The Raid 2 Berandal

I've seen it. First one is better. The first is a simplistic nonstop action film, the sequel tries to be some Indonesian Godfather in a good way. The pacing though feels really off and the story parts drag on and felt like some cheap student film to be honest. There is definitely great action sequences in this, especially the car chase, but nothing beats the brothers vs Mad Dog from the first. I did thought the last battle with The Assassin was lacking compared to Mad Dog's fight which was more of a novelty I guess. Overall decent, but I was hoping for more, after those glowing "best action film ever" reviews from Sundance.

 

After second watch...

I felt the movie was better the moment you get to the prison yard fight. Personally I was surprised at how different and fresh this movie felt even though you are pretty much only watching for the action. My only complaint is that the middle act felt a bit too drawn out. There is so much action though, goddamn.

I liked the Bolivian Army Ending but how are they going to continue the series with Rama?

We know at the end the Yakuza still pretty intact. The third movie could be about them taking over Jakarta.  So maybe they'll use another main character and leave Rama's destiny up to imagination? Or will they show a complex plot of how he was saved? Because he was pretty much fucked at the end. Though I liked that ending I was pissed of they didn't deal with the corrupt police officers which was the entire reason Rama went undercover to begin with. I thought the whole point was to discover dirty cops dealing with the mob but that was forgotten for a gang war movie so that made Rama going undercover basically pointless.

The Raid Redemption

It is a brilliant Indonesian action movie. A similar plot to the new Dredd movie- fighting way up a huge building to fight a big boss. Fighting coreography (Pencak Silat style) is as always immaculate. Every other time the cops have fist fight it's because they've run out of ammo which is made very obvious. 

The Raid (Serbuan Maut)

The last  2 vs 1 fight is ridiculous. The Duo (Iko Uwais and Donny Alamsyah) just tanked too much that the fighting even stay interesting past the first two minutes. They are not supposed to be superhuman, but they look like they are Superman and Jet Li combined. Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian) really lived up to his name, guy just would not stop, he gets tossed around like a ragdoll then is back in your face seconds later. I like it when MD kills the commander guy because MD is a psychopath who prefers beating people to death than shooting them. 

Even fighting for life, human body have some limits not so far down the road. A few hard punchs or kicks that hit put you down no matter who you are. More so when guys are the same weight class more or less. Its not boxing gloves I am talking about. Its a fist made of bone that crashes at high speed against your defenseless skull. Not that the movie is meant to be realistic anyway, since everyone involved in the story just so happens to be a martial arts master.

Afgan - Pencari jalanMu

A somewhat religious song about people who have changed their way of life for better. I like the wall and white papers analogy. I was moved by these people featured on the video clip.

• Andhu. M, ex thug, now milk deliverer.
• Ferry. G, ex transsexual prostitute, now pastry maker
• Fajar. B, ex drug addicts, teacher of the Koran