The Raid: Redemption

Don't blame me for the three stars. I guess I really wanted more from the film because even though the director and choreographer understand what can be squeezed out of the actors (and that it definitely exceeds every conceivable limit of what we've seen so far), the plot, on the mental level of an arcade, just slips into a painful stereotype in the second half and just repeats what we've seen before. In addition, the final fight also loses a lot of its attractiveness, so if I want to contemplate this in the pub I'll take a big sip at the memory of the trick with the fridge, but the rest will be like that cheap catchphrase "...you know how that guy is going to beat up the other guy, right?" This likely says a lot about the fact that I'd regularly suffer through it a second time; in fact, I kind of envy those who are giving it perfect reviews. :) (05/29/2012)

An assault of pure physicality that more than anything else harms its own aura. With the label "action spectacle of the year" or even the decade, the expectation automatically arises that something more will emerge from The Raid: Redemption than just a bloody brawl. It doesn't – and it's not necessary. In the catalog of Indonesian fatalities, the boiling adrenaline was most heightened by seemingly inconspicuous but deadly Mad Dog Yayan Ruhian. His main performance, in which he gradually transitions from rubber jumps, twists, and turns to gathering the last remnants of strength for the hardest blow, literally takes your breath away. (12/18/2014)

A film that has become a cult classic over the years. When thinking about the best in the action genre of the 21st century, The Raid: Redemption is the first to come to mind. I never would have expected this from an Indonesian film, but it's true. Americans should take notes from this approach. Perhaps a big part of this is Iko Uwais, whose charismatic presence convinced me of his role, though the same can be said for the others, particularly "Mad Dog" played by Yayan Ruhian, who will remain etched in my memory for a long time. It’s incredible how a simple premise (a building overrun by thugs) can be so engaging; normally, I might criticize this, but in this case, it surprisingly didn’t bother me. The film relies heavily on hand-to-hand combat; sure, there are shootouts, but machetes, various sharp objects of all kinds, and bare hands take center stage. Such choreography is rare elsewhere; the camera maintains a steady perspective, so you truly appreciate the action on screen (unlike much of the Western competition, where everything shakes, and you get nothing from it). The R rating is worth noting; it's not for the faint of heart. The ending is also well-built up. I have no complaints. I give it 91%. (10/28/2019)

I must say, I was surprised by how much is still possible to do in an action film. This is really a slaughterfest. One apartment building and a solid group of people who want to kick some ass. There's shooting going on, but primarily hands and feet are being used. These are scenes that will absolutely get you, and you'll be surprised by how gripping they are. You don't see this type of carnage every day. It's a brawl from start to finish, and moreover, it looks incredibly realistic. (07/04/2014)

It's as if Jackie Chan had swapped humour for brutality and in a film directed by John Woo, who got tired of guns. I enjoy straightforward action movies and The Raid is a perfect example of how they should look like. The film gets right down to business, everything feels real, honest, there's no time for big plot twists, it's a completely different, blood-soaked display of acrobatics that takes your breath away. In addition, the cramped setting of corridors, staircases and small apartments invites to invent more and more ways to destroy the hordes of villains, who sometimes jump from everywhere in the style of the undead from some modern zombie flick. I'd seen the films it has inspired (Dredd, The Princess, maybe even John Wick) before The Raid, but I didn't mind it at all. (01/03/2023)