{"id":18129,"date":"2014-08-04T10:47:50","date_gmt":"2014-08-04T14:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/?p=18129"},"modified":"2015-12-19T10:57:53","modified_gmt":"2015-12-19T15:57:53","slug":"the-raid-2-berandal-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cinema-crazed.com\/blog\/2014\/08\/04\/the-raid-2-berandal-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"The Raid 2: Berandal (2014)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"23SUBRAID1-master675\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Way too often have I invested time in a martial arts film only to find the sequel is pretty much just a repeat of the same beats from the original. Thankfully \u201cThe Raid 2\u201d is a wonderful and seamless extension of the original Gareth Evans\u2019 crime thriller. Evans returns to deliver what is now a much more complex narrative based around deception, the mafia, and a very elaborate revenge ploy that promises to bring down even the most valiant heroes in the story. Evans manages a very fluid timeline that makes \u201cThe Raid 2\u201d a very good chaser for the powerful first action entry. Immediately after the massive raid in the first film, we find out that things never quite worked out too well for hero Rama.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

After his surviving partner is hauled off, Rama is saddened to learn his brother was murdered by aspiring gangster Bejo. To make things worse, his assumption that he\u2019d destroyed his corrupt comrades from his police force was wrong, as they\u2019re all still very safe and still evading the law. Angered and distraught by his struggles being in vain, the head of the police force enlists Rama for an underground enforcement group devoted to bringing down corrupt police officers. Rama is basically left with no choice, as the police chief insists that he and his family will be hunted down when the local syndicate learn that he was not only a part of the original raid, but also murdered a lot of their important men. Rama agrees to beat up a local politician\u2019s son, which lands him in jail for two years, giving him the opportunity to gain the trust of a crime boss\u2019s son Uco.<\/p>\n

After a massive riot allows him to earn his allegiance, Rama begins working for Uco and his father Bangun. Rama then learns Uco is eager to gain a role as the head of Bangun\u2019s empire, and begins devising a plan to start a war between his family, and the Japanese through a series of assassinations and incidents. At two and a half hours, \u201cThe Raid 2\u201d definitely offers a unique and often compelling crime thriller along with a series of really fantastic plot twists. Though the centerpiece of \u201cThe Raid 2\u201d is the flawless martial arts fights, director Evans doesn\u2019t just stop there. He unfolds a very elaborate story, while also focusing heavily on character motives and the tragic sub-plot between son Uco\u2019s efforts to be taken seriously by dad Bangun.<\/p>\n

Director Evans could easily have just doled out a retread with Rama being forced in to another confined setting, but Rama\u2019s mission is much more dire and bleak. Anyone that whined about the original just being a stream of fight scenes will be surprised to see that Evans follows up with a narrative heavy sequel. This lends much more importance and urgency to the fight scenes, as well as Rama\u2019s journey to do whatever he can to ensure the safety of his wife and son. Evans places greater emphases on the fight scenes this time, delivering very clever battles, along with brilliant direction that sucks us in to every blow and stab wound. From the prison riot, to Rama\u2019s rumble in a speeding car, Evans\u2019 direction is brilliant. \u201cThe Raid 2\u201d is a fantastic follow up that opens up the original film\u2019s narrative while standing on its own as a unique and brilliant action entry.<\/p>\n