Raid 2
Cast: Rama (Iko Uwais), Arifin Putra (Uco), Tio Pakusodewo (Bangun), Oka Antara (Eka), Alex Abbad (Bejo), Very Tri Yuilisman (Baseball Bat man), Julie Estelle (Hammer Girl), and Yayan Ruhian (Prakoso).
The film starts off with a man on his knees begging for his life. Bejo (Alex Abbad) stands looking down at Andi (Donny Alamsyah), they are in an open field. Two of his men are digging a hole; Bejo (Alex Abbad) taking the bag off of Andi's head lectures him on ambitiousness. After his speech, gazing into the eyes of his victim, he pulls out a gun and kills the man that was undercover for the police for years, Brother of Rama, his service for the department is over, his body falls, hits the ground. The men grab him, and throw him in the hole, a dead cop, his years in deep cover is over.
After the events of the Raid a determined police officer tells Rama (Iko Uwais) sitting across from him, that corruption still infects the department, and he wants him to go deep undercover. His family and everyone he knows and loves are the past. Rama must get close to Uco (Afrin Putra) son of esteemed crime boss, Bangun (Tio Pakusodewo). control the situation by befriending the bosses son, becoming a criminal to exposes the corruption deep within. Choices, are usually what makes us unique, but in this case his life as a cop just got complicated. The man who calls for the head of corruption shoots the remaining survivors from the apartment raid. Family is everything to Rama, but he must call his wife before he goes on this mission. He must convince Uco, somehow he must survive.
The crime bosses are as follows, Bangun (Tio Pakusodewo) and his son, Uco (Arifin Putra) they hold many parts of the city, the old man is known for his presence and respect. Bejo (Alex Abbad) a hard nosed crime boss bent on taking over the city, he will become the new crime lord. Hideaki Goto (Ken'ichi Endo) a Japanese boss, his presence alone sends fear in his own hired thugs. Reza (Roy Marten) the last but not a boss to be taken lightly, his sheer ruthlessness brings men to their knees. These bosses hold parts of the city, they are feared, and each hold there place throughout Jakarta. Respect in criminal organizations are truly earned, these men are deadly will stop at nothing to take more leverage in order to take more of the city. The crime bosses are the law, judges, and cops that protect the innocent. Laws are nothing but words written on a piece of paper.
Lets continue with the film rant, shall we. The choreography in the film is truly remarkable, the Indonesian martial arts, Silat plays well in Raid 2. The perspective of the camera angles were done well. camera angles are important especially in martial arts films. Angles, point of views are what makes these films successful. The camera must tell the story, what is happening in that scene. In martial arts movies the camera must be right with the action, it tells the story, brings the action right to the audience, it plays out smooth. The angles have to show what is going on in that scene, to fast only confuses the scene. Gareth Evans makes sure his camera shots are done right. Remember the scene in the car, Rama is fighting his way out so he can escape and jump to Eka's car, which was following behind. The scenes were smooth, not choppy, the viewer understood what was happening in that action sequence.
Raid 2 is a hard hitting action that tells a story through its sequences, its important to point out why? the lead characters went to hell and back with the vigorous fight scenes. The scenes were hard because the actors hit each other for real. The importance of telling the viewers that the actors hit each other without holding back, is priceless. In fact the actors had to slow down in order for the camera to capture the vigorous fight sequences. Evans told his story through the eyes of his lead character Rama (Iko Uwais), a perfect continuation to a compelling story that brings us up to date with the life of an undercover cop.
Raid 2 is beautiful in so many different ways, like the story telling through the camera's point of view. The scenes were not difficult to see, you could understand the environment around the actors, a sense of placement is never lost. I could bring up many films that has lost the surroundings while the camera tries to point out what is happening in the fight scene. Raid 2 takes you in by following Rama through his never ending challenges, which is the best part of this gem of a film. Martial arts films sometimes are not taken seriously because of the intense action within the story. Movies with action if done well will take you to the story head-on. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Enter the Dragon (1973), The Game of Death (1978), The Legend of Drunken Master (1994), and the Flying Swords of Dragon Gate (2011), examples of classic martial arts films.
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