Director: Herman Yau
121 minutes (15) 2020
Cine Asia Blu-ray
Rating: 7/10
Review by Christopher Geary
A follow-up to Shock Wave (aka: Shock Wave: Tunnel, 2017), stand-alone sequel Shock Wave: Hong Kong Destruction (aka: Shock Wave 2), is not actually a typical disaster-movie, as its title might suggest, but a hi-tech cop thriller that’s closer to US movies like Stephen Hopkins’ Blown Away (1994). Intrepid bomb-disposal cop Fung (Andy Lau, from Island Of Greed, House Of Flying Daggers, Infernal Affairs), rescues victims from devices planted in their building, but a booby-trap takes off his left leg. Five years later, terrorist gang Vendetta launch their campaign with a suicide-bomber at a government building in Hong Kong.
Working as hotel porter, Fung becomes a suspect after another bombing but he claims to have amnesia and escapes from a secure hospital, while the counter-terrorist unit, led by Ling (Ni Ni, The Flowers Of War), begins a manhunt for him, codenamed Blizzard. Details of the baddies include a white-haired mastermind ‘Maverick’ who is just like a 007 villain. The cleverly unfolding sci-fi plot is based on suspicion, paranoia, implanted thoughts, and plenty of twists that keep us guessing about corruption, memory loss, PTSD, under-cover agents, and Ling’s crucial role in a top-secret mission. Lau is mightily impressive as Fung, playing out a character-arc of increasingly obsessive behaviour with ranting and rages to concern his friends and perplex his colleagues. CID Inspector Tung (Sean Lau, so great in Johnnie To’s excellent mystery Mad Detective) remains loyal to Fung, no matter what any of the authorities or news media are saying.
There’s crisply edited cinematography of spectacular stunts, physical effects, and visuals, including photo-real animation combined with briskly paced direction, making slick action sequences in this extraordinary blend of gadgets, betrayal, duplicity, and heroic sacrifice. A shoot-out in a car park, a hijacked train, maintain levels of tension, further elevated by armed police raids enacted with clockwork precision. The tremendously exciting climax delivers a fine display of electrifying professionalism, complete with a suspension bridge demolition for maximum jaw-dropping style. The supremely efficient director Herman Yau (Ip Man sequels), somehow manages to cram all of this, from the first sparks of anger to a city on fire, into a mere two hours.
