Film: The Raid: Redemption
Directed by: Gareth Evans
Starring: Iko Uwais

One word, two syllables: Badass.

Opening today in select cities, Gareth Evans’ The Raid: Redemption is a near nonstop action film that explodes with charisma, creativity, and excitement to spare. Unlike other genre releases and similar imports in recent years, Raid strips away the bullshit of “cinema 101” and focuses on developing a new franchise that exists in a realm all it own that audience will be unable to refuse.

Starring Iko Uwais as Rama, The Raid: Redemption follows a group of mostly unknown police officers as they attempt to knockdown a druglord who has essentially built his own empire of crime within a rundown apartment building. For years no law enforcement has been allowed near the location, likely out of hidden deals and fear for the consequences, but today is the day the good stand against evil and audience are given very few moments to let that idea sink in before the mayhem begins.

This is where my review hits a wall. I want to tell you about the exciting things you will see, hear, and experience in The Raid: Redemption, but I feel that divulging any of that information would take away from seeing it firsthand. Most films are complex enough that giving details away can be acceptable, especially when dozens of twists are involved, but The Raid is a pretty much a straightforward action flick, punching its way through the bullshit of modern mainstream cinema. There are few stereotypes, almost zero cultural references, and no torrid love affair to speak of. If ever there were a no-frills action flick, The Raid: Redemption would be it.

In the hopes of delivering a spoiler free review of a film with little to be kept secret, let me say that The Raid: Redemption is without a doubt the best action film released worldwide in at least three years. From beginning to end, the film both manages to avoid cliches and deliver fistfuls of dazzlingly well choreographed sequences of badassdom that will keep you coming back again and again. See it.

If you could take The Hulk’s rage and turn it into a feature length film about a Swat Team fighting bad guys, it would be titled The Raid: Redemption.

Review written by: James Shotwell (Twitter)

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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