When a high tech oil rig is overrun by heavily armed mercenaries, the Chinese Government calls in their elite unit of the navy, once more Jiaolong AKA the Sea Dragons are brought in to terminate the threat. During the gunfight, a small group of the mercenaries manage to evade capture, they escape using a much more advanced technology wise submarine than anything Captain Zhao Qihang (Zhang Hanyu) has encountered before. After this skirmish they soon discover that there is a much bigger threat looming that could destroy what they are fighting for, their country. So, now a high speed underwater chase begins as the Sea Dragons try to track down the most dangerous of enemies. One that they can`t see or hear, and try and divert nuclear threat before all the pieces are put into place!
Written, directed and action design by Dante Lam. Hadal is full on spectacle from the start to the finish. The advanced technology that is used throughout the film is done with both proficiency and style, which makes this big budget submarine action thriller very exciting to watch. Not one actor is the lead they`re all a team, and we get to know them all, we get some back story to some of the characters, with this little bit of character development, we get an emotional drive throughout as well. Everything seems to be big and gigantic about this film that is set in the not to distant future. I can`t get over just how slick it looks, the depth at times to the images and also the seamless CGI and effects blended in with practical stuff is magical film making. It has some of the best underwater chase scenes I’ve seen in a submarine film. Now, my favourite and standout actor and character is the Sonar operator, the kid with the golden ear Cao Honglamg (Wang Junkai) for me he is the hook and the heart of the film, you really felt for his character as all his team are scrambling to stations. He has to remain calm with a listening ear for the enemy that is out there. When he is researching the sound of the enemy Sub after its first escape, I think draws you into the story more and you feel for him throughout.
With Lam at the helm you know what you are getting in this follow up to 2018s Operation Red Sea. At a running time of 146 minutes, I think he does well to keep both the action scenes and drama at a perfect balance so you don`t feel the film is bloated or dips in pace anywhere in its timeline. I think the gun fights and the fighting scenes are both done extremely well. One thing I thought was a bit confusing was why they didn`t let Bryan Larkin who makes a great head villain, let loose in an end finale fight scene, but I suppose it is not that type of film. More in line with the Mission Impossible films where they all have to work together as a team to defeat their enemy.
Operation Hadal is a true summer blockbuster that needs seen if you like your films entertaining, with massive set pieces, while turning off and escaping into a fast paced well-made sea adventure.
