The Raid 2

An Indonesian film with subtitles that runs two hours and twenty-eight minutes and features no actors you'll recognize.  A sequel.  A director you've probably never heard of whose main claim to fame is the previous film in this series. 

Despite the impression those facts may leave, The Raid 2 is one of the most fast-paced movies you are likely to see this year, and one of the best action films since The Raid: Redemption, its predecessor.  Writer/director Gareth Evans has created one of the most over-the-top, violence-packed sagas ever.  Astonishing fight sequences alternate with character-building scenes and sharp looks inside Indonesian gang culture in a film that is not for one second dull. 

If you're wondering if this is yet another of those movies that only I like, consider that as I write this entry the film's Rotten Tomatoes critics rating is 80% and its audience satisfaction rating is 94%.

If you like action sequences and can handle violence that goes way over the top, do not miss this movie.

By the way, I have to believe that Hollywood will soon snap up Evans, though he is supposedly signed to The Raid 3--and has Tony Jaa (of Ong Bak fame and next year to appear in The Fast and the Furious 7) on board for that one.  I can't wait to see if he can translate his pacing and penchant for crazy fight scenes to American crews and American big budgets.

Two interesting action flicks, one opening day

March 23 will bring the opening of two action films I want to see, a rare (for this time of year) opening-day collision of similar movies.

One, most people will want to catch.



The Hunger Games is certain to be the blockbuster for that weekend.

The movie I want to see even more, though, probably won't open then in Raleigh.



Face it, The Raid: Redemption appears to be composed entirely of awesome.

My solution to this dilemma is simple: see them both as quickly as I can.