Reel of make-believe violence sold as reality, from fists to hammers and from edged weapons to firearms doing their thing to fragile flesh. The film features not only copious amounts of blood, but choreography equal to the bloodshed. The Raid 2's dark interior and darker façade only accentuate the That would feel right at home in one of his red-washed epics). Would probably make Quentin Tarantino happy (and it even introduces a character in "Hammer Girl" The Raid 2 showcases some of the most brutal and relentless violence ever captured on film, the Pushing limits in this second installment.
In that arena, The Raid 2 proves bigger and better than its predecessor, building on the foundation established in the first and
Yet the filmmakers know that many fans will buy tickets only in anticipation of the expected parade of violence, and Evans and company don'tĭisappoint. To stretch its legs in those many moments when the fisticuffs and firearms are set aside in favor of all of those other elements in play. It's all well executed by a talented cast and crew and it's sufficiently fleshed out, but that lack of dramatic Likely won't pique the interest beyond their ability to frame the film's action scenes in some context and allow for a particularly bloody - and not atĮxpected or shocking - final act. His undercover work (even as it may drive him across a more invisible, inward arc) and playing with a host of been there, done that contrivances In its character drama, The Raid 2 fails to capture the imagination, giving only passive play to Rama's personal life outside Through a host of dramatic arcs - Rama's undercover work, the growing schism in the Bangun family, the clash of criminal organizations - none ofįeels particularly new or, frankly, all that compelling beyond that aforementioned push it gives towards the film's impressive action scenes (more on The Raid 2 plays like a film of two unique styles, one of tight, relentless action and the other all of the character interactions and dramaticĪngles and build-ups necessary to transport the film to a time and place in which the ultra-violence makes contextual sense. As things become more dangerous and a rift forms from within, Rama must face his deadliest challenges yet in Yuda becomes a key figure within the internal Two years later, he and Uco have been released. Powerful criminal boss Bangun (Tio Pakusadewo). He leavesīehind his wife and infant child for a stint in prison, going by the name "Yuda," where he gains the confidence of Uco (Arifin Putra), son of the Outfit headed by the dangerous Bejo (Alex Abbad), is coerced into going undercover to infiltrate another dangerous crime syndicate. A bloodied Rama (Iko Uwais), upon learning his brother has been murdered by a criminal The film picks up immediately after the end of the first. The Raid 2 should satisfy fans of the original, even if all of the added drama and character complexities never venture very far away from All that said, unless audiences want only a highlight reel of blood-and-guts, However the film maintains, if not increases, the level of violent intensity that defined the first, going so hardcore in spots that the film has beenīanned in Malaysia and suffered a few minor nicks and cuts of its own in the editing room, leaving the film as it is undoubtedly a little less bloodiedīut not any noticeably less intense when the action kicks into high gear. Worry about this film's slower pacing and focus on characterization and character relationships, which eat up about half the runtime.
The film in some waysįrom a tighter purpose and greater narrative structure even as it comes at the expense of screen time for hardcore action and grit. Of bloody, ultra-violent mayhem, this film supported by a larger scale dramatic involvement than was seen in its predecessor. The Raid 2: Berandal, Director Gareth Evans' follow-up to the hugely popular 2011 Action extravaganza The Raid: Redemption, returns that film's lead character for round two