기본 콘텐츠로 건너뛰기

'The Old Guard 2': An Unexpected Sequel, an Even More Unexpected Ending!

The Netflix movie 'The Old Guard' tells an intriguing story about immortal warriors. Honestly, while watching the first film, I never really expected a sequel to be made. However, it turns out there was a clear reason why a follow-up was inevitable. 'The Old Guard 1' set an impressive record, becoming the 9th most-watched English-language film on Netflix within just 28 days of its release. With that kind of box office success, it would have been stranger not to make a sequel.
Frankly, I've rarely been fully satisfied with Netflix original movies compared to the big-screen blockbusters I watch in theaters. Perhaps it's due to the limitation of not being able to experience them in a cinema. Of course, there have been instances where Netflix-produced films were released in theaters first, and I found those quite enjoyable. But not every Netflix film gets that kind of theatrical release.
'The Old Guard' is an action film centered on immortal warriors. In this movie, Charlize Theron undeniably has a commanding presence. Her overwhelming star power sometimes made me forget that 'The Old Guard' is actually a team story, though as the film progresses, the importance of teamwork naturally becomes clear. However, Theron's presence never diminishes.
No one can deny Charlize Theron's exceptional acting skills. She possesses a wide acting spectrum, capable of delivering various nuances depending on the role she takes on. She has left a strong impression, particularly in action films. Yet, it seems there aren't many roles where she has portrayed elegant or delicate characters.
In 'The Old Guard 2,' Uma Thurman makes a surprising cameo appearance. Uma Thurman has also tackled a diverse range of characters throughout her career, but given her high profile, her acting output has often felt a bit disappointing. It seems she chooses projects based on what she feels like doing, without much concern for external factors.
In this film, Uma Thurman takes on the role of a villain. 'The Old Guard 2' delves into the past, showing the very moment Charlize Theron became immortal. It's revealed that the character played by Uma Thurman is deeply connected to this process. Now, they are no longer merely immortal beings but face unpredictable and dangerous situations.
Of course, because they are immortal, it's unlikely they'll lose their lives easily. However, a newly revealed secret hints that their immortality can be broken. Furthermore, another reason for their centuries-long existence also comes to light.
The villain, played by Uma Thurman, dislikes the actions of 'The Old Guard' team, who claim to be saving humanity. The film also uncovers another hidden reason behind 'The Old Guard's' mission. While Ngo Thanh Van appears as Charlize Theron's new partner and delivers solid action sequences, the ending of the movie left me quite bewildered as it felt incomplete.
Typically, a film's ending provides some closure while building anticipation for the next installment. This movie, however, simply concludes as if it were just one episode of a TV drama. This is, in fact, one of the most frustrating traits of successful American productions. I suppose they believe that even with such an ending, audiences will still flock to see 'The Old Guard 3' when it eventually comes out.

 

댓글

이 블로그의 인기 게시물

The Japanese Remake of 'Marry My Husband': What's Different from the Original?

The drama 'Marry My Husband', which took the Korean television scene by storm, offered a fresh take within the "makjang" (over-the-top) drama genre, earning immense love from viewers. Its unpredictable story and thrilling revenge plot resonated not only in Korea but also internationally, once again proving the prestige of K-dramas. Riding on this popularity, a Japanese remake was recently released, drawing keen interest from fans of the original work.   The Japanese version of 'Marry My Husband' took a special path from the production stage. Despite being a Japanese drama, it held a press conference in Korea, sparking curiosity. This was because the project was born from a close collaboration with Korea's CJ ENM. As a product of the combined production systems of both countries, there was high anticipation for how the remake would localize the original's charm. This background positions the drama not just as a simple remake, but as a positive example o...

This Summer's Box Office: From 'Exit' Comrades to Competitors, Yoona and Jo Jung-suk Meet Again

This summer, a particularly interesting showdown is taking shape at the box office, capturing the attention of audiences. The two stars of the film <Exit>, which set a new blockbuster formula for disaster films by attracting 9.42 million viewers a few summers ago, Jo Jung-suk and Im Yoona, have returned to the screen in different comedy films, setting the stage for a friendly competition. The fantastic chemistry they showed in <Exit> was the biggest driving force behind the film's success. Their human charm, which didn't lose its sense of humor even in a disaster situation, and their perfect acting synergy were greatly loved by the audience, earning both actors the "trustworthy" label. The mere fact that they are now leading their own films and facing off for the summer box office crown has raised film fans' expectations to the highest level. After the success of <Exit>, the two actors' paths diverged somewhat. Jo Jung-suk further solidified ...

The World of John Wick Welcomes a New Protagonist: 'Ballerina'

The name 'John Wick' has now become a proper noun symbolizing an entire genre of action. With anecdotes of its direction being so meticulous as to count every single bullet fired, the series achieved global success with its sophisticated and stylish action, setting it apart from existing action films. It went beyond a simple killer's revenge story, establishing a new standard for action movies by building a captivating world and a unique action style known as 'Gun-Fu'.   Starting with a B-movie sensibility, the John Wick series grew in stature to become a massive blockbuster with each installment. As protagonist Keanu Reeves aged, a sense of sympathy and poignancy was sometimes felt in his action scenes, but the series' vitality never waned, thanks to ardent fan support. Finally, the world of John Wick declared its expansion beyond a series into a grand universe, and its very first entry is the spinoff film, 'Ballerina'. The original script for 'Ball...