The Four 2 | 3/5

The Four 2 | 3/5 SINGAPORE — It’s safe to say that the first installment of The Four didn’t sit too well with audiences last year, mainly because the plot was so confusing you’d hear people going: “So who exactly are The Four again?”

Thankfully, this one tries its best to be a little more coherent, and with its power-packed martial arts fighting scenes, director Gordon Chan’s movie finally looks like it’s achieving its potential.

In this second film adaptation of Wen Ruian’s popular novel series, The Four Great Constables, the eponymous quartet continues to investigate crimes using each of their special skills. And this time, things get a little personal as the murder they’re investigating is linked to the massacre of Emotionless’ family 15 years ago.

Yes, all four names of the constables are this cringe-worthy — you’ve also got Cold Blood, Life Snatchers and Iron Hands.

Although some might find the characters’ corny names an immediate turn-off — not to mention the film’s seeming lack of depth in characterisation — The Four 2 still surprisingly manages to hold our attention as Chan reimagines this into a thrilling film with scenes of bridges falling into a volcano pit, shape-shifting enemies and plot twist after plot twist.

(PG13, 117 mins)