No love for this film?

This is just about my favourite film of the year thus far. Excellent action scenes, breathtaking fights that no Welshman has a right mastering, and wonderful direction. This is the film that will set Gareth Evans on the path to directing the next set of Batman films, IMO.

No love, sorry.

I wanted to like the film.
It reps lots of things I dig about indie grindhouse goodness.
But, after a while I found the action repetitive.
Overall, it's a great production.
But I wanted a little more than extra punching in the third act.
I guess one of the villains is already been cast in an American film.

E.D.

Without a doubt, the best hand to hand combat action flick I've EVER seen. The fight choreography is at the top of its league and raised to bar like none other. One of my favorites of this year for sure.

Lots of love coming from here, my kind of movie. I enjoyed this one, especially the hand-to hand combat although it did leave me pining for some Tony Jaa - preference I guess. I was also amazed to realize upon reading Andrew's post above that this was directed by a Welshman. Good stuff.

Love, although agreed with E.D. on the third act not being able to step things up enough.

For a action film this was top notch for me.  Okay the stories not taxing on the brain but for non stop action you can't go wrong.  Very enjoyable.

I thought this was fantastic. Can't wait for the next one.

~Zack~

The Raid - Redemption is actually the title, right?

Absolutely AMAZING flick!  The hand to hand combat is unreal.  Actually, all the fighting, guns, machetes, you name it, all top notch.  The attention to detail is also top notch, in terms of bullet effects, people's reactions to being hit, shot, stabbed, etc.

Amazing how similar Dredd 3D was to this, but IMO, this thing was a gazillion times better.

Peeps can say it's mindless nonstop action and the plot is cheese and cliche, but for me, at least, it always comes down to how it's handled, how it's shot, how it looks, and most importantly, how it comes off, and this thing delivered in spades.

I've been a hand to hand combat film fan since I was a kid, and I can't give the actors and choreography enough kudos for what they accomplished.  If you pay attention and watch closely, it really appears that these guys are fighting for their lives. There are numerous examples of someone being knocked down or back and swinging out with a fist or kick that completely misses, but still keeps the other guy away, so he can regain his footing, etc.  Just amazing how these fights were choreographed.

Fo me, the story even worked for what it was.  All the characters worked and the boss was evil and menacing, and his henchman, "Mad Dog" was just a downright beast.  Even the finale held power for me and was an effective way to end this nonstop bloodbath.

One final note - obviously, no one could take the kind of punishment most of these characters did - especially the unreal and amazing final battle between the 2 brothers and Mad Dog, but who cares.  That's what action films are all about.  Same with horror, or any genre, really.  It's film.  It's fantasy.  Rules are thrown out the window and reality does not reign.

Easily, one of the very best action films I've ever seen.

Grade - A+

Here is the new trailer for The Raid 2- http://twitchfilm.com/2013/11/indonesian-teaser-premiere-for-the-raid-2-berandal-get-your-first-taste-of-the-action-now.html

Can. Not. Wait.

~Zack~

Quoted from Dreamscale The Raid - Redemption is actually the title, right? Absolutely AMAZING flick!  The hand to hand combat is unreal.  Actually, all the fighting, guns, machetes, you name it, all top notch.  The attention to detail is also top notch, in terms of bullet effects, people's reactions to being hit, shot, stabbed, etc. Amazing how similar Dredd 3D was to this, but IMO, this thing was a gazillion times better. Peeps can say it's mindless nonstop action and the plot is cheese and cliche, but for me, at least, it always comes down to how it's handled, how it's shot, how it looks, and most importantly, how it comes off, and this thing delivered in spades. I've been a hand to hand combat film fan since I was a kid, and I can't give the actors and choreography enough kudos for what they accomplished.  If you pay attention and watch closely, it really appears that these guys are fighting for their lives. There are numerous examples of someone being knocked down or back and swinging out with a fist or kick that completely misses, but still keeps the other guy away, so he can regain his footing, etc.  Just amazing how these fights were choreographed. Fo me, the story even worked for what it was.  All the characters worked and the boss was evil and menacing, and his henchman, "Mad Dog" was just a downright beast.  Even the finale held power for me and was an effective way to end this nonstop bloodbath. One final note - obviously, no one could take the kind of punishment most of these characters did - especially the unreal and amazing final battle between the 2 brothers and Mad Dog, but who cares.  That's what action films are all about.  Same with horror, or any genre, really.  It's film.  It's fantasy.  Rules are thrown out the window and reality does not reign. Easily, one of the very best action films I've ever seen. Grade - A+

