Film Name:戰狼2 / Wolf Warriors 2
[Friendly reminder: This article contains minor spoilers]
“I used to be the dark horse, but now I’m the target.” Wu Jing’s words aptly reflect his current predicament.
Two years ago, “Wolf Warriors” burst onto the scene, achieving both box office success and critical acclaim. Beyond its solid fundamentals, its breakthrough stemmed primarily from its identity as a military action film—carving a path through the sea of “soft and insipid” domestic productions. Two years later, “Wolf Warriors 2” arrives amid pre-release hype. Unlike its predecessor, this installment faces heightened scrutiny and diverse opinions. After all, achieving “0 to 1” requires focusing on execution, while “1 to 2” adds significant pressure on that foundation.
To be fair, Wu Jing elevated every aspect of his performance in Wolf Warriors 2, skillfully playing to his strengths while minimizing weaknesses. His dedication shines through in the numerous action sequences… As for the story, it suffices as long as it holds together logically…
This film has its fair share of strengths and weaknesses. On the positive side, the entire cast and crew demonstrated remarkable dedication. The film radiates an aura consistent with Wu Jing’s evolution from Cold Blade to iron-blooded soldier—a thick, unyielding masculine energy that screams “Bring it on!” It embodies a more contemporary form of “heroism,” setting a new benchmark for domestic action films, especially military-themed ones.
On the downside, that same “brutality” can be viewed from another angle. Storytelling isn’t its strong suit, with the ubiquitous “main theme” and displays of patriotic fervor feeling somewhat forced. It’s not that it’s bad, but rather that opportunities to make it more “flavorful” were missed. Additionally, some scenes and dialogue suffer from noticeable issues like audio-visual desynchronization and awkward scripting, which cost it points on fundamentals.
As for the film’s overall impact? You’ll have to see it for yourself.
Here, I’ll briefly touch on a few characters—all feel somewhat stereotypical. Cold Feng’s toughness and Rachel’s stubbornness are standard adventure movie archetypes. The real depth lies in the supporting cast, who all appear at the Chinese-owned factory.
First is veteran actor Wu Gang as the old soldier He Jianguo.
Such “veteran” archetypes often shine brightest, and He Jianguo is no exception. When Cold Blade and his team arrive at the factory, the perimeter traps were his doing. Yet this seasoned martial artist willingly stays behind the hotheaded young generation, taking orders from them. When real enemies strike, he proves himself a one-man army. In short, he’s “gentle enough to soothe new recruits with words, tough enough to withstand interrogation with iron resolve, skilled enough to draw maps with a pen, and capable enough to shoot down enemies with a gun.”
Even more intriguing are the characters of Zhuo Yifan (Zhang Han) and Lin Zhixiong (Chun Yu Shanshan).
Both characters are fascinatingly crafted. Zhuo Yifan is clearly a spoiled second-generation heir who fancies himself a martial arts prodigy but knows only flashy, ineffective moves. He deludes himself with grand ambitions and yearns for the glory of battle, yet his true colors show the moment real combat begins. Only after being tempered by blood and fire does he begin to resemble a soldier. Old Lin, meanwhile, is a mercenary businessman who thrives on profit in Africa. When danger strikes, he instinctively navigates risks pragmatically, prioritizing self-preservation until cornered into a no-back-out situation, only then beginning to reflect on his choices…
Unfortunately, despite the action sequences and fast-paced narrative, actors like He Jianguo, Zhuo Yifan, and Lin Zhixiong only managed to portray the “bones” of their characters, lacking the “flesh and blood.”
After all, the real showstoppers were still Cold Blade’s “divine intervention” and all the explosions.
Before drawing many conclusions, we often have to frame them within the context of “domestic films.” This is precisely why, despite equally high-quality action sequences, watching Hollywood movies feels natural while viewing Chinese-language films can feel jarring—setting aside inherent biases, we genuinely lack the corresponding mature environment and foundation. Achieving that “effortless flow” still requires time.
For “Wolf Warriors 2,” which ventured to Africa for on-location filming, insisted on authentic stunt work, and delivered richer action sequences, I’m still willing to give Wu Jing a thumbs-up.
One final note: after the end credits roll, there’s an Easter egg revealing that Long Xiaoyun’s story isn’t over yet. Wu Jing states, “What you’re watching now is actually ‘Wolf Warriors 3,’ because for certain reasons, ‘Wolf Warriors 2’ got scrapped.”
The romance between Long Xiaoyun and Leng Feng will continue. Specifically, transforming “Wolf Warriors 2” into “Wolf Warriors 3” will provide closure for their relationship.
Therefore, if “Wolf Warriors 3” materializes, it could make the storyline more credible and natural—provided, of course, that “Wolf Warriors 2” doesn’t lose money. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait a few more years…
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