The sequel to the blockbuster Netflix hit ‘Extraction’ is finally here. Is the Chris Hemsworth actioner worth your time? Or can you simply skip it? Read the full movie review to find out.
Director: Sam Hargrave
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa, Olga Kurylenko, Tinatin Dalakishvili, Andro Jafaridze, Miriam and Marta Kovziashvili, Daniel Bernhardt, Tornike Gogrichiani, Levan Saginashvili, George Lasha, Idris Elba, Tornike Bziava
Available On: Netflix
Duration: 2 Hours 2 Minutes
After the events of the previous film, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is assigned to rescue his ex-wife's (Olga Kurylenko) sister Ketevan (Tinatin Dalakishvili) and her children who are imprisoned by her gangster husband Davit Radiani (Tornike Bziava) in a world's deadliest prison. During the extraction, Davit gets killed and his overprotective brother Zurab (Tornike Gogrichiani) sets out to track down Tyler in order to exact vengeance. Will Zurab be able to capture Tyler? Will Tyler be able to save himself? Will Ketevan and the kids be saved eventually? Will Tyler lose people who’re close to him? Will the ghosts from the first film come back to haunt Tyler? Well, for all that, you’ll have to watch ‘Extraction 2’.
Chris Hemsworth carries the weight of the entire film on his shoulders once again. While he is known for his Godly looks, it’s his action which takes precedence in ‘Extraction’ and the sequel takes it a notch higher. He has made the action sequences look not just easy but so effortless that you yourself feel like copying them. What’s good in this part is that his role has a decent enough character arc. A bit more petals of his past life are opened up and explored, and Hemsworth doesn’t shy away from portraying those emotions onscreen.
Golshifteh Farahani gets a good deal. This time over she isn’t just talking over the phone, but is actually on ground with Hemsworth and fighting right by his side. In the previous part, it felt like she was an office executive who assigns deals etc and leads a secretive life, but her character gets a much bigger and wider scope in this part. Farahani not only does the action sequences well, but plays belches out the gut-wrenching emotional scenes to utter perfection.
Olga Kurylenko is, well, wasted. Her character could have been a pivotal cog in everything that was happening in this part, however, that didn’t happen. She was barely there.
Tornike Gogrichiani and Tornike Bziava – the two brothers look so suited for the characters. Right from their look to their body language, they’ve ensured that the characters stand out and come out as devilish as possible.
Idris Elba is there is just a blink-and-miss appearance, but it feels like there’s a lot more going to come from him in the coming films of the franchise. He is like Samuel L Jackson in the Marvel franchise, who starts off with a few scenes, but eventually over the years ends up becoming one of the most pivotal characters in the universe. Elba does well in his minimal screen time. The cockiness in his dialogues is brought out so sarcastically well by his deep baritone. You just want to keep watching him over and over again.
Joe Russo’s writing is pretty much the only sloppy thing in ‘Extraction 2’. As Hollywood action films go, there is barely any story. However, the way Russo has made the numerous action sequences string together is what helps you as a viewer have a great time.
Sam Hargrave’s direction is top-notch once again after the previous part of the movie. The action sequences are fast-moving and keep you hooked on what’s going to happen. To add to that the decision to have long unending takes is brilliant. It gives you an insight into how well every shot and every scene was planned and probably practised over and over again, much before it was brought to the shooting floor.
The cinematography by Greg Baldi is the best thing about ‘Extraction 2’. As mentioned earlier, the long takes, which were used in the previous part of the film as well, are used once again, and this time, there is a kind of video game feel to it. There is an entire action scene of about 21 minutes, which feels like it’s a single take. That’s so brilliantly shot, and the cuts are done so minutely that you’re left with a feeling of heightened reality. The action sequences are happening so fast, yet they’re so smooth and brilliantly shot that you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. On the contrary, it makes you feel like you’re only holding the gaming remote and doing every jump, hitting every punch and shooting every bullet.
The editing by álex Rodríguez and William Hoy is smooth like butter despite the numerous long shots. You’ll be left wondering where they cut the shots as it all feels like one giant take. That flawless editing is too hard to achieve. Despite the film going over 2 hours not for a second do you feel like the film is drooping down, and such taut editing is what helps to achieve this.
Henry Jackman and Alex Belcher’s music is also another highlight of the film. The background score is so enticing that you’re left feeling right in the middle of the entire action. It complements the slick and fast-moving action quite perfectly.
Yes
‘Extraction 2’ serves its purpose and caters to its target audience in the best possible way. If you’re an action aficionado, then Chris Hemsworth’s film will give you the best 2 hours of this week. The action is sleek, the cinematography is kick ass and the editing is crisp and hooks you on. It’s definitely a Breezy One Time Watch. I am going with 3.5 stars.