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Gareth Evans stunned the action world back in 2011 with his unrelenting, action packed thriller The Raid: Redemption. So it's no surprise that he had to ante up the stakes with The Raid 2. But does it live up to the first offering or does it fall short of the mark?
The film picks up where it left after the events of the first film and our hero Rama (Iko Uwais) is looking a bit tuckered out from beating the crap out of the baddies in the tower block. He is picked up by a small team of officers lead by a man determined to weed out the crooked cops that plague the cities police force. To avoid the repercussions of his actions Rama must go deep undercover and infiltrate one of the cities leading crime syndicates, whilst trying to preserve his values.
As the story develops you see Rama get a bit frustrated with his current predicament, which almost becomes reminiscent of Leo DiCaprio's character in The Departed (2006). And while the story is nothing new, DiCaprio never quite had so many people wanting to skin his hide.
Evans elevates the style factor in The Raid 2 with some of the best cinematography I have seen in an action film. The bright neon colours are a welcome addition compared to the grey palette of of the first film. You really do feel like it is a city full of corruption and seedy criminals.
Even Iko Uwais's performance seems to be elevated compared to his slightly wooden acting in the first one, which credit has to be given to Evans for pushing his acting abilities.
The editing is point perfect and the non-linear narrative in the first act really draws you in to the point where you find yourself glued to the screen.
But how does the fight scenes compare to the first one, which set the bar for action fights the world over? I can honestly say The Raid 2 has not one, not two, but several of the best action scenes ever to grace the big screen. The fight scenes are unrelenting and brutal, with the choreography leaving you perplexed and dizzy. The choreography is so good that the almost super human moves seem like they're real. By the end of each fight I found myself on the edge of my seat having to un-tense every muscle in my body from the sheer adrenaline I was experiencing.
Not only does The Raid 2: Berandal live up to it's predecessor, but it smashed it with a round-house kick to the face. Gareth Evans is quickly becoming a hot ticket in the action scene and The Raid 2: Berandal is a worthy contender for one of the greatest action films of all time.
Rating: ★★★★★
By Matthew Trick
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