I wanted to like this film. The end looks hastily edited, perhaps in hopes of enticing a sequel but I don't believe it deserves one.
What actually happened there? Li Noor obviously got away. Is Alice dead? It is vaguely implied. Mother seems to have survived. What was that puzzle-dumping promise of cat-and-mouse game, seemed like a cheap cliche ending in place of something definitive.
Disappointing. But, I am willing to consider if you disagree.
The film was simply throwaway, the crappy fast cutting which was insulting considering they had Iko Uwais from the Raid films.
I agree, they were chancing their arm that this film would be a smash hit with that ending so they'd get a sequel.
Li Noor was a triple agent for the Russians, set out to get revenge for the death of the young Russian lad that Wahlberg's character killed at the start of the film. So if you look at it Wahlberg and his cohorts were the bad guys (not known it) and Axl and his group of guy's trying to stop them and get Li Noor were the good guys.
I think it's vaguely implied as they wanted to bring back Lauren Cohan and John Malkovich back for a potential sequel. The ending was trying to go for something smart when this film should have simply been a straight ahead action film.
This should have been a straight ahead action film, just have Mark Wahlberg and Iko Uwais play two agents from different agencies sent to project somebody with important information, they butt heads at the start but gradually as the stakes get higher they start to work together with all their team killed off leaving them two alone to get through gangs trying to stop them. No need for triple spies, any kind of over talking, get rid of the fast editing cutting during fight scenes and just have a balls to wall overly violent action film like The Night Comes for Us.
This should have been a straight ahead action film, just have Mark Wahlberg and Iko Uwais play two agents from different agencies sent to project somebody with important information, they butt heads at the start but gradually as the stakes get higher they start to work together with all their team killed off leaving them two alone to get through gangs trying to stop them. No need for triple spies, any kind of over talking, get rid of the fast editing cutting during fight scenes and just have a balls to wall overly violent action film like The Night Comes for Us.
What I found confusing was the last scene with Mother in some old-world central square tying his shoes.
They seemed to refer to him as being "mobilized" or "activated" or something, like he had some kind of doomsday mission he was going to act upon if he was attacked and survived. I kind of expected him to be in Russia dumping a packet of Cesium on the ground in some kind of ultimate revenge for the entire setup.
Overall I don't get the hate for this film -- yes, muddy plot and too much quick editing, but it was a pretty high-octane action picture with a pretty decent cast which seemed to overshadow its clumsier elements. I'd watch a sequel but I'd worry that without the team element, it kind of starts to become Jason Bourne.