This sequel to 2012's "Cold War" is more of what made the first movie a smash hit: political intrigue, hidden motives, and bursts of high octane action. It picks up more or less right after the end of the first movie, with the funeral service for Albert Kwong (killed in the fantastic highway shoot-out sequence in "Cold War"), followed by a call to Police Commissioner Sean Lau (Aaron Kwok) to demand the release of corrupt cop Joe Lee (Eddie Peng) in exchange for Lau's wife.

What follows then is a series of events that set Lau again in conflict with his political rival, M.B. Lee (Tony Leung). There's pressure on Lau to resign, orchestrated by shadowy figures who seek to change Hong Kong's leadership to their own liking. Lau has to fight to save his career and even his freedom from charges of breaking the law in resolving the events from the first movie.

Actor Chow-Yun Fat plays a small role in this movie; I barely recognized him!

Overall, this movie ties up the loose ends from the first movie (remember that missing police van?) and provides a good ending, though I suppose there's still room for "Cold War 3" if the producers want to go in that direction.