Showing posts with label Julie Estelle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Julie Estelle. Show all posts

11 April 2014

Film Review - The Raid 2 (2014)

No comments:


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


5 March 2014

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

No comments:

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 UwaisJulie Estelle, Alex Abbad, Yayan Ruhian, Mathias Muchus, Tio Pakusadewo, Marsha Timothy, Cecep Arif Rahman, Matsuda Ryuhei, Endo Kenichi and Kitamura Kazuki

6 November 2013

Let The Bodies Hit The Floor In The Raid 2: Berandal First Teaser Trailer

No comments:
Whenever I get asked what was one of my cinematic highlights of 2012, I always say right away The Raid and the Glasgow Frightfest screening (with star and director in attendance). 2014 the most anticipated action film The Raid 2: Berandal will explode in cinemas near you but for now lets get excited as the first teaser trailer has arrived!

It's not over yet and thanks to the good folks at Twitch we get our first taster of the action and boy it's mayhem! The scale and scope of The Raid 2 is alot  grander  plus it looks like the sequel is not confined to one building but several but why our hero Rama is locked up we don't know but what he does to that silhouette on the wall he's mighty pissed off. If we're to go by the scum of Indonesian crime underbelly we met in The Raid we can expect we ain't seen anything yet. The trailer shows the major players of the new film (Tegar Satrya and Yayan Ruhian) plus a first look at new characters  Assassin(Cecep Rahman) ,Hammer Girl (Julie Estelle). What will get fans of the first film excited is the return of Yayan Ruhian aka Mad Dog though he's playing Prakoso whom we expect will be as insane as his previous character.

The set pieces look as bone crushingly insane as before, possible Jackie Chan style shopping mall chase? No one should be standing in front of cars but when it's a car in a Gareth Huw Evans film well you'll just have to watch the trailer!



No word on a UK release date or distributor, but don't be surprise if The Raid 2: Berandal makes an appearance at Film4 Glasgow or London in 2014. The film stars Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Alex Abad, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Julie Estelle, Cecep Arif Rahman, Cok Simbara, Yayan Ruhian, Matsuda Ryuhei, Endo Kenichi, and Kitamura Kazuki.

source:Twitch (via Thepeoplesmovies)

1 February 2013

Berandal aka The Raid 2 Starts Shooting, First Images Revealed

No comments:
Production has finally started on the eagerly awaited The Raid 2 also known as Berandal, kicking off an 100 day shoot in the Indonesian capital Jakarta and we have some images to get us in the mood!

The Raid 2:Berandal reunites Gareth Huw Evans and star of The Raid Uwo Iwais as Rama once again picking up from the moment he leaves the towering high rise taking the city's infamous crime syndicate. With the stakes now even higher and with corruption among the city's police department now exposed too Rama must protect his family and go deeper into Jakarta's criminal underworld.

Very moody images with Rama looking tired, bruised but not out looking edgy but most of all ready to inflict more pain on some nasty people which we want to see. What's more intriguing is Evans promises The Raid 2: Berandal will be “bigger, better and bloodier!”. The Raid was one of my highlights of 2012 when it made it's UK premiere at Glasgow Film4 Frightfest  meeting the director and the film's main star and of course my autographed poster takes centre stage in The Peoples Movies & Cinehouse main office!

The Raid 2: Berandal will arrive sometime 2014.






Here's the official American press release:

Highly-anticipated Actioner “The Raid 2” Starts Production in Jakarta, Indonesia

Los Angeles, CA (January 31, 2013) – PT Merantau Films and XYZ Films announce the start of production for THE RAID 2 (Indonesian title, THE RAID 2: BERANDAL), the sequel to the wildly popular international hit THE RAID (aka THE RAID: REDEMPTION).  The film reunites writer/director Gareth Huw Evans with actor Iko Uwais, who will be reprising his starring role.  Ario Sagantoro is producing for PT Merantau Films, along with Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, Aram Tertzakian and Todd Brown for XYZ Films.  Executive producing are Rangga Maya Barack-Evans and Irwan D. Mussry.

In addition to Uwais, the international cast includes Tio Pakusadewo, Putra Arifin Scheunamann, Julie Estelle, Alex Abbad and Roy Marten.  The film is currently lensing in Jakarta, Indonesia and is scheduled to shoot for over 100 days. Line producing the film is Daiwanne Ralie, with Matthew Flannery and Dimas Imam Subhono serving as directors of photography.

Picking up right where the first film ends, The Raid 2 follows Rama (Uwais) as he goes undercover and infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate in order to protect his family and uncover the corruption in his own police force.

The Raid premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, where it took home the Audience Award in the Midnight Madness section. It went on to play at Sundance and SXSW, before enjoying a theatrical release in the United States through Sony Pictures Classics. The film is approaching $15M in global box office.

XYZ and PT Mereantau Films are also in post-production on KILLERS, which is co-directed by Timo Tjahjanto and Kimo Stamboel, with Gareth Huw Evans and Rangga Maya Barack-Evans executive producing .  Evans and Tjahjanto recently collaborated on SAFE HAVEN, a celebrated segment in the horror anthology film S-VHS, which just premiered at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.

XYZ Films recently premiered Calvin Lee Reeder’s THE RAMBLER at Sundance as well.

“We’re incredibly excited to start the next chapter of The Raid story,” said XYZ Films. “Gareth introduced a rich and fertile world in the first film, and we’re eager to see him expand on that vision with Berandal.”

“To all our fans thank you so much for your support. We can’t wait to come back and show you what we have been working on,” said writer/director Gareth Evans. “We’ll be there in 2014 with a film bigger, better and bloodier! Wish us luck.”
source:Twitch