Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018)

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

Where the original Sicario was carried by the suspence created by the contrasting naive FBI-agent Macy (Emily Blunt), the cynical CIA-agent Matt (Josh Brolin) and the vengeful Alejandro (Benicio del Toro) as ruthless sicario turned against the drug carlets operating along the US-Mexico border, the sequal lacks this tension and becomes an analogue and rather predictable story. Decent acting performances, and attempts to recreate the original dark athmosphere cannot save the weak plot, where several interesting issues launched at the start are not followed through. This makes for a rather unfulfilling experience, despite hints of another sequal.

Absolutely love the first 'Sicario', a strong contender for Denis Villeneuve's (have a great personal admiration for him) best and a tour-De-force of film-making. It is superbly well made, directed and acted, is tightly written, tense and uncompromising in atmosphere.So when hearing that there was going to be a sequel, part of me was excited. Due to Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro returning, as well as Taylor Sheridan as writer, and being intrigued by the concept. Part of me was also apprehensive, with it not being as acclaimed critically and whether the new cinematographer, director and composer would do well filling big shoes. Friend word of mouth was positive and it actually looked good, so that was enough to make me see it. Am so glad of giving it a chance, for me 'Sicario: Soldado' had a lot to live up to and managed to be almost as great as its predecessor, definitely one of my favourite recent film viewings and compares favourably with other 2018 films seen so far.Catherine Keener and Matthew Modine are basically window-dressing but 'Sicario: Soldado's' main, and only big one, problem is the ending (or last ten minutes), which strained credulity and was both rushed and anti-climactic.However, even with a different focus (focusing less on the drug war compared to the first film) but the spirit, basic core and amorality present before are still maintained and doesn't radically change much and things are elaborated upon..'Sicario: Soldado' is impeccably made for starters, the setting is both audacious and visceral in showing the horrors and brutality of the setting and the editing is tight, stylish and enhances the brutal atmosphere. The cinematography is not Roger Deakins, but there are no signs of slouching with Dariusz Wolski whose cinematography is just as stunning and dark in grit, doing almost as amazing a job at bringing out the visceral horror.The music score is haunting and pulse-pulsating, one can actually feel their heart beat with tension and anticipation. The sound editing is suitably authentic and Taylor Sheridan's script is just as tightly structured and complex as before. Stefano Sollima's direction has class and matches the beautiful darkness and especially the hard edge Villeneuve showed in 'Sicario' without being an imitation.The story is just as taut and compelling, if not quite as energetic, having lost none of the brutality and edge that was there before. The setting, atmosphere and subject are neither overdone or sugar-coated, instead being suitably murky and dark. There are brilliant moments here, especially the suicide bomb attack which was nail-biting and superbly staged. The shocking execution scene and the adept choreography of the gun battles also impress.All the performances are never less than strong. Benecio Del Toro is nothing short of extraordinary, he is absolutely chilling but brings a conflicted edge that gives Alejandro complexity and stops him from being one-dimensional. Josh Brolin doesn't have as much to do this time round but all the qualities his performance had in the first film are present here. Isabela Moner more than holds her own and has impressive moments, her character easily could have been annoying but actually found myself feeling for her more than once.Overall, a great much better than expected sequel to a masterwork. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Everything was great in movie until last 10min...Thats why rating 6

Loved this film! The tension keeps you riveted to the screen. Brilliant direction, cinematography and acting.