A little late on this one (Which I’m assuming accounts entirely for it’s disappointing opening weekend), but frankly, it was a bank holiday and I couldn’t be arsed to report on lack lustre budget sequels until now. Anyway, despite his rep for drama, Director Gavin Hood handles this pretty well, shooting lean action that often has a slightly 80s retro feel to it while avoiding the slide into MTV cutting that so often dooms these things. Fights have a raw and visceral feel to them, and while they may make for an exposition-heavy first half, the historical battle sequences manage to feel like they might have actual consequences for the characters-be they physical or mental.
