| The Roundup: Punishment | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 범죄도시4 |
| Hanja | 犯罪都市4 |
| Literal meaning | Crime City 4 |
| Revised Romanization | Beomjoedosi4 |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pŏmjoedoshi4 |
| Directed by | Heo Myung-haeng |
| Produced by | Ma Dong-seok |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Lee Sung-je |
| Edited by | Kim Sun-min |
| Music by | Yoon Il-sang |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | ABO Entertainment |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
The Roundup: Punishment (Korean: 범죄도시4; lit. Crime City 4) is a 2024 South Korean action crime film directed by Heo Myung-haeng, starring Ma Dong-seok, Kim Mu-yeol, Park Ji-hwan and Lee Dong-hwi. The fourth installment of The Roundup series and the sequel to The Roundup: No Way Out (2023).[1]
It was selected in the 'Berlinale Special Gala' section at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and was screened on February 23, 2024.[2][3] The film received positive response from critics and viewers, and is expected to be released theatrically on April 24, 2024.[4][5]
Plot
Detective Ma Seok-do joins the Cyber Investigation Team to nab Baek Chang-ki, a former mercenary and the head of an online gambling organization. In this work, there are four main characters, and Ma Dong-seok, who plays the main character Ma Seok-do, is a monster who seeks revenge on the organization of illegal online gambling sites. Kim Moo-yeol, who plays evil man Baek Chang-ki, the main villain and the final boss of the new human race, is a special forces member and the action leader of the illegal online gambling site organization, and the motif seems to be Kim Hyung-jin of the Pattaya engineering student murder case. Lee Dong-hwi, who plays evil man Jang Dong-cheol, the sub-villain, middle boss and fake final boss of the new human race, is an IT genius and a young CEO of the coin industry. And Park Ji-hwan, who played Jang Yi-soo, will return to become the sub-hero of the main film.
Cast
Main
- Ma Dong-seok as Ma Seok-do, Lieutenant of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation.
- Kim Mu-yeol as Baek Chang-ki, former Korean special forces and head of an online gambling organization. He is the lead villain in the film.
- Park Ji-hwan as Jang Yi-soo (Chinese: 張夷帥, Zhang Yishuai), an Arcade's Chairman.
- Lee Dong-hwi as Jang Dong-cheol, an IT genius and young CEO of the coin industry.
Supporting
- Lee Beom-soo as Jang Tae-soo, Captain of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation.
- Kim Min-jae as Detective Kim Man-jae of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation, Ma Seok-do's dependable right-hand man.
- Lee Ji-hoon as Yang Jong-su, Detective Sergeant of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation
- Kim Do-geon as Jung David, the Rookie Detective of the Seoul Police Agency Metropolitan Investigation
- Lee Joo-bin as Han Ji-soo, a Detective of Cyber Investigation Unit
- Kim Shin-bi as Kang Nam-soo, a Detective of Cyber Investigation Unit
- Kim Ji-hoon as Director Jo, Member of an illegal online gambling site organization
- Ahn Sung-bong as Member of an illegal online gambling site organization
- Hyun Bong-sik as President Kwon
- Lee Sang-jin
Others
- Im Seo-ah as Jang Yi-soo's Girlfriend
- Lee Han-sol as Jang Yi-soo's Subordinate 1
- Hong Sang-woo as Jang Yi-soo's Subordinate 2
Special appearance
- Kwon Il-yong
- Park Bo-kyung
Production
In August 2022, it was reported that Kim Mu-yeol and Lee Dong-hwi joined the cast of the film as villains.[6][7] In September of the same year Lee Beom-soo and Kim Min-jae confirmed in separate interviews during filming of The Roundup: No Way Out that they will be appearing in the next film of the series.[8][9]
The cast of the film was confirmed on November 18, 2022, and the same day principal photography began.[10][11] In February 2023, it was reported that on 19th filming at Philippines began.[12]
Release
The film launched its pre-sales in May 2023 at Cannes Film Market held in conjunction with the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.[13] It was sold to United States, Europe and Asia.[14]
The film was invited at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on February 23, 2024.[15][16][17]
It is scheduled to be released theatrically in South Korea on April 24, 2024, after its world premiere.[18]
Reception
Clarence Tsui of South China Morning Post rated the film 3/5 and lauded the sound effects writing, "The simple story is bolstered by brilliant sound effects, Ma’s endearing tech illiteracy, and Park Ji-hwan’s performance as his sidekick."[19]
Wendy Ide reviewing the film at Berlinale, wrote in ScreenDaily "Don Lee packs a punch in the fourth instalment of the popular Korean action comedy series."[20]
Stephanie Bunbury, in her review at Berlinale for Deadline said, "The Roundup: Punishment makes no intellectual demands on its audience, as that isn’t what it’s there for." Concluding her review she wrote, "In a genre where constant bafflement over plot details is the norm, this series stands out as carefully crafted, and fun, obviously."[21]
Writing for RogerEbert.com, Robert Daniels said, "Punishment” is a rock 'em, sock 'em edition that pretty much delivers all the open-hand slaps, booming punches, and flying knees to the head you want."[22]
Jessica Kiang writing in Variety gave positive review and praised; the director Heo Myung-haeng, saying "Heo Myeong-haeng proves to be a very efficient action director"; the cinematographer Lee Sung-je, expressing, "Lee Sung-je has an unerring instinct for placing the camera where it can best exploit the contrast between the speed of Lee’s movements and the resigned stoicism of his expression"; and the sound designer Gong Tae-won, stating, "But if there’s a below-the-line standout craftsperson it’s probably Gong Tae-won, who manages to foley consistently satisfying punch noises." Kiang opined, "[the film] sees Don Lee's Detective Ma find a new bunch of bad guys to beat up and is basically perfect, no notes."[23]
