[…] it’s easy to imagine that one of the biggest items on the budget might be the orthopedics bill, since this orgy of broken bones and vicious badassery makes its cult predecessor look like a peevish bitch-slap. Visceral in the extreme, the bravura martial arts mayhem still takes pride of place, choreographed again by lead actor Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian, who also appears, though as a different character from last time. Demonstrating that the cops are almost as ruthless as the crooks, Rama is forced to go undercover in an anti-corruption task force, with the understanding that the safety of his wife and child depend on it. Alongside the broodingly charismatic fighting machine Uwais, Putra makes Ucok’s arrogant stupidity compelling (and what he does with a karaoke microphone is certainly a new tune), while Oka Antara brings quiet gravitas to Bangun’s trusted right-hand man, who harbors a secret. Evans gives the audience a knowing wink by having Rama endure repeated batterings that would leave mere mortals in traction, not to mention some nasty blade wounds. The Raid 2,” a Sony Picture Classics release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for “sequences of strong bloody violence throughout, sexuality and language.
){kind=link}
Comments