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Film Review - The Raid 2 (2014)

Genre:
Action, Thriller, World Cinema
Distributor:
eOne UK
Release Date:
11th April 2014 (UK)
Rating: 18
Director:
Gareth Huw Evans
Cast:
Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Yayan Ruhian, Alex Abbad, Tio Pakusodewo, Arifin Putra
Could Lighting really strike twice? In 2011 no could a little unknown independent Indonesian action film with a Welsh director creating such a buzz, a buzz that created such a critical storm it wasn't until it reached British shores (Glasgow Film 4 Frightfest) we could truly see why it was such a special film. That film was The Raid, 2014 The Raid 2 has arrived and whatever you do do not hold an umbrella as lightning has struck again.

The Raid 2 starts a couple of hours after the first film, our hero Rama (Iko Uwais) finds himself reluctantly going undercover again.Thrown deep into the lion's den  into the centre of an feuding gang war  but also closer to the heart of the corruption back undercover this time in prison and to slip into the trust of Uco (Arifin Putra) the son of the mafia boss Bangun (Tio Pakusodewo) he's trying to infiltrate. He saves Uco from certain death during a massive mud brawl in jail which earn's the trust of the son and the father becoming one of the gang's trusted enforcers. What started as an operation of several months spans into something even longer Rama starts to gain even more trust from those around him  but also slipping deeper into the gang's underbelly most of all a threat to his life and his family.

Your first impressions is how can a 95 minute first film have  a sequel that clocks in at just under 2 hours 30 minutes? The running time may put off some folks stick with it  as it's the quickest (&;best) two and half hours you'll experience, bodies will hit the floor, baseball bats will swing .Leonard Nimoy will regret not getting that hammer he sang about as it will be hammer time. Gareth Evans has masterfully created a film  that's action packed and dramatic at the same time with that healthy dose of drama that's not too similar too vintage Hong Kong ala John Woo a little bit of Beat Takashi too.Evans has given the characters a voice, a narrative which maybe still at a basic level giving our hero a reason to deliver a beatdown.

The Raid 2 is a rare commodity that actually exceeds the original film, a sequel that's actually better than it's predecessor.In what The Raid lacked in plot made it  up with a  blood fueled bruising ride, The Raid 2 delivers a more balanced visceral experience if anything this doesn't really feel like a sequel but more a individual film in it's own right but also complimenting each other perfectly. Evans has created his very own Internal Affairs, shifting the film's genre boundaries this doesn't mean the action has been toned down, far from it, if anything it's crazier. This change gives it even more scope and depth, the set pieces are bigger, bloodier, more ambitious, you will be picking your jaw off the cinema floor or even clapping.

The Raid was a lesson on how to deliver a quality film with a near nil budget, The Raid 2 is the testament to that type of film making. With a few tweaks, tricks of the trade you can easily make a film feel a million dollars, even Hollywood  will be watching these guys on how to do it. The Kineticism of the camera work  captures, every punch, slice even break with great freciousity, the directors imagination runs wild as he invites you deep into his world, a world of pure coregraphed  action ballet. There is several scenes that back this, from the mud pool prison yard fight with 40 plus prisoners swimming and slamming in the mud. The extraordinary car chase that put's film's greatest ever chases(French Connection, Drive) to shame  to steal the crown and how many car chases do you know that have full on fist fights in a fully speeding car? One, The Raid 2.If there is one scene that will stand tall in any classic Martial Arts/action masterpiece is the film's end scene Kitchen fight. This is a scene that even Bruce Lee would be proud to be involved. I don't know many films I've been to where the scene ends with a round of applause from the viewing audience, a true testament to the immense athleticism of all the actors involved.

A host of new characters deliver some fresh impotence to the film. Bejo (Alex Abbad)the cane walking repulsive psychopath who brings imbalance amongst gangs fragile relationship. But it's Hammer Girl (Julie Estelle) who steals the show with a character that looks like a character that's just walked off the set of a Tarantino film. She is a decorous psychopath and when she finally confront's Rama it's as if the setting was like a scene straight out Oldboy on the set of Only God Forgives, she's not alone Baseball Bat man(Very Tri Yulisman) who has a mean swing and the nerve to ask his victims to throw the ball back. The whole set up is perfect even those old faces from the first film can comeback as new ones, such as Yayan Ruhian (aka Mad Dog) who plays Prakoso a vagabond one time enforcer for Bangun  who faces his own destiny like Rama.

