It’s not too often that I feel so energized by a film that I will applaud what I just saw. These scenes usually involve a perfect build to a rousing climax involving a sequence rarely seen on camera before. For many people, the Raid: Redemption did that with its well executed foray into ultra violence; however, I thought it was just ok. I am proud to say that The Raid 2 ups the ante on the ultra violence and climaxes with one of the most amazingly executed fight scenes in cinematic history. It is a demonic ballet of violence.
After a brief intro, The Raid 2 reintroduces us to the hero, Rama (Iko Uwais). Rama’s brother, after surviving the original raid, is gunned down by a man named Bejo (Alex Abbad). Since Bejo is connected to dirty cops, Rama is sent into prison to expose the corruption inherent in the system. To do this, he befriends Uco (Arifin Putra), son of a famous Jakartan gangster father Bangun (Tio Pakusodewo). Rama becomes Uco’s right hand enforcer at the wrong time: Bejo’s growing influence ignites a simmering war between the Bangun and Goto families, introducing the world to “bum” Prakoso (Yayan Ruhian), Hammer Girl (Julie Estelle), Baseball Bat Man (Very Tri Ulisman), and the Assassin (Cecep Arif Rahman), who are bound to get in Rama’s way on his quest for justice.
The Raid 2 learns some lessons from the Raid: Redemption. The first film doesn’t valley enough: after each fight sequence, we waited about a minute or two before another one began. In the Raid 2, fight sequences are longer, but so are the valleys. This gives the audience time to relax and rebuild the tension before the next fight sequence begins. In addition, these lows allow for some solid character development and parallel the frustration in multiple characters as they grow impatient of waiting for their time until their impatience erupts into violence. The Raid 2 is longer due to Gareth Evans change in direction, but ultimately it is also much more satisfying.
If you are an American action film director, be sure to hire Yayan Ruhian, Larnell Stovall, or Iko Uwais as a consultant for your film. These 3 (2 of them are actors in the film, including the main character) are the primary fight choreographers in the Raid 2. The three excel in creating unparalleled fight scenes among many combatants, or one-on-one. The fights all contain elements of reality: if a bone is broken, your abilities are impaired like a normal person. In addition, each fight has a wrinkle that differentiates it from all the others whether it be location (backseat of a car, train) or weapon (hooks, baseball bat, hammer). Each unique fight builds upon the previous fights until the climax where Rama has to infiltrate a secret meeting. During that megafight, each individual fighter has proven adept at their specific skills, making engagement with our hero an escalating test in skill and technique. This megafight climaxes with a mono-e-mono masterpiece set in a kitchen. The brilliance of this sequence is the combination of artistic, skillful movement and escalation, resulting in a rousing bout that will make most audiences erupt in applause. I was so into the fight I found myself out of breath. Not often is choreography praised in an action film, but without it, the Raid 2 would lose all of its appeal.
Acting isn’t a prerequisite for the Raid 2, but the main players do their duty. Arifin Putra deftly portrays Uco as a petulant mostly smart child with anger and daddy issues. There is more nuance in Uco than I expected, making the breaks in the fighting more than just tolerable. Iko Uwais portrays honor and care well enough to make it easy to get behind Rama, even when he is killing a LOT of people. Tio Pakusodewo is also quite good at playing an aging gangster who uses his knowledge for the greater good of everyone instead of just himself. However, any actor involved in a fighting scenes deserves commendation for the effort and realism put into the battles. Fighting is every bit as (and probably more) challenging as nuanced emotional character beats, and each warrior earns all the praise they are sure to get.
If we are cut, we bleed. If we are hurt, we cringe. But we still can fight. The Raid 2 understands this, and uses this logic to craft some of the great fight scenes in cinematic history. In the age of Marvel superheroes, it is nice to know that normal guys can generate the same thrill as Iron Man or Captain America. However, I don’t ever need to see what a shotgun blast to the face looks like again.