One of the best action movies of the last couple of years in my book is The Raid. The story could be summarized in one sentence (a police team has to fight their way up a building to arrest the leader of a criminal gang), but more wasn’t needed. This was because the film offered one thing in abundance: Action. Adrenaline pumping, raw action. It is no surprise that I couldn’t wait to check out the sequel and my expectations were very high. Does The Raid 2 manage to meet them?
Just like his previous movies, Merantau and The Raid, director Gareth Evans has written and directed this movie. With this sequel he tries to do what every sequel tries to do: more of everything. That means more story, a longer running time and more characters. Rama (Iko Uwais) who was the center in the first movie stars in this one as well. At the beginning of the movie he is asked to become part of a very small specialized team that aims to track down corrupt cops and neutralize them. Initially Rama isn’t interested, but he changes his mind. In order to infiltrate a specific criminal organisation he has to end up in jail and gain the trust of the son of a crime boss, who is also doing time. That son, Uco (Arifin Putra), wants to show his father that he can take a more important position within the organisation, which his father doesn’t agree with. This sets up most of what happens in the movie.
The first movie didn’t take much time to throw the viewer in the middle of the action. It also didn’t remove you from it till the ending, resulting in a very intense experience. The Raid 2 doesn’t do this and spends long stretches of time on setting up the story. Unfortunately that doesn’t always happen in a clear way, resulting in having to pay a lot of attention to find out what is going on. The fact that Rama is undercover seems to be used as a reason for violent situations as we hardly see him investigating anything. The main focus is about the son having issues with the way his father looks at him and that part of the story simply isn’t interesting enough. With a running time of 150 minutes and a disappointing story it feels too long. If that would be the only thing I’d judge this movie by then this movie wouldn’t manage to get a positive score.
Fortunately Evans proves that he still is able to bring action to the screen in spectacular fashion. Various amazingly choreographed fights and a car chase in which the camera seems to make impossible movements are not to be missed. Many fights consist of long takes without the usual quick cuts and close-ups. It allows the fighters to show their skill. Whether that’s a woman who fights with hammers, a man who specializes in fighting with a baseball and a bat or a homeless guy who can neutralize others by using only one of his hands during a fight. Just like in the first movie this movie isn’t afraid to show all the gruesome and bloody details.
As a whole The Raid 2 didn’t manage to meet my high expectations and I regularly felt I was waiting for the action scenes to start. Once they start they are stunning to watch. The movie tries to be more than just action and that is where it doesn’t work as good as it should.
In this film, i reckon more importance was given to developing the story. Thus the delay in switching on the action. But i guess it was very well compensated with the last 20 minutes. I agree with your perspective as well.
Here’s my review http://movieroundup.in/raid-2-an-exhibition-of-awe-inspiring-fights/
Thanks!
This was better than the original in many ways. Sure, it could have been cut-down by at least 20-30 minutes, but with all that time, a story was still being developed and made all of the craziness that ensues at the end, all the more delightful to sit back and watch. Good review Nostra.
I feel the other way around, still like the original more and wouldn’t want to rewatch this one…
I thought that this is one of those rare sequels that wasn’t just as good as the first but almost better than the first. I was enthralled by it and to me, this is what an action film should be. I hope there’s another one.
Seems I am in the minority of liking the original more. There will be a third one I think
Great review mate. I disagree a little that it spends “too much” time setting up the story and pausing to develop the characters – I thought the film handled that balance well enough, and although the opening half didn’t focus enough on the father/son bond between the villains (as you point out) the latter half really needed that dynamic to sell the conflict which ensues. Personally, I though this film was dynamite. My review is up next month so check it out to see what I though.
This is what Gareth Evans wanted to make before he decided to make a simpler film due to budget constrains. I am not particularly fond of the film (as you might know already), it felt as if since he got the budget he wanted now he just pulls out every magic trick he had in his bag. I think a little restrain would do wonder for the film.
(But this is still the 2014 local film with highest admission number in my country).
I agree with you on the story. It does have excellent fighting scenes and choreography, but it couldn’t level the same epic-ness from the first one. I didn’t really like it.
Hi Nostra! As I mentioned to you before, I’m glad an Indonesian movie gained international fame but still it’s not my cup of tea at all. Seeing people getting beaten/ripped to shreds for 2 hours straight isn’t my idea of entertainment, ahah.
Great review. Such a great expansive sequel and its a real shame more people didn’t see it. Still I liked it 😀
Sorry you didn’t enjoy it as much 🙁
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