The 2011’s The Raid: Redemption was a tour de force clinic of floor to floor/hand to hand combat that left moviegoers gasping for breath. The rabid fan base of director / writer Gareth Evans’ film undoubtedly have high hopes for the follow-up to his relentless bone crushing Indonesian actioner. Set within the claustrophobic confines of a decrepit hi-rise, Evans’ breakout crime drama set a new high bar standard for physical fight sequences in pace, fury and frequency.
The Raid 2 goes bigger and badder, and shapes up as a pulse pounding knock-out follow-up that doesn’t miss a beat in carrying the story forward, taking place mere hours after the original’s finale.
With his family now threatened after seemingly scoring a hard fought victory against a prominent crime lord atop his tenement tower fortress, the battered and beaten super cop Rama (Iko Uwais) learns his duty is not yet done, and must go deep undercover to take down the larger crime syndicates that still infest Jakarta. He agrees to change his identity and immerses himself in prison life for years in order to befriend Uco (Arifin Putra), the son of local kingpin Bangun (Tio Pakusodewo).
Once Rama serves out his “sentence” and his false reputation is established, he joins Bangun’s clan to bring them down from within, and then the plot really thickens with the introduction of a slew of characters, a succession of double crosses on both sides of the law, and more brutal bloodbaths than you could ever hope to mop up. Evans, also responsible for the screenplay, again provides an intricate and layered plot, which definitely requires you keep your brain ticking along at its A Game pace. The film keeps you on your toes as you are required juggle a large cast, subtitles and intense fight sequences for over two and a half visceral hours.
Iko Uwais once again proves his mettle, returning in the lead role as the indestructible Rama. Despite his character’s ability to dispose of endless barrages of lethal thugs, Uwais still manages to exude a haunted every man feel that adds a level of humanity to Rama not present the towering powerhouse action hero typical of the classic Schwarzeneggerian mold. Arifin Putra as the insecure and hot headed heir-apparent Uco manages to make a worthy wild card villain out a potential constant whining annoyance. Yayan Ruhian as Prakosoa is also a scene stealer as a disheveled lonely hit man who longs to be reunited with the family who has disowned him. Evans brought back Ruhian for the sequel in a new role, having played one of the featured deadliest of baddies, Mad Dog, in The Raid: Redemption.
Standout sequences of ultra violent combat involve the appropriately named Hammer Girl (Julie Estelle) taking down a gang of thugs in a running subway car. Baseball Bat Man, also appropriately named, has a few noteworthy, border lining on unbelievable, feats here as well. When the silent but deadly duo join forces for the climatic endgame, it’s literally a kill or be killed scenario with Rama. Evans has built in elaborate set pieces that include a brawl inside a jail cell, a muddy bone breaking prison courtyard assault, a neon nightclub and even an automobile. Guns, bodies, hammers, baseballs and bats, and an arsenal of bladed weapons find their way into play here at any given moment.
Gareth Evans knows his craft and exactly where to place his camera at all times. Not once do you feel like you are beyond the of eye of the storm or out of harm’s way. With his ample cast of martial arts masters and team of stunt coordinators, the director delivers a frenzy of meticulously choreographed intense sequences that continually up the ante the further along we follow Rama through the film. Once you think you have seen it all with hand to hand combat, Evens adds auto motives into the mix and delivers an unearthly third act car sequence. While at times The Raid 2 could have trimmed some of the fat off its healthy servings of characters and intricate twists and turns narrative, but overall the target audience knows what they are here to see, and the film delivers.
The Raid 2 packs its fast and furious punches with more than the sufficient, if not excessive, amount of gruesome kills, gallons of CGI blood and bone crushing visceral action to have fans leaving the theater exhilarated. The rest of 2014 has its work cut out for it in regards to attempts in dethroning The Raid 2 as the unforgettable hardcore action event of the year.
The Raid 2 opens in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on March 28th, expanding wide on April 11th.
REVIEW RATING: ★★★½★★
Director: Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Tio Pakusadewo, Oka Antara, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endo, and Kazuki Kitamura.
Screenwriter: Gareth Evans
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics
Rated: R
Running Time: 148 minutes
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