The Raid: Redemption (2011)
Director: Gareth Evans
In the Jakarta slums, a derelict apartment building has become a no-go area – even the police are unwilling to enter. It has become a safe-house for the most dangerous killers and gangsters. A SWAT team infiltrate the building, under the cover of darkness, to remove its owner – a notorious drug lord named Tama. This of course sets forth a film filled with violence, kung-fu, and all of which is done in epic proportions! If you think the action film is dead, just take a look at this film right here and I’m sure you’ll change your mind.
In the long line of straight to video action film and very lackluster theatrical action releases, one could assume that the glory days of the action movie could be all but done with. I thought the good days of those were behind us as well until I saw The Raid: Redemption. This is a film that delivers on all the areas it needs to deliver on. It sets up some grand scenes and still takes the time to make you care about the characters. It’s hard to find anything close to being this well done. From the moments our police team are about to invade this building filled with bad guys, you just know the poo is about to hit the fan. And it does hit the fan very early on and stays going after that and manages to keep your eyes on the film the entire time without ever being bored or checking your watch once.
The movie gives us some very interesting characters, give us shootouts, as well as some awesome hand to hand fighting scenes that work very well to such you in and make the whole “Raid” experience one to remember. This is how you want an action film. This is the type of film that will be loved by everyone who enjoys these types of films and it even packs stuff for those who might not be the biggest fans of stuff like this. You get a great story that is simple, but mixed with a few surprises. You get great action and acting. And we also learn that apparently every bad ass in this country wears cargo pants! So, to sum up everything, WATCH The Raid. You’ll be happy you did.
(8.5/10)
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