Operation Mekong is a political thriller that leaves the audience on the edge of their seats as it takes them to the murky waters of international crime traversed by the Mekong River. The first impression is made by the tense atmosphere and realistic depiction of a dreadful attack on merchant ships luring you at first into high stakes investigation. The novel addresses issues of justice, loyalty and ambivalence and make special focus on the human cost to the individuals waging war to unravel the truth in an environment of corruption and violence. It is a gory action film and a soulful examination of human casualties of crime.
The specific way that the story of the movie is told is meticulous, where the cinematic action scenes are blended with the quieter moments of the film which add emotionality to the characters. The beautiful cinematography brings out the serene yet very dangerous rolling lands of the Golden Triangle, which juxtaposes nature with crime of Golds. There is flawless special effects and a pulsating score which never lets your heart slow down. Performances especially that of the lead are strong and have a layered feel of both hardness and sensitivity that makes the moral problems the characters face soar deep.
Directed by Dante Lam, Operation Mekong is a well-paced film that combines heart-thumping action and emotional performances to present the viewers with a thriller with substance. Its undiluted force is both outrageous and admiration-causing, revealing the amount of bravery in trying to find the justice in the world of corruption. The movie has given me an insight of how much human beings give to see headlines and as such it provokes the viewer by asking him or her what constitutes justice. It is an intense, defiant film that endures even after the movie has ended.
