The Raid: Redemption Review

      

    Akin to going on the fastest, most unrelenting roller coaster ride, “The Raid: Redemption” spares no prisoners in its fast operatic mayhem of bullets, blood and some of the most brutal, yet, amazing hand-to-hand martial arts fighting ever filmed. The correct adjective to appropriately use when describing “The Raid” is “awesome”. It’s an action film that not only is it proud of itself, but also goes to full lengths to stand out in the midst of past action films that are now mediocre when compared to the scale of what “The Raid” does. The tagline alone sets the viewer up on what you are about to see. And it takes pride on knowing that and clearly shows that too often, action films these days try to bog down in the audiences throats with too many convoluted plots and story-lines to add more depth to them, when really, any depth that needs to be added to an action picture is just the premise alone and let that carry the film into what audiences want in an action picture. “The Raid” fully delivers on that promise.

    The only semblance of a plot is just a jumping off point for the action to take place. We open up with a rookie member of an elite special-forces team unit, Rama (Iko Uwais) as he and nineteen others are instructed to infiltrate and carry out a raid on a apartment complex in the city of Jakarta to bring to justice a ruthless crime lord, Tama (Ray Sahetapy) who has barricaded himself to the top of the floor who provides a criminal haven for the city’s most dangerous criminals, gangsters and killers.  As they carry out the raid, they are soon trapped inside and Rama discovers their secret operation and he offers a reward for anyone in the apartment to kill the special-forces team. Soon, outnumbered and out of ammunition, the team is forced to result to hand-to-hand combat as their way of protection and finish the job by taking out the ruthless crime lord. Now, does that make anyone remind of them of some cheap video game they’ve probably played? The plot is just about on mediocre terms but what it does with such a thin plot, it takes full advantage of its premise and delivers the most thrilling, action experience one can ever have.

    Welsh director and writer Gareth Evans is soon to be expected to become a household name with this film among action fans. Not for one second does Evans make you feel safe or even a sense of relief, as this pulse-pounding thrill ride never lets up. The choreography is simply astonishing. Never for once do you disbelieve the action or the fight scenes, as they are bare-bone realistic as martial arts fighting can get. Sure, some gunplay does come into effect from time-to-time throughout the film, but never does it upstage the brilliant choreographed fighting, as they are the centerpieces of the film. The majority of the film has no dialogue, the only dialogue existent is the hands and fists that people throw at each other. What’s even more brilliant as unlike most action films made in America where director feel the need to shake the camera and make the audience feel more dizzy than “actually” in the action, or do quick cuts and edits to different angles that only confuse the viewer more, this film “actually gets it right!” Just extended long sequences and long takes of nothing but pure adrenaline infused action and fighting that it will astound the viewer just how realistic it feels with just simply having the camera follow our hero as he takes down a hallway fool of thugs and madmen with his bare fists and skills that it’s almost on the level of pure unadulterated fun.
       
        To proclaim this movie’s energy without once mentioning any of the actors putting the time and effort to make this movie a reality would be unjust. Not only can Evans get actors involved to create some of the most thrilling fighting sequences in a long time, but also he’s actually able to make them act their way out of a paper bag. The actors do a great job with the roles given, never going into absurd level acting, as if it’s needed for a film like this, but give us some memorable scenes involving them. Iko Uwais is probably the stand out as his character literally is put t the test and his limits and ultimately is plunged into a battle for his life. He endures every pain staking blow to the face, every kick to the head and every pound to the chest. There is no stunt double in play when he performs these actions and should be recognized for his commitment to the action in this film. He also can turn in a good performance, as does most of the cast. This isn’t something to wonder if it will be nominated for any acting awards or known for the acting, but as far as action films go, this is certainly above the average. Even the villains are played so well. Ray Sahetapy is as vile and despicable as any cliché action movie villain you can remember, but that shouldn’t undermine his performance. Even the henchman are surprisingly good (when was the last time anyone could say that about a film?).

       The movie blooms with amazingly choreographed fighting along with awe-inspiring cinematography that never cheapens the medium of the action genre. It lushes with exuberant energy and never goes to the point of being derivative of any action film made, especially martial arts film. The music along with the tone of the film sets the film apart from anything the audience has come to expect from an action film and provides some of the best thrills in a movie theater so far this year. It’s time that American action directors see a new light and amp up their game if their intent is to create an exciting experience as such “The Raid” did.
    
A by Amritpal Rai