OPERATION RED SEA is the follow-up to the slightly disappointing OPERATION MEKONG and another feather in the cap of director Dante Lam. Just like WOLF WARRIOR II improved over the original, this film is far superior and one of the most enjoyable movies I've watched from the Chinese mainland. It's a simple story of soldiers vs. terrorists, shot in Morocco, with a big budget and lengthy running time. All but the most basic characterisation is bypassed and the plot whittled down to join-the-dots scripting between one massive battle scene and another. Imagine a Chinese BLACK HAWK DOWN, with the occasional nod to the likes of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD, and you'll get the idea. It's intense and bloody, very well shot throughout, and even the CGI explosions aren't too shabby. I had a ball with it.

It's 2015 in the Gulf of Aden. Pirates have captured a Chinese merchant ship and the Chinese navy goes into action. A Chinese sniper is crippled while trying to arrest an escaping pirate. Reporter Xia Nan pursuing a terrorist and yellowcake uranium story is almost killed in a car bombing. After a coup in Yewaire, a naval task group and special forces are sent to evacuate civilians.

There are a few concepts combined in this Chinese movie. The best one is the Black Hawk Down military movie. They obviously invested a lot military hardware. It's a patriotic affair and proud of it. Morocco makes for a solid devastated city backdrop. There is plenty of big explosions. Other than a few Matrix bullet time fantasy scenes, it works quite well as a semi-real action packed thrill ride. The characters have no particular charisma or individuality. It's just action and military hardware. It's not high-minded, and I have no problem with that. The reporter's story is probably trying to inject some political nuance which is unnecessary. She's a good character but it would make more sense if she's a Chinese super spy Jane Bond. She could lead the soldiers with intel to rescue the civilians and take down a terrorist group. Overall, this is a functional action movie. The lack of a lead protagonist does hold it back some. More time early on spent on the Captain would help.

So if You want an non stop action with little story this movie is for You. Premise is simple special ops from China doing evacuation of their embassy in war torn country. Of course it's just the beginning of troubles for chinese commando unit. And movie is packed with shootouts, car chaces, tank battles, sniper duels and so on. Practicaly all the quite scenes between fighting are trimmed to bare minimum. And the action looks good, a lot of money went into special effects. There is a bit of propaganda in the movie fortunately on the level of American war movies. Be warned operation Red Sea is not for children some scenes are gory and too realistic. But if You are above 18 and want some good action movie give it a try.