Film Review - Raid 2

Give Me Raid !

Film: Raid 2

Cast: Iko Uwais, Tio Pakusodewo, Arifin Putra

Directed by: Gareth Evans

Duration: 2 hrs 30 mins

Rating: *  *  *  * 

Very few sequels come close to the original but suffice to say that director Gareth Evans has pulled it off, again. Raid 2 is the best action flick to hit the screens in ages and it is only fair to say that this Indonesian product beats all contemporary Hollywood action films hollow.

At the outset, it must also be mentioned that there is plenty of violence in the film and the director literally goes hammer and tongs, the violence may be abhorring, you can’t but admire the way it has been choreographed and shot. If you don’t like blood, stay away but if you like no-holds barred action of the highest quality, Raid 2 is a joyride.

Raid Redemption (2011) was an international hit primarily because of the non-stop high octane action. Raid 2, starts off in first gear. Rama (Iko Uwais) meets a police officer and decides to go undercover to bust a ring, for that he has to go to prison first and gain the confidence of Ucok (Arifin Putra) the son of a gangster Bangun. Rama manages to infiltrate the gang, as the son wants to overpower his father and join hands with the opposition. 

What ensues is a bloody battle and the almost hour long climax is a tour de force. 

While the action may look mindless to some, there is no denying that the choreography is of the highest standard. Take the car chase for example, those CGI enhanced effects from say all the Fast and Furious films don’t create the kind of impact that Raid 2 does.

The film also scores because of the super fine editing, there isn’t a lot of fast cutting like Hollywood and you can see the action happening in a more convincing fashion. And it is not all bam bam action, Evans also pays subtle tributes to action films of the past, the fight outside the nightclub in snow is inspired by Toshiya Fujita’s  - even the climax of Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol.1 where the bride takes on O-Ren Ishii, is a tribute to the Japanese film.

Bullets are fired, skulls are smashed, knives are pierced, bones are broken the action and violence is of the next level here. It can be termed mindless but the way it is portrayed, it can’t be dismissed as mindless. 

When I walked out of the theatre, there was one word that came to mind – wow. 

Published in The Navhind Times on 1st June 2014
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