The Raid 2 maybe longer, multi-layered dialogue driven slow burner, but it's also the best 2 1/2 of visceral action fun you'll see this year. Grab a popcorn leave your brain at home and let your senses be assaulted from every angle that's (in)humanely possible. The action is unflinching brutal, spleen ripping bone crushing entertainment, unlike like it's predecessor you will have just witness the new blueprint for future action films.

★★★★★
Paul Devine

Embrace The Adrenaline Watch The New UK TV Spot For THE RAID 2

2011 Gareth Evans introduce cinephiles to the action packed brutal world of The Raid , 2014 it's time to embrace the adrenaline as it's time to return to that world in The Raid 2 watch new UK TV Spot.

The new spot delivers 31 seconds of intensity, action, pain and excitement as well as the critics quotes to put our minds at ease that The Raid will deliver that suckerpunch of excitement we expect to see in the follow up movie. Most of all after it's world premier at Sundance Film Festival some critics are going as far as saying its action film of 2014 a powerful statement to make even if we're not even quarter of the way through 2014 yet!


Last week whilst we where on Film Festival duty an Australian trailer for The Raid 2 was released online which backs up those critics comments and why we're so stoked to see this next month!


The Raid 2 will be released in UK on 11th April starring Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Alex Abbad, Yayan Ruhian, Mathias Muchus, Tio Pakusadewo, Marsha Timothy, Cecep Arif Rahman, Matsuda Ryuhei, Endo Kenichi and Kitamura Kazuki

Everything Is A Weapon In The New American The Raid 2: Berandal Trailer

Man of Tai Chi - TIFF 2013 Review

Rating:
18
Release Date:
10th & 11th September 2013 (TIFF)
Director:
Keanu Reeves
Cast:
Keanu Reeves, Tiger Chen, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Iko Uwais
At one point in time many of us owed our teenage years to Keanu Reeves. Not only did the guy become a global star overnight thanks to The Matrix but he also put Kung-Fu back in vogue. Perhaps because of his affinity with martial arts Reeves has decided to make his directorial debut in Man of Tai Chi; a film based on the life and exploits of Tiger Chen, his coach on The Matrix.

Chen stars as himself, a devout Tai Chi student struggling to make ends meet. His achievements at national championships attract the attentions of Dakata Mark (Reeves) a mysterious businessman who organises secret underground fights. Soon Chen’s control over his honourable craft gives way to a dark and violent nature, pushing him to the brink of self-control in Mark’s shadowy games.

Man of Tai Chi is a strange film. It dodges between great action adventure and corny throw-away trash with all the rapidity of its lead’s martial arts. At times the jet-setting and glorious backdrops look like Tekken cast-offs and at others it seems to be going for Fight Club by way of Fast and Furious. The inconsistency will be the most irritating feature for most people.

The fight sequences are great, well-shot and obviously well under Reeves’ control. But CGI effects and an unfortunate stroll into Kung-Fu magic really send the film wobbling on its axis. This is a shame when moments of dark genius punctuate this near-camp affair. The heart of a thriller erupts at moments to accentuate what the film could have been, leaving Reeve’s debut- for the most part- floating in anonymity

Chen makes a great leading man, mysterious and strong, wilful yet troubled, his drives and actions however get lost in translation leaving the audience bewildered at his often unfound actions. On the subject of unfound actions Reeves’ own performance is in keeping with his repertoire: a wee bit silly. Playing the omnipresent leader of the underground fight club, Dakata Mark, Reeves is partial to a bit of over-acting, under-acting, and utterly ludicrous dialogue. Most of the time you won’t know whether to laugh but there’s no denying the magnetism of his screen presence - in a Nicholas Cage way. That is in no way a negative comment by the way. There is however an unattractive masturbatory quality to his fast cars, big persona, and finely tailored suits. A kind of quality that salt-wraps his watchable manoeuvres.

For some people this could be the oddball-exploitation-action runaway of the year, for most it will be exploitation of the audience; a mess of different ideas with its head half screwed on. But there’s enough fun action to keep you distracted from the fact this is just a tad off-mark.

★★★☆☆

Scott Clark