Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		4.5

China O'Brien II 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 3, 2024

In “China O’Brien,” the small town of Beaver Creek was saved due to the efforts of an ex-cop and her pals, who managed to rid the area of criminal influence. However, peace could never last for long, forcing the eponymous character to return to action in “China O’Brien II.” Co-writer/director Robert Clouse doesn’t have the benefit of hindsight with the sequel, which was shot at the same time as the first “China O’Brien,” tasked with creating two defined adventures for star Cynthia Rothrock and her martial art moves. Perhaps a little break between chapters was necessary, as Clouse delivers a similar study of supercop action in “China O’Brien II,” only the follow-up is less interested in the needs of pace and a tiny bit sloppier in execution. There’s still the central appeal of Rothrock in motion, kicking and punching bad guys, but the helmer almost seems to be winging it at times, which slows the movie to a full stop before physical activity wakes it up again.

It's been two years since China (Cynthia Rothrock) was elected sheriff of Beaver Creek, her hometown. With help from her deputies, Matt (Richard Norton) and Dakota (Keith Cooke), crime has been eliminated from the community, which is preparing for a Fourth of July celebration. Threatening the festivities is Baskin (Harlow Marks), a drug kingpin who’s recently escaped from prison, reuniting with his gang in the wild. The villain’s plan is to murder those who put him behind bars, and he’s looking to reconnect with Frank (Frank Magner), an old associate who provided the feds with testimony that sent him to lock up in the first place. Frank is currently in witness protection with his wife, Annie (Tricia Quai), and daughter, Jill (Tiffany Soter), but he’s soon found by Baskin, who demands the return of five million dollars stolen from his account. On the case are China and her friends, out to protect Frank and his family, coming up against a most determined villain who will do anything to get his cash back.

Baskin’s escape from prison serves as the opening offering of suspense in “China O’Brien II,” with clueless law enforcement officials unable to find a middle-aged man on the run in the open world. However, Baskin is ex-military and a practiced criminal, using such training to evade capture, promptly setting up shop in Utah, where he has a to-do list of targets, seeking revenge on those who landed him in prison to begin with. The sequel opens with a little snap, detailing work to take out these individuals, with a prosecutor shot on the street while fielding questions from the press and a judge is eliminated at a magic show(!). As for the private detective who found Baskin, he’s offered death via strippergram, and Clouse doesn’t pass up the chance to watch the assassin dance and peel off clothes before gunning down her target. That’s just B-movie basics, people.

Baskin’s a bad dude, but Beaver Creek has China, and she’s become a celebrated leader in the community, working with Matt and Dakota to keep the streets safe for grateful citizens. There’s an early display of such authority, as Dakota beats up two men trying to harass a local woman, and China is followed during her shift, making her way to the town drunk, who’s trashed a bar in a fit of rage. However, China isn’t really the focus of “China O’Brien II,” with attention turned to Frank, a volatile man who’s been found by Baskin, put in a position of self-preservation after the F.B.I. failed to hide his identity. The father and husband has limited patience with others, and he’s keeping a fortune in his kitchen, exposing possession of five million bucks that belong to Baskin, intending to slip away with the cash.

“China O’Brien II” isn’t terribly big on action, but confrontations periodically arise. Perhaps the most bizarre battle is found during the Fourth of July celebration, where Baskin’s stooges attempt to take out Frank while community picnic is happening. These men arrive with firearms and threats, doing so during a fireworks display, which magically covers all gunplay and pulls attention to the sky, allowing China to thrash challengers in the middle of the gathering. More direct antagonisms arrive later, as a money exchange is arranged, with Frank looking to retrieve his wife and daughter from Baskin’s control. This plays out in a gravel pit setting, getting “China O’Brien II” out of town, and some elements of hasty scripting are on display, as Dakota is dating Jill, making the fight to save her all the more urgent to the Beaver Creek authorities. These offerings of violence are welcome, as a sizable portion of the sequel simply lounges around, failing to create a level of panic with Frank as he scrambles to save himself, and China doesn’t have much to do, inspiring Clouse to recycle footage from the original endeavor to help beef up the run time.

China O'Brien II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray.

"China O'Brien II" arrives with a UHD release, listed as "presented in Dolby Vision HDR and newly scanned and restored from its 35mm original camera negative." Detail offers a good look at frame particulars, exploring the vastness of the Utah locations and the decorative additions of living spaces. Skin surfaces are textured, and costuming remains fibrous. Clarity is almost too good for one shot in a shower, where viewers can see that a recently disrobed character is wearing a swimsuit. Colors are alive, offering powerful primaries as the feature explores period clothing and deep blue skies. Greenery is distinct. Skin tones are natural, with a few moments of hotness. Blacks are deep throughout the viewing experience. Highlights are tasteful, doing well with the light of day action. Grain is heavy and film-like. Source is in good condition.

China O'Brien II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA mix provides decent musical elements, with scoring supporting the feature's moods with clear instrumentation and emphasis. Dialogue exchanges are defined, working with tech limitations of the shoot. Sound effects are basic but appreciable.

China O'Brien II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

There's no supplementary material on this release.

China O'Brien II 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"China O'Brien II" slowly, very slowly, makes its way to a major climax involving a war between China's forces and Baskin's team in Beaver Creek. The urgency of the conflict isn't felt, but there's a chance to watch Rothrock, Norton, and Cooke participate in action choreography, working hard to sell the punishment as the cops strive to clear the town of criminal scum. China is even handed some superpowers, managing to throw a creep through a wall, and Clouse gets campy, giving one baddie razor fingers to slice up his opponent, while another goon is dressed like Indiana Jones, attempting to rid Beaver Creek of goodness with help from his trusty bullwhip. It's all very goofy, but not unpleasantly so, providing a glimpse of a potentially crazier sequel that's much more appealing than the frustratingly motionless effort offered here. Clouse deserves a few points for a weirdly downbeat ending, but surprises are mostly missing in "China O'Brien II," which doesn't play an expected game of escalation, preferring to go slapdash instead.