THE RAID — REDEMPTION (2011)
March 18th, 2012 by Mr. C
Director: Gareth Evans
Stars: Iko Uwais,Joe Taslim,Donny Alamsyah,Yayan Ruhian,Pierre Gruno,Tegar Setrya,Ray Sahetapy
Genre: modern action
“Fatality” – “Finish him!” – “aDamn” – “Yeaaah” as well as other rebel yells, and hand clapping filled the theater at Cinema Village last Wednesday with the screening of Indonesian film, THE RAID with the director – Gareth Evans in tow for a quick Q&A after the film! Thank you Fangoria for making this a free event for us action freaks! We came in strong with our own little Paul Bunyon-lumberjack film gang including the three headed Planet Chocko, Unseen Films with DB and Mondo Curry, and the filipino Kwai Chang Caine – The Wandering Asian. We even met Rufus from cineAWESOME – the rad dudes that hosted the 2012 Korean Blogathon. It was a nice celebratory way to soak in this much anticipated 2nd cinematic, martial art effort from this director. Gareth Evans’ first film – MERANTAU – which featured the debut of Iko Uwais who wonderfully displayed the Indonesian fighting arts of Pencak Silat in a more traditional way. Iko would return again in The Raid to showcase Silat in a non traditional, no nonsense short range combat filled movements which instituted quick immobilizing strikes with throws, takedowns, and joint locks added to the violent menu. You will also see one of the specialties of Silat — weapons especially the 1001 ways to slice, dice, and ginsu an opponent going straight towards the vitals to incapacitate and add to the kill list! Suffice to say, the martial arts choreography, the action, the stunts were R-A-W, gruesome, and unique which made it all the much more fun as manifested through with the audience reactions at Cinema Village! The bad ass villain in the story played by the character, Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian – actor not the character) was also in Merantau. Yayan was in that off the chain fight scene in the elevator for all those that watched it. Yayan Ruhian (Mad Dog) came back again in The Raid as a bad azz, diminutive mofo! Donnie Yen, you better watch the EFFF out! I think a new sheriff is in town!
The following is just a quick rundown of the film with no spoilers whatsoever of what little plot there was anyway. The dialogue is minimal and the bodycount is high – just the way we like it! The Indonesian Swat team is called upon to Raid a low income/tenement building – home to a flip-flop wearing thug of twisted proportions & his urban puppets armed with Uzis, hammers, knives, & of course – empty handed martial art goodness! Up and down the floors they go, but who’s chasing who!? That’s all the information from the film I’m going to divulge! Go see The Raid: Redemption, y’all! We are definitely in for take 2 of this film on a massive screen! I can’t wait for this film to get released on blu-ray! I so want to see the outtakes and the behind the scenes footage!
By the way, the Linkin Park influenced (Mike Shinoda) soundtrack from the film was also a nice way to amp up the adrenaline!
(footage of the Q&A with Director: Gareth Evans – vid by chocko)
Tags: gareth evans, Iko Uwais, indonesian film, Pencak Silat
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