Niklas Michels, in his Berlinale-related review for the German Arthaus magazine Kino-Zeit, wrote that The Roundup: Punishment is a film for the cinema in which villains are simply evil without being a perversion of a hero. He drew parallels to the John Wick franchise, in which he emphasized that although the films could keep up in terms of action, John Wick was a much more subversive story. In The Roundup, dramaturgy was only located in the thrill of the final battle. He praised the film for its craft, but added that the series was treading water. [24]
References
- ^ Kim Na-ra (November 18, 2022). "마동석 '범죄도시4', 오늘(18일) 크랭크인…김무열, 윤계상 이은 빌런 [공식]" [Ma Dong-seok's 'Crime City 4' cranks in today (18th)... Kim Moo-yeol, Yoon Kye-sang's successor as villain [Official]]. My Daily (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Genre, Acclaimed Masters and Great Performances". Berlinale. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Lee Jae-hoon (January 15, 2024). "Ma Dong-seok's 'Crime City 4' invited to special gala at 'Berlin Film Festival' next month" [마동석 '범죄도시4', 내달 '베를린영화제' 스페셜 갈라 초청]. Newsis (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Han Ah-reum (February 26, 2024). "'범죄도시4' 관객 82% "대만족"...마동석 이번에도 해냈다" ['Crime City 4' audiences 82% "very satisfied"... Ma Dong-seok did it again this time]. TV Report (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Lee Da-won (March 6, 2024). "'어서와, 마석도!'…'범죄도시4' 4월24일 개봉" [‘Welcome, Maseokdo!’… ‘Crime City 4’ opens on April 24th]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
- ^ Cho Yeon-kyung (August 26, 2022). "[단독] 김무열, 1000만 '범죄도시' 4대 빌런 합류" [[Exclusive] Kim Moo-yeol joins the four major villains of 10 million ‘Crime City’]. JTBC (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Kang Hyo-jin (August 26, 2022). "[단독]이동휘, '범죄도시4' 빌런 된다" [[Exclusive] Lee Dong-hwi becomes a villain in ‘Crime City 4’]. SPOTV News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Bae Hyo-joo (September 29, 2022). ""'엄복동' 미흡했다" 이범수, 본업 코미디로 '컴백홈' 솔직 소감(종합)[EN:인터뷰]" [“‘Eom Bok-dong’ wasn’t enough” Lee Beom-soo’s honest thoughts on ‘Comeback Home’ as his day job in comedy (comprehensive) [EN: Interview]]. Newsen (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Kim Mi-hwa (September 28, 2022). "김민재 "'범죄도시' 3·4편 연달아 촬영..마동석과 형사 콤비 활약" [인터뷰]" [Kim Min-jae "Filming episodes 3 and 4 of 'Crime City' back to back... Acting as a detective duo with Ma Dong-seok" [Interview]]. Star News (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Shin Min-hee (November 18, 2022). "'The Roundup: Punishment,' fourth in 'The Outlaws' franchise, begins shooting". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved January 16, 2024 – via Naver.
- ^ Patrick Frater (November 18, 2022). "'Punishment,' the Fourth Instalment of Don Lee's 'Outlaws' Korean Action Franchise, Starts Production". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Park Jin-young (February 21, 2023). "마동석x김무열 '범죄도시4' 측 "19일 필리핀 촬영 시작"(공식)" [Ma Dong-seok]. Joy News 24 (in Korean). Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Noh, Jean (May 16, 2023). "K-Movie launches 'The Roundup: Punishment' in Cannes (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Rosser, Michel (February 15, 2024). "'The Roundup: Punishment' starring Don Lee sold to US, Europe, Asia (exclusive)". ScreenDaily. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (January 15, 2024). "Berlinale adds Korean action film 'The Roundup: Punishment', 'Love Lies Bleeding' with Kristen Stewart to Special strand". ScreenDaily. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Abbatescianni, Davide (January 16, 2024). "Berlin announces a raft of new titles for its Berlinale Special and Shorts". Cineuropa. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "The Roundup: Punishment". Berlinale. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Lee Jeong-yeon (March 7, 2024). "마동석표 액션 '범죄도시4' 4월 24일 개봉 [연예뉴스 HOT]" [Ma Dong-seok's action movie 'Crime City 4' opens on April 24 [Entertainment News HOT]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ Tsui, Clarence (February 23, 2024). "Berlin 2024 – The Roundup: Punishment, with Korean hard man Ma Dong-seok as a po-faced punching machine, is like a Hong Kong action movie on steroids". South China Morning Post. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
- ^ Ide, Wendy (February 24, 2024). "'The Roundup: Punishment': Berlin Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Bunbury, Stephanie (February 23, 2024). "'The Roundup: Punishment' Review: Don Lee Thrills And Blood Spills In Fun, Stylish Police Action Thriller From Korea – Berlin Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
- ^ Daniels, Robert (February 24, 2024). "Berlin Film Festival 2024: The Roundup: Punishment, Last Swim, Through The Rocks And Clouds". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Jessica Kiang (February 24, 2024). "'The Roundup: Punishment' Review: Beefy International Treasure Don Lee Goes Places and Punches People and What More Could We Want?". Variety. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ Michels, Niklas. "The Roundup: Punishment". Kino-Zeit. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
External links
- The Roundup: Punishment at IMDb
- The Roundup: Punishment at HanCinema
- The Roundup: Punishment at Daum (in Korean)
- The Roundup: Punishment at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Roundup: Punishment at Berlinale
This page was last edited on 10 April 2024, at 21:40