[Review] The Raid 2: Berandal - Part II: Directing, Fights, Music
Second viewing and the movie is still a 10/10 for me. The fight sequences looked better and better as I get to see more details on 2nd viewing.
***CONTAINS SPOILERS***
I love Gareth Evans' directing style and his crazy inventions in shooting action sequences. It makes us, the audience feel like we're in the middle of the fights. And all the camera works were awesome.
Fight sequences, okay... let me talk about this one by one.
1. Toilet (Rama vs Prisoners)
Some pretty crazy moves by Rama there and I love how he pulls in one or two guys, then close the door, takes care of the 1-2 guys, opens the door and pulls in another one.
2. Prison Riot
I didn't get the beauty of this scene until the second viewing where I could pay attention to more details. On first viewing, all I could see was the mud XD
I love the slow motion works when Rama was thrown into the mud, the sound of the splattered mud was just awesome. Other than that, well, some brutal moments that I suggest you see it for yourself. There's a story here. Rama had to save Uco or else he'll rot in prison for another years. I like the climax moment of this sequence.
3. Porn Den (Rama, Eka, Uco vs Porn Den guys)
This is my 2nd favorite sequence. First of all, for a lady like me, it's such a pleasant thing to the eyes, that 3 hot guys (Rama, Uco, Eka) were standing next to each other, it was such a lovely view to look at ;P I think this was the only action sequence that has all the three ikemen-s ^.^ Second of all, this scene was like an introduction of what they do in their daily life, before everything turns mayhem. If this is a series, there should be about 4-5 more episodes with scenes like this. I just happen to like the background's simplicity of this fight sequence. Also, how Rama and Eka were trying to give each other signs when the porn den guys started to make suspicious moves. I guess what I love here is the tension building up rather than the fight itself.
Btw, I was pretty surprised that Epi Kusnandar, the actor who plays the porn den boss, did his own stunt when he jumped through the glass O_O That was dangerous.
4. Prakoso Introduction (Prakoso vs bunch of guys)
5. Club Battle (Prakoso vs bunch of guys)
I'll just put these two together. Nothing much I can say about Prakoso's fights, but his last moment was very, very touching T_T
6. Reog (Baseball Bat Man / Hammer Girl / The Assassin vs Japanese gang)
Reog is the name of the traditional dance shown overlapping with the fight scenes. Totally love this sequence. Hammer Girl really kicks ass and Baseball Bat Man was awesome as well, he's definitely one of my fav character.
7. Taxi & Restaurant (Rama vs bunch of guys)
One of my favorite. I love all the tension inside the cab and the restaurant fight was excellent. Perhaps cause this sequence reminds me of the 80s Hongkong movies. Not to mention, seem like the restaurant Rama went into was a Chinese restaurant^^ I guess, I just love fight sequences out on the streets.
8. Rama & The Assassin's First Met
I like this brief fight.
9. Car Chase
My ultimate favorite!! I just love how Rama throw the guy out of the car. And Eka was so cool driving the car while shooting guns, and that little competition of who gets to load the gun faster, was very cool too!! I really love Eka in this sequence. And of course the mind-blowing camera works... God-knows-how they did that. Oh right... how they destroyed the busway stop was beyond cool as well!
10. Warehouse Stomping (Rama vs bunch of guys)
Nothing much memorable here for me. Rama seems to throw stuff a lot in this one.
11. Hammerballs (Rama vs BBM & HG)
This fight just breaks my heart. I hate Rama here.... Rama, how could you! They're just little kids T_T I love how the siblings fights in sync and how Hammer Girl simply hit the floors with her hammers targeting Rama's feet. This fight was done in unbelievable speed, so I'm really amazed Julie Estelle (HG) could catch on. Geez... I hope that spin-off comic would come out soon! This siblings deserve it!
12. Showdown (Rama vs The Assassin)
This final fight went on too long for my liking. Nevertheless, it had the best and most complex choreography and I appreciate the fact that the fight here is pure Pencak Silat. And the karambits are just, really cool! I love how Rama always snatch away and use the opponents' weapons to beat them.
The make-up artist really did a great job with all the wounds and blood, I think, they all look real.
The music scores really helps a lot in building up all the tension too, most of them are really good, especially the Reog track, which blends the traditional Reog music with some modern beats.
