Shortly after the events of the first film, Rama goes undercover to bring
down the syndicate and expose the corruption within his police force. 

ACTION/CRIME

The Raid 2 (2014)

Written and Directed by Gareth Evans

Starring Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Tio Pakusodewo, Oka Antara,
​Alex Abbad, Yayan Ruhian, ​Cok Simbara, Roy Marten

Sequel to 2011's The Raid: Redemption

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Connor Eyzaguirre

January 14, 2015

7/10

While I did enjoy The Raid 2, I didn't find it as action-packed as the first installment. It did have a good amount of action sequences, but it was mostly a dull crime drama.

I think most of the film's lack of action stems from an overcomplicated plot, which never bodes well. There were scenes that were highly unnecessary, mostly the entire sequence with Yayan Ruhian which was only there to make you feel sorry for the guy right before they offed him. His character seemed to only be in the movie so you could say, "Hey, that's the guy from the first one."

The performances were solid, with Ikon Uwais easily falling back into the role of Rama. Arifin Putra was a great villain and I enjoyed watching his rise to power. If you enjoyed the first one, you will probably enjoy this. Just don't expect it to be strictly an action film. There's a considerably large amount of drama, but that doesn't make it bad.

Caleb Leger

December 23, 2014

9/10

The Raid 2 takes everything that made the first one work so well, and ups it in every way. The action is more insane, the violence is more brutal, and the story is more engaging. A sequel that outdoes its predecessor in every way. 

The movie plays out like a crime drama with intense action scenes since the storyline involves the main character going undercover. This makes for a stronger and more engaging plot to go along with the awesome action scenes.  The performers all do great in their roles. Ikon Uwais, who plays Rama, easily falls back into character. It was nice to see Yayan Ruhian, who played Mad Dog in the previous film, return as a completely different character. The action scenes were also a major improvement from the already impressive ones of the previous film. They were exciting to watch and choreographed extremely well.

If you were a fan of the original film, you'll love this one. It improves on everything that made the first one work to give the audience an even stronger film. Action films haven't been this fun in a while.