The Definitive Action Film of Our Time - THE RAID 2

THE RAID 2: BERENDAL
2014 - 150 minutes - Action/Crime
Director: Gareth Evans
Country: Indonesia 
IMDB: 8.9
Metacritic: 71
RT: 80

CinemaChagrin's Rating: B

Watch this movie if you enjoy:

• Incredible action sequences
• Martial arts films
• Gorgeous cinematography
• Ultra-violence
• The first film

Avoid this movie if you dislike:

• Extreme violence/gore
• Action films 
• Subtitled films
• Convoluted plots
• The first film

Ladies and gentlemen, look no further, for The Raid 2: Berendal is the definitive action film of our time. The sequel to 2011's international smash hit The Raid: Redemption, this Indonesian crime thriller has some of the most spectacular action sequences ever put to film. The first film is a taut and brilliant action flick in which an elite SWAT team storms a dingy apartment building to take down a ruthless drug lord. (Much violence and mayhem ensues, of course). It features absolutely mind-blowing and cringe-inducing fight sequences showcasing Indonesia's martial art, pencak silat. The Raid 2 ups the ante in nearly every way possible. Why it is by no means a perfect film, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time in the theater and could barely contain myself from yelling in excitement by the time the credits rolled around.

One of the film's most brutal sequences takes place in a muddy prison yard

Whereas the first film is a brisk 100 minutes and consists almost entirely of action sequences, The Raid 2 features a much expanded story arc and much more exposition. The story is not particularly original, and calls to mind other crime films like Infernal Affairs and The Departed. The dialogue is a little wordy at times, the plot occasionally convoluted, and the pacing awkward. There are a few scenes that drag a bit or feel unnecessary. I won't go into the story (as that's not really the point of the film), though I will note that the transition from the end of the first film to this sequel was done in a rather clunky manner. All of this makes the whole film feel a little rough around the edges, but ultimately I didn't end up minding too much. One doesn't go to a movie like this for a brilliant screenplay or original story. I came for the action, and wasn't disappointed. More on that later.

Rama (Iko Uwais) and The Assassin (Cecep Arif Rahman) face off in the film's climactic duel

Welsh-born director Gareth Evans exploded onto the international film scene with The Raid, demonstrating that few others can choreograph and shoot action sequences with the same level of mastery that he brings to the table. His camera moves fluidly as a part of the action, ducking and weaving through combatants and immersing the audience in the fight. Unnecessary shaky cam and obscuring closeups make no appearance; Evans' direction lets us see all the action, while also making us feel like we are a part of it. His excellence doesn't stop there though. A bigger budget (though still only a paltry $4.5 million) and longer film allows Evans to showcase some absolutely gorgeous visuals, from a rain-soaked prison complex to a snow-covered alleyway splattered in blood. He has a really unique eye, and I can honestly say I've never imagined some of the camera angles on display in The Raid 2. In a stroke of brilliance, one sequence where our hero Rama (Iko Uwais) fights four men in a moving car is partially seen from above. 

As you've probably guessed by now, the highlight of the film are the spectacular fight sequences. Since all of the baddies from the first film ended up dead by the its conclusion, we are introduced to a host of new antagonists, including two of the most memorable villains I've ever seen, a brother-sister duo named "Baseball Bat Man" and "Hammer Girl." (I'll let you use your intuition to figure out why they have those names.) As The Raid 2 focuses on two rival Jakarta crime syndicates, there are many other bad guys who come into play as well, such as local kingpin Bangun, his suave son Uco, and the ambitious and ruthless Bejo. Needless to say, there are a lot of characters (probably a few too many), and you probably won't remember everyone's name, but again, none of that really matters. 

Which finally leads me to the fight scenes. Never have I witnessed a film with such exhilarating and brutal action sequences. The film is a veritable symphony of death, an orgasmic cacophony of splattered blood and broken bones. The kills (and killers) are merciless, and Evans' camera lets us see it all in its full, unadulterated glory. Quite frankly I am flabbergasted as to how this film managed to avoid a NC-17 rating. It seriously makes Tarantino films look relatively tame. The only non-horror film I've seen that compares is Drive, which of course has none of the crazy martial arts present here. The choreography is lightning-fast and extraordinarily inventive, the set-pieces spectacular, and the blows completely visceral. The editing is also spot-on throughout the whole movie. One incredible fight scene between two characters took 12 days to shoot, but you would never know it with the way the sequence unfolds seamlessly. While the first film takes place entirely in dingy corridors and dirty apartments, the fight scenes in the second are much more varied. From a tiny restroom stall to a spotless white kitchen to the wide open streets of Jakarta, it's really fun to watch how the combatants adapt their fighting styles in acclimating to their surroundings.

There's even an excellent car chase!

The Raid 2 is made for a very specific audience. Those who love intense action and who don't shy away from blood and gore aplenty will find much to love. Anyone who doesn't fit this description probably should stay away (a shame though, as the cinematography is truly outstanding). The film's shortcomings in the story department, while noticeable, don't take away too much from the overall experience. It definitely drags at times (the pacing of the first film is much better), but the last 45 minutes of nonstop mayhem more than compensate for any weaknesses. Bottom line: there is really nothing else out there right now that compares to either of the Raid films action-wise. They have set the bar exceedingly high, and are hugely refreshing in today's era of sterilized, CGI-filled, trite PG-13 crapfests that pass for action movies. 

One final note - the Raid films display perfectly how independent filmmakers can produce outstanding films on modest budgets. The Raid 2 was made for just $4.5 million; the original just a scant $1.1 million. Yet the action is better executed and shot than any $100 million blockbuster you'll ever see come out of Hollywood. If this film sounds even remotely appealing to you, give it a try. It's definitely not for the squeamish, though.

-CC

Check out the trailer: