The Raid 2
“The Raid” was one of those film surprises a couple of years
ago that came out of nowhere and gave some revitalized juice to the action
genre by showing up just about every one of its bigger budget brethren.
Director Gareth Evans combined the claustrophobic setting of “Die Hard” with
hard-hitting martial arts violence in such a way that was fresh and
invigorating. Now Evans returns for its sequel, “The Raid 2,” to expand the
story of the Indonesian original beyond one building and into the realm of an
operatic gangster thriller.
Rookie Officer Rama may have escaped from the nightmare
apartment block but quickly finds out that he merely stepped into a larger
picture. He is swiftly sent undercover into a crime syndicate in order to uncover
corruption that runs through the police force. After serving a stint in prison
to create a new identity, Rama finds himself getting close to the crime boss’
son, whose brash attitude eventually sparks a flurry of gang violence between
the local crime families.
Like many of the best sequels, “The Raid 2” sets itself apart
by not repeating the formula of the first film. Rather than dilute the tightly
wound storytelling, the widened story scope allows Evans greater freedom to lay
out his plan and then unleash it in a torrent of impeccably choreographed
action. If the original “Raid” succeeded because of its fat-free simplicity,
it’s follow-up relishes in setting up the dominos with a fleshed out story and
then toppling them down one by one.
Rama, a hero with only the barest of character qualities
last time, benefits the most from this as he worries about the safety of his
family and begins feeling the strain of diving headfirst into criminal
activity. Evans also serves up a cache of memorable villains with their own
distinguishable trait, from the arrogant Uco to silent assassins Hammer Girl
and Bat Boy. Their titular weapons don’t go to waste once the action kicks in.
The movie sidesteps the frequent action film problem of
repetitive action by creating set pieces with their own memorable qualities.
Escalation in the action is another factor as the action continuously tops
itself with each consecutive sequence. What sets this film apart from others in
the genre is Evan’s camerawork that captures and tracks every punch and kick
with smooth gliding motions.
The climatic kitchen duel is an exquisite example of how to
build tension and dramatic investment through action rather than simply create
noise. This isn’t a film that holds back on the violence either. Characters,
for the most part, aren’t clean-cut invulnerable supermen as they take and dish
out brutal punishment, and the squeamish are advised to stay away from this
one.
But there’s a certain beauty to the action that offsets its
rough edge. The immaculately clean environments of the rich gangsters serve as
a contrast to the grungy settings that their clashes play out in, and the harsh
blows are filmed with such fluid grace that it’s hard to look away. “The Raid
2” may leave you battered and bruised once it’s finished, but you’ll also exit
in a rush of delirious adrenaline that won’t soon go away.
No comments:
Post a Comment