Jeff, did we actually just finally agree on a movie? Incredible!

And the sequel looks, unbelievably, like they're stepping up a a couple of notches.



Gareth Evans is one to watch. And it's a shame he won't be the next man to direct Batman on screen, but I really wouldn't be surprised if he is the next man to direct a standalone Batman film. Can you imagine fight scenes of this nature in a Batman film with a Nolan strength script.

Yes, Andrew, we are in complete agreement.

Garreth Evans was behind the 1 bright spot on VHS 2, as well, actually his episode was incredible, but teh rest of VHS2 was crap.

Quoted from Dreamscale Yes, Andrew, we are in complete agreement. Garreth Evans was behind the 1 bright spot on VHS 2, as well, actually his episode was incredible, but teh rest of VHS2 was crap.

Agreed. I watched VHS2 just for his segment and it was amazing.

~Zack~

Note the differences in "Total Gross/Theaters" between #37 'V/H/S' and #12 'V/H/S 2'.
http://boxofficemojo.com/studio/chart/?yr=&view=company&view2=allmovies&studio=magnolia.htm&sort=open&order=DESC&p=.htm

Hope the producers didn't spend much on total budget (production+promotion.)

Maybe like 'Hobo With A Shotgun' and 'The Human Centipede' they'll sell more in as DVDs and VOD.



Having seen TR:R's fight sequences, which are almost non-stop, I now no longer care for the way most directors for U.S. style action films shoot their scenes, which is to jam that camera up in the scene - and I can't tell WTH is really happening.
I don't want to be part of the action, which is what I'm guessing the intent is.

Just watched 'Elysium' the other month - camera's jammed all up in their business. I can't hardly tell exactly WTH's happening.

I don't like my action "implied" or "suggested."
Irriates me.

I want to appreciate the fight choreography.

The only sorta recent fight sequence I've enjoyed were those in the film 'Troy' (not a great story/film itself), especially the one between Achilles and Hector.

I also think that as writers we should try harder with our action sequences. Personally, I like to write in every move.

Quoted from RayW Having seen TR:R's fight sequences, which are almost non-stop, I now no longer care for the way most directors for U.S. style action films shoot their scenes, which is to jam that camera up in the scene - and I can't tell WTH is really happening. I don't want to be part of the action, which is what I'm guessing the intent is.

I thought Jack Reacher was an interesting example of the good and bad when modern US action films try to do real action scenes instead of shoving a handheld camera up the actors' nostrils.

Quoted from Heretic I thought Jack Reacher was an interesting example of the good and bad when modern US action films try to do real action scenes instead of shoving a handheld camera up the actors' nostrils.

Wait a minute. Are you saying Jack Reacher is a good OR bad example? Or both. I've read that several times and can't work it out.

I think it's pretty good. Sure, it's not Raid good, but The Raid (original title, I hate the tacky addition of 'Redemption' so refuse to use it) is exceptional. Clearly the benchmark going forward.

But it's silly, Ray, to blanket compare everything against that standard and blanket rubbish "most" Hollywood action scenes/fight choreography.

