The Roundup: Punishment

No pun intended - the movie takes a step into modern crime. Apparently the Round up series is going to have many more entries. And I will watch them all and I know if Don Lee is in them, I will enjoy them in different degrees .. but I will enjoy them. The second one still remains the best - I was thinking about giving this an 8 ... but decided to go with a 9 like with the rest of them.

There is less with side characters, but still more than enough! The mascot is back - well I am calling him that. A "small" time criminal, who has a love hate relationship with our main character here. And quite a few more return too. Of course Don Lee as the main character has to be back too. And we have a bit of a break(through) compared to the other 3 movies. Usually you had him entering and us seeing only his back in the very first scene. This time the very first shot is straight up his face. Though to be fair, we ... feel his presence way before that. A really good entry once again - just different than the other movies.

We also do not get the ... usual interrogation scene. We do get a mixture of things used before though (the making the criminal being afraid of his life and in another scene the .... "helmet" method - if you know, you know) ... and both things work.

The movie is quite violent, but also has quite the funny and chill moments. Don Lees character not being able to understand technical terms is just hilarious ... as are his attempts to use words of wisdom he has heard ... to pep up/talk others ... but that is why we love him.

Other good news: we get a really good bad guy. Was a bit of a problem (at least for me) in the third one. And still not as good as the one in the second movie ... but a step up as I said. If you liked Bud Spencer ... you will have fun with the antics that this movie is giving you! You can feel every punch ... you don't need 3D for this ... just a good sound system!

The baddie resorts to murder a boy in Phillipines. He is running an online casino and further joins hands with another casino owner to target the rivals and create a monopoly of sorts. When the baddie is not given what he is owed, he decides to travel all the way to Seoul to make a brutal point. To his bad luck, Detective Ma Seok-do is teaming with the cyber crime team to take on the online gambling ring. How does the detective punches his way to the villain and get justice to the murdered boy, forms rest of the story.

The Roundup franchise by now has nothing new in terms of the story or even the action scenes. It relies heavily on it's main star and his punches followed up by a couple of comic moments. The fourth installment gets in the older films references and tries to introduce a brute villain but he is still no match to our hero. It is not surprising that the non-action scenes soon get tiring and honestly, I kept waiting for Don Lee to punch as many guys he can until the face off the villain - both the times. I am still going with a lenient rating because Don Lee's punches are still that good. If only, they truly value it enough to lend a good script to back the lead hero. If there is a fifth film, I just hope they work on the antagonist more and not just make him stylishly violent.

The hit South Korean action series is back with its latest instalment "The Roundup: Punishment"... The plot is simple, but it does not need to be overly complex instead the biggest strength of the film is how approachable it is...

What allowed me to get so invested, though, was the acting. Don Lee as Detective Ma Seok-do just has a level of charm and charisma that is unparalleled. He gives his all when it comes to comedy, drama, and especially action. In conjunction with Don Lee's performance, we have Kim Mu-yeol as Baek. His performance is cold and calculated, and every time he is on screen, the tension levels increase to a boiling point. As the film's main villain, he is just perfect...

From the first impact to the final blow at the end. Every action scene is just a feast for the eyes. While the cinematography is anything but flashy, it also captures every punch, kick, and knife perfectly so that every action scene is easy to follow and gripping. While if there were more creative camera choices things would have made a bid difference...

Overall Everything combined allows The Roundup: Punishment to be a great time. It is up there as one the favourite films of the year so far & one can feel this is a film that anyone can enjoy. It is worth seeing on the big screen with popcorn in hand...

Once again we see here why Don Lee is an absolute powerhouse in action cinema. From his impeccable mannerisms to his commanding body language, he owns the screen with every step. The way he walks, talks, and delivers his trademark humor is nothing short of mesmerizing, making his character truly unforgettable. This is a prime example of how subtle yet impactful a performance can be. Don Lee's portrayal continues to be a masterclass in charisma, with his physicality and humor effortlessly blending into the narrative.

As with previous films in this franchise, the villain arc is expertly developed, adding depth to the antagonist. The build-up to the eventual face-off is expertly paced, and the tension is palpable. As the story nears the climactic showdown, you can feel the anticipation mount, knowing the inevitable confrontation between the detective and villain is coming, and it does not disappoint.

The cinematography also deserves a special mention. The fight sequences are shot with such intensity and precision that you can feel the impact of every punch, making you root for the detective with every move. The camera work keeps you immersed in the action, and there's a rawness to the fights that adds to the realism. It's this attention to detail that makes you feel like you're right there in the middle of the action.

Now, as an Indian, I have to mention the way some of these films get adapted into Hindi cinema. Don Lee's films are often reworked poorly in our industry, particularly when it comes to the action. Salman Khan and his entourage, who are known for borrowing from these films, often fail to understand the essence of the original action. In The Roundup, the action scenes are straightforward and free from the unnecessary slow-motion sequences that plague most Bollywood action films. There's no fancy acrobatics, no over-the-top stunts, just a simple detective delivering punches, and that is where the magic lies. The simplicity and rawness of the action make it feel grounded, authentic, and far more impactful than what we often see in our local adaptations.

Lastly, the humor is another highlight. It's not forced or slapstick; it's woven into the character's interactions and mannerisms, making it all the more natural and enjoyable. The comedic timing complements the darker, action-packed moments, bringing a balance to the overall tone.

Those of you who have watched the three previous The Roundup films will surely be familiar with the formula of this film series, namely detective Ma Seok-do and his team are faced with a criminal case that they must investigate in depth. For his latest film, namely The Roundup: Punishment, Seok-do and his team now have to deal with an online gambling syndicate which also causes several horrific murder incidents.

What clearly differentiates Punishment from the previous film The Roundup is that Seok-do and his team now have to face cyber crimes that they have never investigated before. Seok-do and his team's ignorance about cybercrime is clearly an important point in the comedy elements of this film. Plus, Seok-do has to work with ridiculous thugs to carry out his mission.

As an action film starring Ma Dong-seok, you certainly don't need to doubt the action presented in Punishment. You can see Ma Dong-seok's boxing and slamming action, which without hesitation kills the criminals, so the action feels satisfying. Apart from that, the villain in this film also has a quite cruel character, where he kills his targets very cruelly. The display of blood adds to the intensity of the action in this film.