The Raid 2

*****
Release Date: April 11th 2014

Only a short time after the first raid, Rama goes undercover with the thugs of Jakarta and plans to bring down the syndicate and uncover the corruption within his police force.

Director: Gareth Evans (The Raid, Merantau)

Starring: Iko Uwais, Julie Estelle, Yayan Ruhian, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusodewo, Alex Abbad

The Raid 2 gives you little time to breathe, as it starts off where The Raid left off. Don't expect a repeat of the first. This time round the story is more engaging, and the intensity stays regardless of the scenes holding action or not. Where the first sets out only to please the mind, this is a complexity that unravels with every scene.

Rama (Uwais), after extracting numerous gangsters and bad guys in the building we know so well, has been told by his superiors that they were merely small-fry in and even larger business, and in order for him and his family to be safe, he'll need to go undercover and take down the corrupt politicians and police involved.

Rama must become a trusted enforcer if he's to even get close to these people. He starts off in prison and tries to gain the attention of Uco (Putra), the son of a mob leader. Once on the outside, Rama realises that prison was the least of his troubles. A war is imminent, and Rama must uncover the truth before he's caught in the middle of it.

Every action set-piece in TR2 is broken down by plot enhancing scenes. Clocking over 2.5 hours, this film has more to show. We're to busy enjoying the action and chaotic violence (in The Raid) to care too much about the story. As long as Rama is kicking some ass what does it matter? Unfortunately Iko Uwais take a back seat this time round. Our attention shifts to the gangs and other characters too.

There are (plenty) of new faces that are more than a welcome sight. Evans has done well casting here. Each one has such a strong personality. It makes it hard picking out anyone in particular. Uco, the brooding son, thinks it's his rightful time to have bigger responsibilities, and start taking control of his father's business. At first he looks too innocent to play the part, but a particular scene involving karaoke shows a side that proves problematic for Rama. Bejo (Abbad) is a psychotic outsider whose unexplained limp and shades means he has something to hide. His main input is to cause rifts between the Indonesian and Japanese crime syndicates. Some absolutely crazy characters come from the appropriately named Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man. They are crones of Bejo's, and do exactly as their titles suggest.

Each shot is well though out. Cinematography and choreography are just as good as the first, if not better. Evans treats us to plenty of new sequences, the most notable a car chase, a lengthy kitchen fight, and a mass brawl in the muddy prison grounds. Sometimes the violence is so nasty it's funny.  

Overview: This is easily 2014's best action movie. Even though it's only April, all others will have trouble coming close to this. The Raid 3 was announced before 2's release in the UK. Bring it on.