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📽 Introduction

If you are a fan of the Crime City series, a South Korean action crime saga that follows detective Ma Seok-do and his team as they battle various criminal gangs, you will not want to miss the final installment, The Roundup: No Way Out. This film wraps up the story with a bang, as Ma Seok-do investigates a murder case linked to a new synthetic drug called Hiper, which sparks a violent conflict between a yakuza hitman and a corrupt cop who works for a rival syndicate. 

The film does not shy away from showing the dark and gritty reality of the crime world, as it explores the themes of justice, loyalty, corruption, revenge and redemption through its action-packed scenes and captivating plot and characters.

In this review and analysis, I will explain why The Roundup: No Way Out is a fitting end to the series that delivers everything you would expect from a great action crime thriller.

📽 Plot Summary

7 years have passed since the events of The Roundup, where Ma Seok-do and his team took down a Vietnamese gang in Seoul. Now, they are part of the Metropolitan Investigation Unit where they are in charge of solving the murder of a woman named Go Sun-hee, who had a synthetic drug called Hiper in her blood. 

Ma follows the trail of Hiper to a nightclub owned by a president who tells him that a yakuza named Hee-ro was the one who brought Hiper to the club from Incheon. Ma and his team storm Hee-ro's place and confiscate 20 kilos of Hiper, but they are attacked by a rogue cop named Joo Seong-cheol, who kills Hee-ro and runs away with Hiper. Seong-cheol is actually a mole for a syndicate called White Shark Clan who wants to sell Hiper for a huge profit.

The yakuza is not happy about losing Hiper, so they send a hitman named Riki to get it back from Seong-cheol. Riki finds another drug dealer named Tomo who was also mixed up in Hiper business and murders him. Ma hears about Tomo's murder, which triggers a drug war between Riki and Seong-cheol and tries to catch Riki, but Riki gets away. Ma discovers a clue to a boat yacht where he uncovers Hiper hidden in a secret compartment. 

He arranges a deal with Seong-cheol with the help of an acquaintance named Cho rong-i, hoping to bust him with the evidence of Hiper. However, Seong-cheol changes his mind, double-crosses Cho rong-i and makes a deal with Riki instead. 

Ma gets caught by Riki and taken to his hideout where Riki questions him about Hiper. Ma fights back to escape with his life and defeats Riki. He then tracks down Seong-cheol at his office using a tracker he put in the bag of Hiper. He confronts Seong-cheol and arrests him along with the White Shark Clan members. His team celebrate their victory and close the case. In the epilogue, Ma calls Jang I-soo who is his former partner who is now in prison for help in another case.

📽 Genre and Main Ideas

This Korean movie is an action crime thriller that blends police procedural, gangster drama and martial arts. The film tackles themes such as justice, loyalty, corruption, revenge and redemption.

The film also shows the brutal realities of the drug trade and its consequences on society. The film invites the audience to wonder about the ethics of the characters and their choices, as well as the efficiency of the law enforcement system.

📽 Filmmaking Aspects

📽📽 Action Sequences

One of the most impressive aspects of The Roundup: No Way Out is its action sequences, which are well-executed, realistic and intense. The film displays various styles of fighting such as boxing, judo, karate and taekwondo, as well as gunfights and car chases.

For example, in the scene where Ma Seok-do battles Riki in his hideout, the two actors use a mix of martial arts and improvised weapons such as a knife, a pipe and a chair to create a fierce and thrilling fight. The film also uses practical effects and stunts to avoid excessive CGI or wirework.

For instance, in the scene where Ma Seok-do pursues Seong-cheol in his car, the actors and stuntmen do the driving and crashing themselves, creating a sense of realism and danger. The action scenes are improved by the cinematography, editing and sound design which create a dynamic and immersive experience for the viewers.

The camera angles, cuts and sound effects highlight the impact and intensity of the action, while also showing the emotions and expressions of the characters. The action sequences add to the overall meaning and impact of the film by showing the skills and personalities of the characters, as well as the stakes and consequences of their actions.

📽📽 Acting Performances

Another aspect of the film is the acting performances, especially by the three main leads. Ma Dong-seok gives a charismatic and convincing performance as Ma Seok-do, a tough but compassionate detective who is determined to uphold justice and protect his team. He shows his character's strength and courage in the action scenes, as well as his humor and humanity in the dialogue scenes. 

In the scene where he questions the president of the nightclub, he uses his physical presence and witty remarks to intimidate and persuade him to reveal information. He also shows his character's vulnerability and emotion when he expresses his guilt regret and emotion for his past actions in the scene where he calls Jang I-soo for help. Lee Joon-hyuk plays Joo Seong-cheol, a greedy and ruthless cop who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals. 

He creates a complex and menacing villain who is both formidable and vulnerable. He shows his character's cunning and ambition in the scenes where he schemes and carries out his plans, as well as his fear and desperation in the scenes where he faces danger or betrayal. 

