As a hardcore action movie enthusiast who has been through the ringer with countless sequels that failed to live up to their predecessors, I can wholeheartedly say that The Raid 2: Retaliation is an exceptional exception. This film is not just a continuation of its predecessor, The Raid: Redemption, but a grand expansion that delves deeper into the gritty, adrenaline-fueled world it introduced.
Action movies are often criticized for their sequels due to the inconsistent quality. While there are exceptional sequels like “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and “Mad Max: Fury Road”, they stand out amidst many underwhelming remakes. Modern action movie sequels frequently aim to rekindle the magic of a film from three decades ago, but often lack the original’s cast and team that made it successful. However, some sequels fulfill their purpose: to build upon and enhance the strengths of the original. “The Raid 2” is an example of this, but not many have watched it to confirm this trend.
Just as with any type of film, action movies tend to follow trends. A particularly successful movie, whether it’s a commercial or critical success, can significantly influence how directors portray violence in their films. For instance, donning a domino mask as Kato in The Green Hornet, Bruce Lee helped popularize martial arts movies among American audiences. Later on, The Matrix reacquainted many Westerners with the innovations of Hong Kong cinema. Movies like Ong-Baak and Ip Man gained widespread popularity before John Wick donned his suit, but it was an Indonesian thriller that ultimately reshaped the genre altogether.
What is The Raid 2 about?
| Director | Gareth Evans |
|---|---|
| Writer | Gareth Evans |
| Stars | Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Alex Abbad, Cecep Arif Rahman, and Yayan Ruhian |
| Runtime | 150 Minutes |
| Release Date | March 28, 2014 |
Three years after “The Raid: Redemption,” we find ourselves in “The Raid 2: Retaliation,” where the journey of Iko Uwais’ character, Rama (a special forces super soldier), continues. Following a near-death experience in the first movie, Rama is approached by a police lieutenant heading a covert investigation team. The offer? Infiltrate Jakarta’s criminal underworld, probe into an impending gang war, and expose corrupt cops and authorities. Initially hesitant, Rama consents after the tragic loss of another survivor from the initial raid. His mission leads him to befriend a volatile son of a powerful crime boss, who serves as a buffer against the local Yakuza branch and an emerging force known as Bejo. Three gangs, each boasting armies of assassins, maintain a fragile truce that could explode into chaos at any moment, potentially engulfing Jakarta in bloodshed. Unlike its predecessor, which was a focused, intense burst of violence, “The Raid 2” delves further into the world that birthed “The Raid,” offering a sprawling narrative.
How was The Raid 2 received?
The impact of The Raid can’t be overstated. It carries the usual signifiers of success, both critically and commercially. The Raid made over $9 million worldwide on a budget of just over $1 million, racking up an impressive return on investment. Critics lavished it with praise, granting the film an 87% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes. The Raid 2 was far less impressive financially, bringing in only $6.5 million on its inflated $4.5 million budget. That increased budget is certainly on-screen, but audiences simply didn’t reward its greater expense. Critics were similarly delighted, handing the sequel an 83% positive score. In terms of average scores, the first film had a 7.3 while the sequel captured 7.0, barely setting them apart. The real noticeable discrepancy on Rotten Tomatoes is in audience scores. Their positive percentages are oddly identical, as is the number of Rotten Tomatoes-approved critics that reviewed each film, but far fewer audience members left reviews for the project. The original has over 50,000 amateur reviews, while the sequel has around 10,000. The awful truth is that no one saw the sequel, dooming it to relative obscurity.
The Raid 2 might not have thrived in cinema halls, but its caliber is undeniably top-notch. The movie was pulled from theaters just a week into its run, depriving it of the chance to develop a following naturally. This predicament often befalls films that aren’t part of established franchises. In essence, the success of Marvel films might have inadvertently hindered The Raid 2. The movie debuted in the US on March 28th, 2014, coincidentally a week before the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier. It’s unfortunate that one of Marvel’s finest productions, with strong influences from martial arts epics like The Raid, came so close to The Raid 2. Nonetheless, the film deserves recognition it never received. It’s a true masterpiece that fans of the genre were unfortunately deprived of.
Where can you watch The Raid 2?
For those who didn’t catch The Raid 2 in cinemas, you’ll be happy to know that it’s now available for streaming! You can watch it for free with ads on platforms like Pluto TV and Amazon Prime Video. Unfortunately, for those residing outside the U.S., they can still find it on Netflix, but American fans will no longer have access to it.
The Raid 2 warrants more recognition. It not only matches but surpasses its predecessor, amplifying every aspect and showcasing some of the most impressive action sequences of the past decade. If you haven’t watched it yet, consider yourself lucky because finding and watching The Raid 2 is definitely worth your time.
Read More
- XRP PREDICTION. XRP cryptocurrency
- SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- ORDI PREDICTION. ORDI cryptocurrency
- USD PHP PREDICTION
- LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
- BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
- APE PREDICTION. APE cryptocurrency
- USD COP PREDICTION
- IXT PREDICTION. IXT cryptocurrency
2024-11-19 20:04