All in all, for martial arts/action lovers, this movie is a must-see!!
***CONTAINS SPOILERS***
I love Gareth Evans' directing style and his crazy inventions in shooting action sequences. It makes us, the audience feel like we're in the middle of the fights. And all the camera works were awesome.
Fight sequences, okay... let me talk about this one by one.
1. Toilet (Rama vs Prisoners)
Some pretty crazy moves by Rama there and I love how he pulls in one or two guys, then close the door, takes care of the 1-2 guys, opens the door and pulls in another one.
2. Prison Riot
I didn't get the beauty of this scene until the second viewing where I could pay attention to more details. On first viewing, all I could see was the mud XD
I love the slow motion works when Rama was thrown into the mud, the sound of the splattered mud was just awesome. Other than that, well, some brutal moments that I suggest you see it for yourself. There's a story here. Rama had to save Uco or else he'll rot in prison for another years. I like the climax moment of this sequence.
3. Porn Den (Rama, Eka, Uco vs Porn Den guys)
This is my 2nd favorite sequence. First of all, for a lady like me, it's such a pleasant thing to the eyes, that 3 hot guys (Rama, Uco, Eka) were standing next to each other, it was such a lovely view to look at ;P I think this was the only action sequence that has all the three ikemen-s ^.^ Second of all, this scene was like an introduction of what they do in their daily life, before everything turns mayhem. If this is a series, there should be about 4-5 more episodes with scenes like this. I just happen to like the background's simplicity of this fight sequence. Also, how Rama and Eka were trying to give each other signs when the porn den guys started to make suspicious moves. I guess what I love here is the tension building up rather than the fight itself.
Btw, I was pretty surprised that Epi Kusnandar, the actor who plays the porn den boss, did his own stunt when he jumped through the glass O_O That was dangerous.
4. Prakoso Introduction (Prakoso vs bunch of guys)
5. Club Battle (Prakoso vs bunch of guys)
I'll just put these two together. Nothing much I can say about Prakoso's fights, but his last moment was very, very touching T_T
6. Reog (Baseball Bat Man / Hammer Girl / The Assassin vs Japanese gang)
Reog is the name of the traditional dance shown overlapping with the fight scenes. Totally love this sequence. Hammer Girl really kicks ass and Baseball Bat Man was awesome as well, he's definitely one of my fav character.
7. Taxi & Restaurant (Rama vs bunch of guys)
One of my favorite. I love all the tension inside the cab and the restaurant fight was excellent. Perhaps cause this sequence reminds me of the 80s Hongkong movies. Not to mention, seem like the restaurant Rama went into was a Chinese restaurant^^ I guess, I just love fight sequences out on the streets.
8. Rama & The Assassin's First Met
I like this brief fight.
9. Car Chase
My ultimate favorite!! I just love how Rama throw the guy out of the car. And Eka was so cool driving the car while shooting guns, and that little competition of who gets to load the gun faster, was very cool too!! I really love Eka in this sequence. And of course the mind-blowing camera works... God-knows-how they did that. Oh right... how they destroyed the busway stop was beyond cool as well!
10. Warehouse Stomping (Rama vs bunch of guys)
Nothing much memorable here for me. Rama seems to throw stuff a lot in this one.
11. Hammerballs (Rama vs BBM & HG)
This fight just breaks my heart. I hate Rama here.... Rama, how could you! They're just little kids T_T I love how the siblings fights in sync and how Hammer Girl simply hit the floors with her hammers targeting Rama's feet. This fight was done in unbelievable speed, so I'm really amazed Julie Estelle (HG) could catch on. Geez... I hope that spin-off comic would come out soon! This siblings deserve it!
12. Showdown (Rama vs The Assassin)
This final fight went on too long for my liking. Nevertheless, it had the best and most complex choreography and I appreciate the fact that the fight here is pure Pencak Silat. And the karambits are just, really cool! I love how Rama always snatch away and use the opponents' weapons to beat them.
The make-up artist really did a great job with all the wounds and blood, I think, they all look real.
The music scores really helps a lot in building up all the tension too, most of them are really good, especially the Reog track, which blends the traditional Reog music with some modern beats.
All in all, for martial arts/action lovers, this movie is a must-see!!