There’s a lot that may put people off seeing The Raid 2. Shame, because it’s one of the best action films of the year.
Unfortunately, I know some film lovers will not like the fact that this movie is subtitled. At two and a half hours, the long length may also steer people in another direction at the cinema. But if you can get past these two factors, you’ll be left with a genuinely jaw-dropping Indonesian martial arts epic.
The Raid emerged from nowhere two years ago and was a hit with critics and audiences alike. It featured some of the coolest and fastest choreographed martial arts scenes I’d ever seen… until now. This sequel hits even harder than its predecessor.
The story picks up where the first film ends. It follows cop hero Rama (Iko Uwais) as he goes undercover to flush out corrupt officers. In order to do this successfully, he does a spell in a filthy Indonesian jail. It’s here that he wins the trust of a fellow inmate, Uco (Arifin Putra), the son of a mob boss.
Once out of jail, Rama becomes a trusted enforcer in the mob bosses organisation – allowing him to report back to his superiors at the police force. Things don’t quite go to plan and before long, Rama realises he’s in way over his head.
The plot is nothing we’ve not seen before, and is rather clichéd (often laughable) in places, but that’s OK with films like this. Let’s be honest, we don’t watch these particular types of movies for their dialogue. We watch them for brutally brilliant doses of martial-arts action – of which there are plenty here. There are over 10 big death-defying action sequences throughout this flick that will blow you away – the final 30 minutes alone is worth the ticket price.
My biggest criticism is that the film is too long. With 30 minutes (maybe even 40) cut out, this could have been a masterpiece. The violence is also extreme in places – whether that’s a good or bad thing is entirely up to personal taste.
Overall, The Raid 2 is well worth seeing. With blockbusters such as X-Men, Captain America, and Spiderman on the tip of people’s lips, I fear this film will get overshadowed and suffer at the box-office. I doubt it will be around for long – see it whilst you can!
Check out The Raid 2 now at Showcase, Peterborough. Visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk for the latest up-to-date showtimes. You can also join the chat on Twitter @showcasecinemas or on Facebook by searching for ‘Showcase Cinemas UK’.
Mikey Clarke
Genre: Action & Adventure
Cast: IkoUwais, YayanRuhian, Arifin Putra, Julie Estelle & Very Tri Yulisman
Running Time: 2hr 28mins
Writer/Director: Gareth Evans
See if you liked: Fist of Fury &The Raid
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