The Raid - a film by Gareth Evans

Holy crap this is awesome.

I do not know what the hell this is about. The main thing that a trailer is supposed to do tell you the story and it fails to do that.

That, apparently.

I had a chance to see it at Sundance. It was, in a few words, exceedingly well done. The characters are basic, but the actors make them memorable. The action is chaotic without being confusing, and as badass as the main character is, he's never invincible - his fight against dozens of goons makes sense (he uses the tiny corridor they're in against them) and when he fights someone at his skill level (or above it) he seems to be in legitimate danger. It was a really exceptional action film, and pretty much a blast to watch.

But did they really have to replace the score with Linkin Park? Does Sony really think the target audience is stupid teenage boys and dumb jocks?

Actually, I think the score worked pretty well. Shinoda was working with the produce behind Tron: Legacy, and his music was memorable without being overly intrusive.

Best movie I've seen this year.

fellas, The Raid now has a page. Please expand it. Thanks.

Superb film, it's out in the UK now. "Hard Boiled but in Indonesia" is a good summary, and that's a very big complement. The characters, as said above, are basic but memorable. The pacing works well, as it's frenetic action but with breaks that let the audience recover as well as the characters. There's an almost horror sort of vibe, without actually giving any scares, which helps create the sort of tense atmosphere that the characters are in. The fights are well choreographed and interesting, and also as said, make sense given that it's an apartment complex.

Brilliant film, both the sequel and US remake are already confirmed. Note that googling the name of the sequel gives the original intended plot for this film, which was scaled down (changed entirely really) when it proved too much to film on the budget they had. I don't think the film now going to go by that name will have that original plot.

I came here to post a very similar post to the above and I saw the date and location and thought "My god, he might even have been in the same cinema as me."

Anywho, anything I would say would either be ditto to the above or content I took from the Kermode and Mayo podcast, so I'll just link to it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/kermode It has a review and conversation with the director, the incredibly Welsh-named Gareth Huw Evans.

One thing I'll just pick out- the Indonesian martial art Pencak silat has a moved based on the motions of the ritual washing before Muslim prayers.

edited 22nd May '12 12:43:18 PM by SomeSortOfTroper

If you were in Cineworld Renfrew Street at 1.15 yesterday, then it was the same place and/or time.

As for the director, I believe he was born in Wales but now lives and works in Indonesia. I can't have been the only one surprised to see such a Western name on a film like this, but he clearly knows what he's doing.

It's a good cinema for limited releases and getting things in 2D. I'm also rockin' the Unlimited card. I saw the film exactly 24 hours after you did. Possibly in the same seat. We're 1% ass-print brothers.

The director's wife is Indonesian-Japanese and he went there first to do a documentary about Indonesian martial arts after she hooked him up. This is all from the podcast.

I thought the Raid was a stunning film. Gareth Evans is also working with the Hollywood English-language version so it will be interesting to see how it compares... Also in this interview he mentions there's going to be a sequel where the action moves outside the building.

And if noone has seen it yet the brilliant Claymation trailer of the Raid

[[youtube:y_z3EBalwI4]]

edited 9th Jun '12 8:02:07 AM by madformovies

Anyone know when it is getting a dvd release?

I've heard that the typical release window is 17 weeks (so that would put it September 14) and the US release for the DVD is August 14 and it was released there about a month before the UK.

as indonesian i am surprised how well this movie is made how it have good reception from both national and international watcher. certainly it the biggest indonesia movie ever.

they make it trilogy by the way

Finally watched this courtesy of Amazon Prime. It's really good. Fight choreography is superb but there's a lot of jump-cuts that I wasn't all that fond of. The actors are really good in their roles and the guy who plays Rama is terrifying. He's like the Energizer Bunny in police uniform.

Funny seeing this on the front page since my copy just arrived (I thought the post office didn't deliver on Sunday). Gonna watch right now.

Viewed it. Twas the awesomemest. Looking to pick up the sequel real soon.

Just a bit of warning to those who plan to watch it.

This movie is a bloody awesome action movie...but not might be good for those who are squeamish.

This was amazing (as I said in my earlier mini-review under my previous username) and the sequel somehow managed to amplify everything - it even threw in a decent plot.

Easily of the best action films in recent years.

The sequel's on my list of films to watch soon. The original is just brilliant, I hope it doesn't spoil the experience when I watch the sequel.

Dream martial arts bout - Iko Uwais at his prime versus Bruce Lee at his prime. I'm not so sure who would have won that one.

Personally, I'd like to see Yayan Ruhian vs Bruce Lee, but I may be biased, since the guy trained the Filipino Special Forces in hand to hand.