Rama (Iko Uwais) is back! Not sure that he wants to be back. None the less, he is back! Our hero is yet again thrown back into a situation he doesn't necessarily want to be involved with. And because of this we are given 2 hours and 45 minutes of ass-kicking goodness. And I truly mean that. This movie doesn't slow down to breathe very often. But when it does, it's just as good as the fighting. I'll get to that soon enough.
As like the first film. This film follows Rama as he kicks, punches, dodges, maims, kills, and survives an environment he is new to. The first film being a apartment complex overrun with thugs and criminals. This time he is undercover trying to take down a mob from the inside. Now I should talk about the story at this point. But I'm not. I want to talk about the fighting. Cause really. That more or less the reason we all want to see this movie. And I think that Garth Evans knows this too. Because he has really amped up the fights in this one. They are bigger and badder for sure. But how much is something to really be seen. These fight scenes border on epic. Massive really. And at the same time, done quite beautifully. The choreography is astounding. And you can see how Garth is growing in this genre. The amount of action in each scene is something to watch in awe of. Albeit the violence is very extreme. Weak stomach? Might be much for you then. For others. Dig in. You're in for a treat. Just wait til you meet Hammer Girl. As far as I am concerned, the first film pales in comparison to this. The camera views alone are spectacular!
The acting is another area that has been improved on. While the first had characters that were very forgetful. Rama pounding thugs to a bloody pulp. This movie creates something more. Maybe it's a better choice of actors? But we really want to follow these characters. It also helps that they aren't disposed of once we see them. Something that happened quite often in the first movie. Even the main actor. First time around we just wanted him to kick some ass. Now we want to see him continue forth and survive (and kick more ass of course.).
And this leads me to the story.
While the first film had a rather simplistic story. This one is much more complex. Between the fights we are given a very intelligent continuing story from the first. Taking place almost immediately after the events of the first movie, our hero is getting involved in something more challenging. Being undercover for one of the most ruthless mobs. But, although the story does follow Rama, it also follows Uco (Arifin Putra), the son of one of the biggest mob bosses. And with this we are given both views of the mob family. We witness Rama's struggles to infiltrate, and Uco's steps towards his fathers seat in the hierarchy within the mob. On top of them we get cops, corrupt cops, other undercover cops, other mob bosses, assassins, you name it. And with those addition characters brings the movie to a new level. More intelligent and engrossing.
And between the fights, and the story, Garth Evans carries both with almost ease.
And I say "almost" for one reason. Yayan Ruhian. When you see him on screen. You will instantly think Mad Dog from the the first film. Same actor. Same look. Same fighting skills. Different character. And this is truly my only beef. He's so the same that you think to yourself. "How did he survive?" But it's not him. And how I agree that, if I was making a martial arts movie, I would have him in it. I'd at least make him different in some way. Not to confuse/draw the viewer into thinking something else.
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| Really?!? Mad Dog? You're back? |
Recommendation : If you loved the first film. Then you owe yourself to see this one. It's grander on all scales. The story, the fight scenes, the acting. All much improved from the first. And really, the The Raid : Redemption was amazing. This is just that much better! Now 2-3 years for the next installment? C'mon!
4.5 out of 5 (Would be perfect except for Yayan coming back from the dead.)
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