The Roundup: Punishment - A Punch-Packed Crime Flick with a Digital Twist
The formidable and kind-hearted Seoul cop Ma Seok-do (played by Ma Dong-seok) steps into the digital age in “The Roundup: Punishment.” The film opens with the discovery of a young Korean programmer’s body in the Philippines. He was held captive and forced to work for an online casino. In the morgue, Ma Seok-do encounters the victim’s grieving mother and vows to bring the perpetrators to justice.
As a man of his word, Ma Seok-do mobilizes his entire department to hunt down the criminals. However, the old-school cops are bewildered by terms like “server” and “traffic,” and the acronym “VPN” sends them reeling. To bridge this technological gap, a team of young cybercrime specialists is brought in to assist the seasoned detectives. Meanwhile, Ma Seok-do focuses on identifying the mysterious killer, a ruthless and cold-blooded professional.
Ma Dong-seok as Ma Seok-do in a still from “The Roundup: Punishment”
A New Villain Enters the Ring
Each installment of “The Roundup” franchise, which began in 2017, introduces a new antagonist to challenge the seemingly invincible Ma Seok-do. “Punishment” is no exception, with Kim Mu-yeol, a versatile Korean star known for his physicality, taking on the role of the final boss. Ma Dong-seok, who also serves as a producer on the franchise, previously worked with Mu-yeol in the thriller “The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil,” where the latter played a police officer with a rather unconventional approach to his job. The actors clearly enjoyed working together and decided to reunite, this time with a role reversal. However, in “The Roundup: Punishment,” their characters share little screen time, engaging in only a couple of brief encounters before resorting to fisticuffs.
Ma Dong-seok as Ma Seok-do in a still from “The Roundup: Punishment”
Action-Packed but Slightly Absurd
The fight sequences, largely performed by Ma Dong-seok, a former boxer and MMA trainer, have always been a key element of “The Roundup’s” success. The fourth installment delivers plenty of action, but with a more polished feel. The camera work is sharper, and the punches are more impactful. However, the action leans towards the absurd, reminiscent of Indian cinema. With a mere flick of Ma Seok-do’s wrist, opponents are sent flying across the room like ragdolls, instantly regretting their life choices. Despite Ma Dong-seok’s impressive physique, his age is beginning to show, and “Punishment” features only two truly dynamic fight scenes. The film even pokes fun at its protagonist, presenting him with a challenge more daunting than crime-fighting: climbing a building without an elevator. Nevertheless, Ma Seok-do’s breathlessness doesn’t prevent him from tearing down a massive gate with his bare hands and delivering slaps to young thugs in the very next scene.
Ma Dong-seok as Ma Seok-do in a still from “The Roundup: Punishment”
Generational Clash Without Depth
“The Roundup: Punishment” flirts with the theme of generational conflict but doesn’t delve beyond superficial observations. The old-school cops are reluctant to upgrade their phones, dreading the manual transfer of contacts. They rely on their younger colleagues to tackle the online casino investigation. When the tech-savvy specialists start spouting jargon, Ma Seok-do and his comrades retreat to their favorite diner. Despite the premise, the film lacks meaningful reflection, and the cops resort to their traditional methods of dealing with criminals: a combination of persuasion and brute force, often without much resistance.
Lacking a Real Threat
The absence of a genuine threat is the main drawback of this fourth installment. Even the main antagonist, who spends the film slashing his way through anyone who crosses him, quickly crumbles when confronted by the mighty Ma Dong-seok and his team. As a result, “Punishment” feels more like a filler episode of a police procedural than a full-fledged film. However, this doesn’t detract from the enjoyment for fans of the series or those who appreciate old-fashioned cop movies. Watching “The Roundup: Punishment” is akin to having dinner at your grandmother’s house in the countryside: no fancy frills, just comforting and familiar home-style goodness that borders on excessive.
A Franchise with Ambition
Furthermore, Ma Dong-seok’s approach to producing the franchise is commendable on a professional level. He actively involves debut directors in almost every new installment of “The Roundup,” providing work for numerous compatriots and showing no signs of slowing down. In an interview, Ma Dong-seok compared his creation to “Fast & Furious” and hinted at plans to expand the series to eight films, along with numerous spin-offs. Given the man’s powerful hands, there’s no reason to doubt his ambitions.