Overview
Deep in the heart of Jakarta's slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world's most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when a chance encounter with a spotter blows their cover and news of their assault reaches the drug lord, the building's lights are cut and all the exits blocked. Stranded on the sixth floor with no way out, the unit must fight their way through the city's worst to survive their mission. Starring Indonesian martial arts sensation Iko Uwais.
The Raid (2011) follows a special forces team entering an apartment block in Jakarta to arrest a crime boss when things go haywire…
To be honest, there isn’t much more to the plot than that – once things do go haywire the action starts – and great action it is.
There are plenty of guns, but the action is really all about pure, unadulterated, extremely well choreographed martial arts – a neverending stream of it. It’s mainly based on the Indonesian Pencak Silat which makes for a fresh change from typical martial arts moves and movies.
If there is anything wrong with this movie it is the lack of any real plot and character development. That would have opened the door for this movie to achieve another level. But as far as action movies go, this will be one of the best hand-to-hand combat movies you can watch.
And The Raid 2: Berandal (2014) doesn’t let up either.
My rating is a bit generous for movies without much of a plot, but both movies are definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys some good raw action, fist fights and modern martial arts movies. Make it a double bill, get some beers, watch with mates and root for the rookie!
