THE RAID 2
Indonesia, 2013, 148 minutes,Colour.
Iko Uweis.
Directed by Gareth Evans.
The Raid was an extraordinary box office success right around the world. Director, Gareth Evans, had moved to Indonesia and begun making feature films. With The Raid, he put the Indonesian film industry on the map. Which meant that the sequel was inevitable. Here it is.
The hero of the original film, Rama (Iko Uweis) is a martial arts champion, discovered by the director and used as the protagonist of his film as well is of this sequel. Iko Uweis also appeared in Keanu Reeves’ martial arts film, The Man of Tai Chi.
The first film was strongly focused, most of the action taking place in the one building after the police squads arrived and moved throughout the building to confront thugs and gangsters. The screenplay offered a great number of opportunities for frequent fights. Sometimes the violence of the action was marked by many touches of brutality. This made the film offputting for some audiences.
This film opens on the same day as the first film ends, with the prologue showing an execution in the countryside and indication that gang warfare was building up. The chief of the operation chooses Rama to go undercover and infiltrate the major gang. Worried about the security of his wife and family, Rama nevertheless obeys orders, is convicted of a crime, goes to prison where he encounters the son of the gang boss.
The Raid 2 is reminiscent of themes of The Godfather films as well as of stories of agents going undercover, like Donnie Brasco.
When Rama is released, he is given a job by the Indonesian Godfather and has to keep an eye on the man’s son who is reckless and ambitious, wanting to take over from his father, in league with leaders of other gangs, antagonising Japanese gangs in the country.
While the plot outline is familiar enough, Rama is quite an interesting character, taking the opportunity, almost every 15 minutes in this 2 ½ hour film, to get involved in a tough fight, sometimes one-on-one, sometimes demolishing a whole gang. Various assassins turn up, an old assassin-retainer of the gang and a hammer-wilding blind woman. The Godfather plot is also interesting, the head of the Indonesian Mafia-type family being urbane and suave, in control for 30 years, yet absolutely ruthless.
The film highlights the danger for Rama undercover, his need to check on the security of his family, his contacts with the chief who generally leaves him on his own.
In the climax, the son and the leader of a rival gang as well as a politician who is dining with them bargaining to get athe bigger payoff, feel secure from any attack. They have underestimated Rama who, though wounded, is able to get through a gang of thugs as well as the son’s main hired assassin and there is, as might be expected, slaughter all-round before the happy ending and the need for The Raid 3.
1. The impact of the original film? Worldwide? Popularity for a sequel?
2. The initial film’s reputation as an action film, martial arts, stud work? Violence?
3. An Indonesian film, British director, the flavour of Indonesia, the cities, crime, the police?
4. The sets, police precincts, prisons, gangsters’ offices, restaurants? The rousing score?
5. The impact of the action, the stud work, fights every 15 minutes also?
6. The prophet of the police, corruption within the police, officials and their connections with gangsters, payments, deals with gangsters? Honest police wanting to root out the corruption?
7. The opening, the execution in the countryside? Indication of the gang warfare?
8. Rama, his role in the first film, police work, action? the chief choosing him to go undercover? His wife, child, his continued concern for their security?
9. The chief, keeping in touch with Rama, control? His phone calls?
10. The plan, his crime, going underground, in the prison, the details of life in prison? Bangun and his son, the son in prison, his crime, throwing his weight
around, influence?
11. Getting out of jail, the offer of the job, the interview with Bangun, Rama being stripped, his clothes searched, his gaining approval?
12. Bangun and his trust, the lavish apartment, the assistants to Bangun, suave officials? The irony of the man undercover as well, whether he had been
corrupted or not?
13. Rama, accompanying the son, his contacts? The father, as an Indonesian godfather, 30 years, extensive control, suave in manner, clothes, his empire? The son and his impetuousness, wanting to take over?
14. The rival head of the gang, approaching the son, the plans?
15. The old assassin, 15 years, devoted to the boss, giving his wife cash, her not wanting to see him? His assassinations, his being stalked, murdered?
16. The feud, the meeting between the gangs, the son killing his father, his father’s shock?
17. The Japanese gang, reactions, attempts to deal with the boss, insulted by the son?
18. Rama, his work, protection, advice, the fights?
19. The final meeting, the son and the rival boss, the discussions and plans, the guards the fights, the murderous guard and the long fight with Rama, his being wounded, fighting nonetheless?
20. The son and his death, the rival at his death? The death of the police official on the take, while trying to deal with both gangs and get more money?
21. Rama, emerging as a hero – and the necessity for a sequel?
