FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Raid 2: Berandal

MPAA Rating: R

Director: Gareth Evans

Starring: Iko Uwais, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra

Runtime: 2 hrs 28 mins

What It Is: Holy crap on a cheese cracker! That was some of the best action I’ve ever seen. Where some action movies fall into trope-fests full of ridiculous steady cam shots, and unintelligible. Here instead we get a piece of pure adrenaline. A fuel-injected masterpiece of violence, thrilling in execution, and even better in it’s approach. Rama is tasked with going deep undercover to try break down the drug empire of Bangun. To do so he befriends Bangun’s son Uco. Rama knows he’s the key to taking down this operation, getting back home, and possibly finding his brothers killer.

What We Think: It’s the best pure action film of the last year in addition to having one of the best set pieces I’ve seen in cinema…like ever! Hyperbolic though it may seem it really will get, and keep the blood pumping and adrenaline flowing. From Rama’s opening act of valor in a Jakarta jail to his closing act which I’ll let you see for yourselves. In between he’ll fight a girl he’s handy with a hammer, a guy wielding a baseball and bat, and lastly a killer who may or may not have Rama’s number when it comes to hand to hand combat. Go ahead and try to catch your breath with this one. Watch the beauty unfold on Blu-Ray because it looks so SO pretty! I believe it’s available on Blu-Ray, DVD, Video on Demand and Digital download NOW!

Our Grade: A, This is one of the best films of the year. Good luck topping this Expendables! With crisp direction, and interesting story points it does something other action films forget it’s makes us care about the lead protagonist, and whether or not he’ll make it out of his situation. Rama’s a real human, a father who just wants to get back to his family while also protecting them. He’s the Baryshnikov of the blood ballet, and we cannot wait to see his third act!