chubby! The leader was fat on the first, make him somehow similar on the second movie! (This is not against the actor, but agains the writer / director)
Finally the ROK president. Really good interpretation, the only thing is that he always appeared after the other two and I would have loved seeing him as someone that takes the lead from the first minute of the movie (this only happens in the end). Maybe the writer wanted to show something through the character, as a foreigner IDK.
Overall, if you are able to go through the first half without dropping, you will see that the effort is worth it. The movie will not disappoint you. If, again, you came here only looking for a sequel of the first movie, well, this is not for you.
Hope you all enjoy it!