Operation Mekong

Whether it is the anti drug version of "outwitting Tiger Mountain" or the national propaganda film, good-looking is the last word. From Tsui Hark to Lin Chaoxian, Hong Kong directors are becoming smarter and smarter about how to combine action elements with national policies, which is a good momentum. After watching it, an aunt nearby lamented that it was not lost to American blockbusters at all. Such films were not only exciting Chinese films, but also exciting.

As a foreigner I find it always difficult to watch an Asian movie. Even with subtitles, what I am used to. It's because you can't make anything about any word they say. Even if it they would speak about "McDonald's" for example you actually would not hear that world out of their mouths. Besides of the linguistic barrier I saw some pretty good Asian movies. This one is full of action, and if I have to be honest the action scenes are really good. The filming of those action shots are of high quality. The story itself isn't bad either but to me it was just a bit too long to stay concentrated for the entire movie. There are a lot of characters, a lot of action and a lot of fast speaking that doesn't do any good to the movie. But it's okay to watch once though. Just for the good action scenes you should give it a try.

5 stars only because of the first 5 or 10 minutes, which were well done. Anything after that, with the exception of the final moments is absolute and total nonsense. It is said in the end that the film is based on real events, and true enough, the very basics of the story are correct. That is that 13 Chinese sailors were murdered, and drugs found on them. Who murdered them remains a mystery, but there is a good chance it wasn't the men executed for it. The movie purports to tell the official version agreed upon by the Chinese and Thai governments, but it fails at it too. The action scenes are unreal, like the ones you would expect from a grade B American action film. The green screen in some places was more than obvious thanks to bad lighting. What was supposed to be a jungle in some places is clearly an artificial forest. The men who are supposed to be speaking Shan are speaking Thai. There's also the issue with some of the characters that are very out of place (their ethnicities wouldn't per it them to become drug lords)

Finally, the antagonists are all depicted as crazed men who train kids high on drugs to be soldiers. Without any spoilers: absolutely unreal. The real life drug lords of the Golden Triangle supported their communities to gain their trust and help when needed. They build schools and clinics and were called fathers. This film is bad, twists a real story unil it's unrecognizable, and is just badly done!

(2016) Operation Mekong/ Mei Gong he xing dong (In Mandarin with English subtitles) ACTION

It's supposedly based on fact, but we both know it's nothing more but used as the vehicle for unique action sequences, that centers on China's war of drugs with the capture of a wanted felon responsible with 13 innocent Chinese civilians murdered by drug lords upon crossing the Mekong River. Starring Eddie Peng as undercover narcotics squad Fang Xinwu working with expert Gao Gang (Hanyu Zhang) to capture and properly charge the dangerous drug lords responsible.

Anyone would know by now that much of the story is highly exaggerated, so basically the only reason to watch this is to see the action scenes.

Initially, the film is a bit confusing, but you soon get to know the characters and once the introduction is done, the film starts making perfect sense. The film features beautiful cinematography and incredible action sequences, with impressive photography during these action scenes.

'Operation Mekong' is filled with intrigue, suspense and action, making it the perfect action thriller. As an added bonus, the film is visually stunning. There are a few disturbing images of kids using drugs, though. The film is fast-paced and there never really is a dull moment.

The film's main antagonist, Naw Khar, is unfortunately an undeveloped, weak character who doesn't really contribute much to the movie. The film's climax would have been so much better had he been a stronger character. Nevertheless, this is an incredibly entertaining film.