A strikingly different sequel that swaps pulpy comic book excess and superhero bravado for a gritty post-apocalyptic, nuclear-ravaged wasteland, Heroic Trio 2 takes itself way more seriously than its predecessor, upping the sulky brooding and ultimately losing the fun. While I do respect the film for its ambition in going the complete opposite direction by adding an abundance of grungy, dystopian atmosphere and a fresh dose of anti-authoritarian attitude, it's all done with an oppressive bleakness that saps the mood right out of you. Despite such a dark setting, the film at least reunites Anita Mui, Maggie Cheung and Michelle Yeoh as the titular trio, however brief it may be, given they spend nearly the whole film apart from one another, a decision I still can't fathom. This is not a celebratory reunion; it's a story about disillusionment, fractured by trauma and moral compromise, where seemingly every key moment in the film needs to be punctuated by a pop song, usually sung by Anita Mui. The film does at least offer some rather impressive action, given that Tony Ching Siu-Tung shares Johnnie To's director's chair this time, it's blisteringly intense and stunningly executed. Unfortunately, their styles do not mesh very well together as the rest of the film struggles to juggle environmental themes, authoritarian politics and personal redemption, going way overboard with a veritable marathon of montage sequences. Even with the truly magnetic screen presence of its cast and relatively effective musical score in tow, it's difficult to recommend Heroic Trio 2; it's a truly bitter experience with too much emotional bullying, ending not with triumph, but with reckoning. You could tell they really didn't want to make another one after this, after all, you can't have another if your trio has become a duo.
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