THE RAID 2: BERANDAL (2014)

Written, Directed & Edited By: Gareth Evans 
Cinematography By: Matt Flannery & Dimas Imam Subhono 
Music By: Aria Prayogi, Joseph Trapenese & Fajar Yuskemal 
Fight Choregraphy By: Iwo Uwais & Yayan Ruhain 

Cast: Iwo Uwais, Julie Estelle, Yayan Ruhain, Arifin Putra, Donny Alamsyah, Oka Antara, Alex Abbad, Tio Pakusodewo, Very Tri Yulisman


He thought it was over. After fighting his way out of a building filled with gangsters and madmen - a fight that left the bodies of police and gangsters alike piled in the halls - rookie Jakarta cop Rama thought it was done and he could resume a normal life. He couldn't have been more wrong. Formidable though they may have been, Rama's opponents in that fateful building were nothing more than small fish swimming in a pond much larger than he ever dreamed possible. And his triumph over the small fry has attracted the attention of the predators farther up the food chain. His family at risk, Rama has only one choice to protect his infant son and wife: He must go undercover to enter the criminal underworld himself and climb through the hierarchy of competing forces until it leads him to the corrupt politicians and police pulling the strings at the top of the heap. And so Rama begins a new odyssey of violence, a journey that will force him to set aside his own life and history and take on ...

While this film picks up almost immediately after the first film ends. Takes place two hours after first film ended and then two years later. In it's own opening minutes it sets up it's perimeters by showcasing it's beautiful framing and composition with an over the top scene of violence that sets out a warning that if that was too much for you. You ain't seen nothing yet and it's best you leave right now.

As this film seem to be the epitome of a sequel more action bigger action sequences and more locations.

Not only more hand to hand combat but various weapons usually blunt objects though there are some gunfights and a car jade scenes or two.

Just know thy everything here is in excess and over the top. Slow motion leading up to jaw dropping brutally violent action scenes. Shots that seem like they would seem more in line with a more artful film. Put on the middle of an action sequence.

While his film has more of a story then the first film. I still like the first film a little more as that one not only took me for surprise, but it was a little more simple ad felt like a video game. This film is more surprising or it's level of violence. It is still a fun ride. It just feels different as it adds a reason for all of the action by setting it up in an THE DEPARTED like story-line.

The film feels long and like it could be shortened by maybe 20 minutes. It is still a masterpiece that sets a bar for action films.

All the punches and kicks to the body of the actors were real. Iko Uwais and the other fighters had to learn how to control their speed and strength so that it would look real on the camera.

Julie Estelle had zero background in martial arts and she had to learn Silat from basic for 6 months before she started shooting her fight scenes.

Iwo Uwais had training together with the other fighters for 6 months, so that they would meet everyday and build that mutual trust before shooting the fight scenes, so that when one of them missed, they wouldn't want to punch back harder.

The audience I saw it with were shocked throughout and normally I don't enjoy audible reactions to films until the end not during it. I have to say that what they expressed is exactly what I felt internally while watching it.

There is the return of Yayan Ruhain, a fan favorite from the original in a different role (He is also both films Co-fight choreographer) who seems to play a pivotal role, but feels more of a chance for him to show how bad ass he is on screen. As his role serves a certain purpose though doesn't seem entirely necessary. Except to give star Iko Uwais a break.

Even his introduction scene invokes him as an almost unstoppable assassin with a machete. While he hit a his prey those who try to stop him barely make a mark as he just keeps moving forward never swaying his speed no matter how fast his victim runs he always matters to catch up.

This is a crazy though strangely composed film from start to finish. The ante is upped by new characters trained assassins who all get a scene or to show off their skills and can tell will become cult favorite characters for skills and brutality (Hammer girl and baseball boy) this film almost reminded me of Steven Seagal believe me they are a lot tougher it hair seemed like to me In his films he made more of a display of breaking limbs of his opponents in his fights onscreen like it was his trademark just as this film has the same tendency only a lot worse. Especially when it comes to legs.

Gareth Evans with this series of films and his co-directed short entry for the film S-VHS. Has proved to be an immense talent who brings a visual excitement to his movies and filmmaking. That I hope continues his victory lap. As this is a guy who deserves a Hollywood movie and or his instincts to be trusted by studios to deliver whatever vision he has for whatever projects he picks. Originally, Berandal was written before THE RAID: REDEMPTION. When funding fell through for Berandal, Gareth Evans decided to do a film that required a lower budget that would eventually become the first movie.

The Director spent 6 weeks designing the final fight

The final epic kitchen fight scene took 10 days to film and contains 196 shots and is a favorite of the director. According to an Iko Uwais interview with Variety, one of the key differences between fighting on- and off-camera is that he can't show weakness while battling in a ring, but on camera he must convey his physical reaction to the punches, kicks and blows.

Now the unfortunate state of affairs is that this film didn't exactly set the box office ablaze here in the United States. Though positively reviewed it seems more like a film you hear about through word of mouth or if you were a fan of the first film. I can see this film being a hit on VOD and DVD finding it's audience a little lay but appreciated. Part of the problem in my eyes is that the film was barely advertised probably as it is foreign it is hard to sell in the United states as a majority of audiences seem to stay away from subtitled films.

According to director if The Raid 2 is two hours after The Raid finished, The Raid 3 will starts three hours before The Raid 2 finishes.

Now the original film in what looks to be a series of films will be remade and I can see why. Though I doubt it will be as good even of you remake it like how they did with LET ME IN where it is a shot for shot remake only a different cast, a bit more CGI and more suggestion then straight out graphic. Each film has it's own soul and personality as well as a vision and passion that went into it originally. No matter how petty the film might seem and while you can certainly copy some elements. You can't exactly clone a film. It will lack something and already have a backlash from the fans of the original. Even if the original director comes back. He is basically trying to remember repeating himself only with new elements and people. The other problem is that outer then being in another language that is the only thing holding back the audience as a studio wants to remake it shows. It was certainly good enough to garner interests. So it feels a waste to remake when you could just promote it in it's original language to an audience. I mean these original language films are discovered by audiences eventually. They just need time and the right promotion. Maybe that is a Utopia dream and makes very little business sense.

This is a tough film to take. You don't have the particular stomach or this. As in some shots it feels like the camera lingers a little too long in the aftermath of violence. This is a film where the camera never shoes away not wants to leave much to your imagination as far as visuals.

Most actions and movements in the films story feel more overblown and are treated as huge historic moments almost.

Though it has a certain infectious energy. Though while it has a clear ending there have been grumbling and suggestions of another sequel in the works. It will have to work hard to really surprise it's audience again even if it doesn't it has set a certain level that even of it stay within it’s wavelengths the audience will be pleased.

Like THE ROAD WARRIOR before it this film sets up a whole new game and strategy for not only it's franchise, but up's the level for future action films to aspire to. As this is one of the greatest Action films of all time

You can also check out fellow CineFiles Eric Cohen's review here.

http://thisisinfamous.com/cinefiles-eric-cohen-reviews-raid-2-berandal/

And while you are there feel free to explore the site and it's articles. If you like follow the page as that is also where you can catch the latest CineFiles and Unfinished Business episodes.

 Grade: B+