The 80s were full of muscular film heroes who fearlessly faced every enemy and often defeated them with brute force, but also conveyed a certain kind of charm and sympathy. Those missing this type of film can find it these days in Korea, and The Roundup is the best example of it.
What is The Roundup about? Ma Seok-do is the deputy head of the serious crimes department at the Geumcheon police station and is investigating in Vietnam at the beginning of the film because Koreans have been disappearing there regularly while on vacation or business trips.
Soon he and his team discover that there is a serial killer. However, he manages to escape to South Korea. Now it is up to Ma Seok-do and his team to find and stop the serial killer.
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A Hero Like in the Past
Ma Seok-do is played by Ma Dong-seok, whom many probably know from his supporting role in Train to Busan, where he became a fan favorite due to his physique and heroic actions. And in The Roundup, he is the big star. His physical presence and disrespectful behavior convey exactly the coolness that many heroes from the past exuded.
Also, Ma’s ideals are as simple as they are effective. He just wants to do his job and protect people. Climbing the career ladder does not matter to him, and he has no personal backstory with his antagonist.
At the same time, the character also conveys a certain charm. Especially when he discusses with his boss Jeon Il-man, because he should actually have kept a low profile. At the same time, he also cares about his team, which consists of many young investigators. The dynamics of the entire team become particularly evident in the overly cramped office.
Good Action from South Korea
Just through his presence, every fight is elevated, and when he delivers slaps and punches, it is always powerfully staged. These are not fight scenes like in The Raid, but rather like in Bud Spencer films. With his strength and physique, every hit resonates and captivates the viewer.
There are also interesting locations such as an underground garage or the grand finale on a bus. Due to the shooting locations in Korea, many of the shown locations are a good mix of dark corners of the city and modern buildings, like a shopping mall. The scenes are also explicit and push the age rating of 16 quite well.
Where can you watch the film? If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you can watch the film there in German. Otherwise, there are physical releases and purchasable streaming options on Amazon and Apple TV.
For those who crave good action in the style of the 80s, it is definitely worth watching The Roundup. So far, there is a quasi-sequel with the film “The Outlaws” and a proper sequel called “The Roundup: No Way Out,” which will be released in December.
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