In the scene where he makes a deal with Riki, he displays his confidence and arrogance, but also his nervousness and anxiety. Munetaka Aoki plays Riki, a cold-blooded and skilled hitman who has a personal grudge against Seong-cheol. He brings a sense of danger and unpredictability to his role. He shows his character's professionalism and efficiency in the scenes where he kills his targets, as well as his anger and obsession in the scenes where he confronts Seong-cheol. 

For example, in the scene where he questions Ma Seok-do, he displays his calmness and cruelty, but also his frustration and impatience. The acting performances contribute to the overall meaning and impact of the film by creating believable and memorable characters who engage the viewers' attention and emotions.

📽 Filmmaker and Context

🎞 The director of The Roundup: No Way Out is Lee Sang-yong, a Korean filmmaker who graduated from the Korea College of Media Arts. He began his career as an assistant director on films such as Swindler In My Mom’s House (2007), My Dear Enemy (2008) and The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008). 

He made his first film as a director with 4th Period Mystery (2009), a high school thriller. He then directed The Roundup (2022) and The Roundup: No Way Out (2023), the second and third films of the Crime City series, which he also co-wrote. He is known for his skillful handling of action scenes and his collaboration with actor Ma Dong-seok.  

🎞 The main actors of The Roundup: No Way Out are Ma Dong-seok, Lee Joon-hyuk and Munetaka Aoki. Ma Dong-seok is one of the most popular and versatile actors in Korea, who has appeared in over 50 films and TV shows since his debut in 2005. He is best known for his roles in Train to Busan (2016), The Outlaws (2017), Along with the Gods (2017-2018) and The Eternals (2021). He plays Ma Seok-do, the protagonist of the Crime City series, a tough but righteous detective who leads his team against various criminals.  

🎞 Lee Joon-hyuk is a Korean actor who debuted in 2006 and has starred in various films and TV shows such as City Hunter (2011), Secret Forest (2017-2020), 365: Repeat the Year (2020) and Dark Hole (2021). He plays Joo Seong-cheol, the antagonist of The Roundup: No Way Out, a corrupt cop who works for a syndicate and steals Hiper from the yakuza.  

🎞 Munetaka Aoki is a Japanese actor who debuted in 1999 and has appeared in many films and TV shows such as Rurouni Kenshin (2012-2014), Samurai Marathon (2019) and Alice in Borderland (2020). He plays Riki, a supporting character in The Roundup: No Way Out, a hitman hired by the yakuza to retrieve Hiper from Seong-cheol.  

🎞 The genre of The Roundup: No Way Out is action crime thriller, which is a popular and successful genre in Korean cinema. The film belongs to the Crime City series, which started with The Outlaws (2017), directed by Kang Yoon-sung and starring Ma Dong-seok and Yoon Kye-sang. The series is inspired by real-life cases of crime organizations in Korea and abroad, such as the Vietnamese gang in Seoul in The Outlaws, the Chinese triad in Busan in The Roundup, and the yakuza in Incheon in The Roundup: No Way Out. The series is known for its realistic and gritty depiction of crime and violence, as well as its humor and humanity.  

🎞 The production company of The Roundup: No Way Out is BA Entertainment, a Korean film production and distribution company founded in 2016 by actor Ma Dong-seok and producer Billy Acumen. The company has produced several films starring Ma Dong-seok, such as Unstoppable (2018), Long Live the King (2019) and The Royal Tailor (2014). The company aims to produce diverse and quality films that appeal to both domestic and international audiences.  

🎞 The historical or cultural context of The Roundup: No Way Out is related to the issue of drug trafficking and abuse in Korea and Asia. The film features a synthetic drug called Hiper, which is similar to methamphetamine or crystal meth, a highly addictive and dangerous substance that affects the central nervous system. 

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), methamphetamine is the most widely used synthetic drug in East and Southeast Asia, where it is produced by transnational criminal organizations and smuggled across borders. The film also depicts the involvement of various crime groups in the drug trade, such as the yakuza from Japan, the White Shark Clan from Korea, and other gangs from China and Vietnam. The film reflects the reality and complexity of drug-related crime in Asia, as well as its social and health consequences.

📽 Conclusion

The Roundup: No Way Out is a fitting end to the Crime City series that delivers everything you would expect from a great action crime thriller. The film blends police procedural, gangster drama and martial arts to create a realistic and intense action crime thriller that tackles themes such as justice, loyalty, corruption, revenge and redemption. 

The features superb acting performances by the three main leads, who portray their characters with charisma and emotion. And a proof of the skill and talent of the director, Lee Sang-yong, and the production company, BA Entertainment, who have created a successful and popular franchise that appeals to both domestic and international audiences. 

This film is a highly recommended watch for any fan of action or crime movies, as well as for anyone who enjoys a good story with high stakes and emotions.

• Genre: Crime, Action
• Country: Korean Movie

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