Okay.  :)

Well I think there are two sides to it. I thought Jack Reacher was great, but was an example of both the benefits and the downsides of such an approach. The benefit is that it feels like you're actually watching an action movie. The downside is that, in more recent years, the US has cast action stars as actors first, athletes second -- so even though Tom Cruise is a pretty amazing dude, the fights are never really gonna feel like they should. The climactic fight scene in Jack Reacher, for example, just wasn't up to snuff. And for the record, Tom Cruise is more or less the best of the American action stars, in my opinion, so maybe he's not the perfect example -- I might be thinking more of like, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ryan Reynolds, Gerard Butler, Angelina Jolie, Colin Farrell, Jeremy Renner, etc.

Not that I think every action movie needs to have a great fighter as its star. But I do think that we've gotten a little too accepting with our "action" stars. And it's a shame that great fighters like Scott Adkins languish in films that are otherwise unwatchably bad, while clowns like Channing Tatum star in big summer action movies:



But that's just a shift in cultural tastes, too. Our aesthetic interest in intensity is much too "evolved" to appreciate something as basic as painstakingly choreographed displays of stunning athleticism...

Quoted from Heretic Well I think there are two sides to it. I thought Jack Reacher was great, but was an example of both the benefits and the downsides of such an approach. The benefit is that it feels like you're actually watching an action movie. The downside is that, in more recent years, the US has cast action stars as actors first, athletes second -- so even though Tom Cruise is a pretty amazing dude, the fights are never really gonna feel like they should. The climactic fight scene in Jack Reacher, for example, just wasn't up to snuff. And for the record, Tom Cruise is more or less the best of the American action stars, in my opinion, so maybe he's not the perfect example -- I might be thinking more of like, Zoe Saldana, Channing Tatum, Ryan Reynolds, Gerard Butler, Angelina Jolie, Colin Farrell, Jeremy Renner, etc. Not that I think every action movie needs to have a great fighter as its star. But I do think that we've gotten a little too accepting with our "action" stars. And it's a shame that great fighters like Scott Adkins languish in films that are otherwise unwatchably bad, while clowns like Channing Tatum star in big summer action movies: But that's just a shift in cultural tastes, too. Our aesthetic interest in intensity is much too "evolved" to appreciate something as basic as painstakingly choreographed displays of stunning athleticism...

I get ya.

Well, even still, there's an awful lot of work that goes in to choreographing these scenes. From experience on Guardians, the actors do a lot of work with highly skilled stunt crew, and an awful lot of the reason the camera jumps around so much is to bring the realism in with stunt doubles, but still creating the impression the actor is delivering the blows.

Good point re: proper stunt/action guys, but yeah, agreed, it's largely down to the commercial side. It's hard for those types of guys to get box office cred when there's little chance to showcase when in low budget, poorly written films. The Raid, of course, benefits from being low key, low budget but directed by an extremely talented director with a no doubt fantastic crew to bring it alive.

I definitely think Cruise is a great embodiment of trying to do it the right way and as his escapades in Dubai show, he's prepared to go the extra mile.

Bourne Ultimatume had some great action/fight scenes - but again, that's with a very talented director, who I understand is very precise in what he wants.

I was very impressed with Cruise in Jack Reacher.  His fighting skills looked great.

I was also very impressed with Gerard Butler in Olympus has Fallen.  He totally rocked his part and totally looked the part.

I too cannot stand watching super fast edited garbage fights.  The first Bourne was so good in the hand to hand combat that Matt Damon did, but for me, the rest have been unwatchable, as they completely changed the look and editing.

Other that The Raid: Redemption (sorry Andrew, but I have to call the movie by it's actual name), I think the very best hand to hand combat displayed in any movie would be Safe with Jason Stathom - the attention to detail there was fantastic!

Decided to check this out after the rave tweets circulating around the internet for the sequel. http://i.imgur.com/cTV5OXF.jpg

And yeah, basically agree with everything said here. Some fantastic choreography. It actually felt like these dudes were beating the living shit out of each other. There's this one specific 10 second sequence when Mad Dog fights the brothers where I could've swore a back was broken. Solid stuff, can't wait for the sequel.