Rescues, action, and intrigue: Unveiling the world of Extraction 2

Remember when ‘Extraction’ was released back in April 2020 and received criticism, particularly from Southeast Asians, for its yellowish tint? It seemed the movie’s depiction of Southeast Asia led to the decision of using a yellow filter to create an oversaturated color palette, aiming to portray warm and tropical climates. Personally, I found this approach off-putting, with the dirty and jaundiced portrayal of Bangladesh, our neighboring country. And guess what? In the sequel, as the story moves to Europe, the color palette reverts to being bright and beautiful. Our hero, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), who miraculously survived his deadly mission in Bangladesh, now plans to retire in the Austrian wilderness. However, fate has different plans as he is approached by a stranger for another rescue mission. This time, the assignment is personal for Tyler, as he must extract his estranged ex-wife’s sister, Ketevan (Tinatin Dalakishvili), and her two children, Sandro and Nina, from a dangerous prison in Georgia.

With the assistance of his trusted aides, Nik (Golshifteh Farahani) and Yaz (Adam Bessa), Tyler infiltrates the prison to rescue the family from the clutches of their menacing gangster father, Davit. Despite successfully extracting his targets, the mission takes a wrong turn, leading to Davit’s demise.

This sets the whole group as a target for Zurab (Tornike Gogrichiani), Davit’s older brother and leader of their criminal family. Zurab deploys his highly skilled mercenaries and power to eliminate the entire group in retribution. The film follows Tyler and his team as they strive to save Ketevan’s family while confronting haunting memories from the past. Directed by Sam Hargrave, written by Joe Russo, and based on the graphic novel ‘Ciudad’, ‘Extraction 2’ continues its action-packed and thrilling storytelling. However, compared to the first movie, the sequel introduces a touch of melodrama, making the two-hour-long movie feel slightly lengthy and slow-paced at times. Nevertheless, the movie doesn’t lack action and adventure. Similar to franchises like ‘Taken’ and ‘The Equalizer’, the Extraction movies revolve around the theme of rescue. The plot is straightforward. The protagonist must rescue someone from a perilous situation. Yet, the movie’s action sequences, sprinkled with snippets of backstory and character development, provide an enjoyable and fresh experience. Alongside Hemsworth’s compelling performance and thrilling action sequences in the lead role, the cinematography by Newton Thomas Sigel stands out as one of the movie’s highlights. While the first installment took us through the bustling streets of Bangladesh, Extraction 2 showcases the picturesque beauty of central Europe. The camera skillfully captures high-speed chases on trains, gunfights in high-rise buildings, and helicopter scenes. In addition to the storytelling and camerawork, the background music by Henry Jackman and Alex Belcher intensifies the thrills conveyed by the visual sequences. A good action movie is incomplete without a fitting background score, and Extraction 2 delivers precisely that. Who should watch it? ‘Extraction 2’ may not surpass the expectations set by the first movie in the franchise, but it comes close. The filmmakers have delved into Tyler Rake’s character, providing audiences with a glimpse into his life and past. This also hints at a future installment in the series, with Idris Elba making a special appearance and recruiting Tyler for another dangerous mission. Considering all these elements, I believe ‘Extraction 2’ is a must-watch for action movie enthusiasts and fans of Chris Hemsworth. https://youtu.be/Y274jZs5s7s Rating: 4 stars Extraction 2 Genre: Action, adventure Director: Sam Hargrave Actors: Chris Hemsworth, Golshifteh Farahani, Adam Bessa Run time: 2hrs