The story starts by eliminating loose ends from the first film and quickly picked up the new storyline. So, super-cop Rama was recruited to do an undercover job investigating Jakarta's underground crime world. He went into prison with a new identity and immediately got into that circle as he befriends the son of one Jakarta's crime lord. His name is Uco and he has his own ambitions that makes everything change. Also, there's another side that wants Jakarta for his own named Bejo.One of the criticisms for the first installment was the story. The Raid was straightforward action with so little story. That was easily improved by the sequel as the story was incredibly intricate. However, at one point in the middle of the film, I felt that there's not enough action to equalize all this narrative (the karaoke scene, to be exact). But at the end of the film, after all the amazing action kicked in, it felt great and equal as a whole. The first Raid didn't; the drug lab scene and that final fight with Mad Dog were already past the equilibrium; it didn't have an equal amount of story to balance all that action. But not in The Raid: Berandal. The characters in it are also interesting as hell; there's a super cool character only named Hammer Girl played by Julie Estelle. Another one is Baseball Bat Man, not Hammer Girl-cool but still. One of the main villains is played nicely by Arifin Putra. He could be nice and menacing and that's scary. Also there's the entertaining Alex Abbad as the crazy villain Bejo who, despite the unbearable Indonesian heat, wears full winter attire. Also immensely enjoyable is Oka Antara who recently starred in Killers. The action scenes are superb. The prison fight is crazy. The car chase is immensely unbelievable. The fight with Hammer Girl and Baseball Bat Man was thoroughly satisfying. The kitchen fight was intense. The Jakarta snow scene was a little weird but still cool as fuck. I understand Gareth Evans need to spill red blood over white snow. I totally got it. For all that amazing fight scenes with Iko Uwais, I felt that the story kind of sidelined his character Rama a bit. But that's understandable with this scope and scale of a story. I do have some complaints though. First, in technical aspect, the dialogue seemed muffled that sometimes it wasn't clear what the actors are saying. Second, the story was too packed with characters that actually one that kinda matters (Reza) wasn't featured enough. Third, there seem to be a missing scene with Kazuki Kitamura shooting people on the escalator. It was a cool moment from the trailer but I'm bummed it's not on the final cut. Nevertheless, I'm gonna let it all slide because, overall, the film is too awesome for flaws. So proud as an Indonesian to have this film. Also, happy national film day! The Raid 2: Berandal: rated 4/4.
PS
One other complaint is for the Indonesian censorship board or LSF. This film is shown without cuts, and it's super violent. Whereas 300: Rise of an Empire which is more tame than this is shown with cuts! Where's my Artemisia kissing a beheaded head? Or where's my Artemisia sex scene? I watched that sex scene on YouTube and about 3/4 of it has no nudity, just pure passion and lust. LSF, you gotta make your rules clear. Don't get me started on Noah (which, FYI, is banned in Indonesia).
Bonus! Might do a post on kick-ass girls and this one may be one!
Last 2014 Indonesia-based review would be Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Coming next week!
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