On Blu Ray and DVD - "The Raid: Redemption" - Gritty, brutal and bloody as all hell- martial arts and asian cinema fans definitely need to check this out. Twenty SWAT team members infiltrate a thirty story high-rise determined to take down a ruthless crime lord, only to find themselves outnumbered and surrounded by an army of thugs, completely cut off from outside help and desperate to stay alive. Most of the little logistical problems I came up with as the story opened up were alleviated by film's end. Expect several elaborate and well-choreographed martial arts fight scenes (showcasing the Indonesian Martial art form known as Silat) , a few extended shootouts and knife fights capped off with a couple of big twists in the third act- the proceedings are competently filmed and the story conveys a fair amount of tension.
Iko Uwais (Action Film fans should get used to his name) stars as "The Rookie" character, thrust into a leadership role and responsible for guiding the dwindling survivors in an attempt at escape. Dude's got a fair amount of presence and seems like a solid actor- there's no reason we shouldn't be seeing more of him in future action films. There's one helluva tough little henchman known as "Mad Dog" (played by professional Silat instructor Yayan Ruhian) that should prove to steal the movie outright with this crazy moves and endless energy.
There's very little CGI and absolutely no "wire-fu" to speak of here- it's a stunt-heavy, straight-forward action film that should please fans of the genre. There's a sequel and an Americanized remake on the way so those interested should go ahead and check it out before it gets watered down.
Recommended
8.5 out of 10
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