“One of the best Hong Kong that wasn’t made by Hong Kong”

Dir: Gareth Evans
Prod: Nate Bolotin
Writ: Gareth Evans
Cast: Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Tio Pakusadewo, Oka Antara, Alex Abbad, Julie Estelle

The Raid 2 is the sequel to one of the most influential action films, The Raid: Redemption, and it stands as one of the best martial arts movies of all time. Despite the movie’s 150-minute runtime, it feels like only 90 minutes because the pacing is so tight and fast—it just flies by.

Let’s talk about the story: Rama goes undercover to infiltrate a criminal gang and spy on them. The plot is essentially a mix of Infernal Affairs, The Godfather, The Departed, and the 2012 game Sleeping Dogs. Combine those influences, and boom, you have The Raid 2.

So, what makes this an improvement over the first Raid? It’s simple: it’s bigger, it’s better, and it introduces colorful characters like Hammer Girl and the man who uses a baseball bat to fight. There’s also Prakoso, who is like Mad Dog resurrected—he’s just as brutal, but more humanized. The fight scenes are brutal, gory, and bone-crunchingly intense, with martial arts that every action junkie dreams of.

As for flaws, some might find the story a bit cliché. But if you’re looking for a full-blown Infernal Affairs or The Departed with silat martial arts and intense fight scenes, this movie will work for you. For me, it’s one of the best action movies out there. My rating: A-he man who uses his baseball bat to fight, also Prakoso who like Mad Dog being resurrect but he’s more humanize compared to Mad Dog. The fight scene itself is brutal, gory, and bone-breaking crunching martial arts that every action junkie dreams of.
As of the flaw well the story might be cliché for some but if you looking for a full blown Infernal Affairs or The Departed but filled with silat and fight scene this movie will be work for you and for me it’s one of the best action movies out there. My rating: A-