![]() ![]() Busted heads, broken backs, faces, ribs, necks, limbs… it’s all demolished on both sides of this epic conflict with fantastic, painful realism. I found myself on multiple occasions reacting with an “Oooh, ow!” or flinching or briefly turning away, then morbidly looking back for more. THE RAID features more moments of phantom pain amidst the audience than I can recall in so many years. Truly amazing stuff on display here guys, and gals. What eventually reveals itself is a twist at the end, one I will not divulge, but will elude to it being a fairly formulaic but effective plot tool which takes a backseat to the great portion and focus of the film, which is the magnificent fight choreography, conceived by Yayan Ruhian (remember this name) and Iko Uwais himself. The story, while simple and direct, has a team of SWAT-like police infiltrating the corrupted high rise with the implied intent of ridding it of the criminal cockroaches plaguing their city. This is when the fun really begins and the pain takes hold. At first, hot lead is everywhere, followed by cold steel and hardened fists when the bullets run out. ![]() The fight choreography in THE RAID is superb, and without the (apparent) use of wires, this is a feature film showcasing a whole new cast of awe-inspiring martial artists. THE RAID spends a little time up front introducing the characters on both sides, a little time setting up the premise for what is about to take place on screen, then quickly throws the audience right into the police raid which rapidly unravels into chaos and bloodshed, a vertical monsoon of bullets followed by a barrage of unbelievable feet and fists that will have you on the edge of your seat. He’s a complete man, father and husband, at peace and clear-headed… making him dangerously focused and powerful. What Evans does that I appreciate is to introduce our hero in a way we’re not normally accustomed to seeing, a montage cutting between shots of Rama training in solitude and shots of Rama praying in solitude as well. This will ultimately be what drives Rama through the pain as he takes on the highrise from hell. Rama is a young, but lethal soldier for justice, a husband and soon-to-be father with a glimmer of giving his unborn child a better future twinkling in his eye. ![]() Reluctant but loyal to his duty and eager to do his part in ending the reign of criminal terror, this is where our hero Rama ( Iko Uwais) enters the story. The film takes place in a crumbling, urban setting, primarily a towering housing complex/fortress controlled by the local drug and crime boss who rules with a heavy hand, blatantly providing safe haven for all the worst type of subhuman beings - for a price - mocking the authorities who fear to enter his domain, as many have tried and failed. You may be wondering why or how a film from Indonesia is made by a guy who certainly doesn’t sound Indonesian, but really… who cares?!?! Evans clearly has a firm grasp on the culture, the setting and the hardships of the Indonesian people. THE RAID: REDEMPTION - from here out referred to simply as THE RAID - is written and directed by Gareth Evans. ![]()
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