The Raid: Redemption is gorgeous. It’s one hour and 41 minutes of pure, unadulterated violence. I loved every blood-soaked second of it.
Before I begin to wax too poetic about the film, I feel that it is my duty as a critic to make a few unfortunate admissions about it: the plot is unimaginative, the dialogue is slightly painful, and the acting is serviceable at best. However, trust me when I say that absolutely none of this matters. This is an action movie, not Oscar bait – although, in a perfect world, it would rack up a couple of awards for cinematography and editing.
In crafting their tale of an Indonesian police raid gone horribly awry, writer/director Gareth Evans and cinematographer Matt Flannery know exactly what kind of experience they’re trying to create. They wisely keep it simple: no fuss, just fists. The film is all the better for it. We may not get much of a story, but what we do get are some of the most beautiful fight sequences since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Every shot is artfully configured to highlight the actors as they perform their brutal ballet – a fitting term, considering the strength, agility, and rhythm needed to make such complex choreography look as real as possible.
All in all, The Raid: Redemption is a stunning cinematic experience. It’s certainly not for everyone, particularly the squeamish, and those expecting any sort of emotional journey will be sorely disappointed. But for those of us who cut our cinephile teeth on the early works of Jet Li and Jackie Chan, it’s a thrilling throwback to a time in which action movies were more than just car chases and explosions. Mr. Evans and Mr. Flannery understand that in a world of CGI and special effects, there’s a great deal of joy to be found in watching one man’s fist hit another man’s face.
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