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The Raid: Redemption (2011) Gareth Evans

I once read an interview with game director David Jaffe, who talked about his goal in creating God of War:

“I didn’t want to make a game that put you in the shoes of Indiana Jones,” he clarified, “I wanted to put you in the shoes of the 10-year-old kid watching Indiana Jones.”

The Raid kinda does the opposite - it is a film that puts you in the shoes of a 10-year-old kid playing an Indiana Jones video game on meth.

I was also reminded of the commentary from Drunken Master - in it, the commentators talked about how the American action movie directors filmed their action scenes very tightly, partly because they grew up watching kung fu movies on TV, pan-and-scan style. Here, it’s as if Gareth Evans grew up watching people play Soul Caliber. It is truly the kind of film made by the kids who grew up playing video games.

The plot and structure also add to the feeling that you’re inside of an elaborate video game. It’s like a platformer where you fight through endless waves of enemies (many of them zombie-like), working your way up to the sub-bosses and then the big boss, Critical Finish.

I enjoyed The Raid, if only because of the chance to see Iko Uwais put on another pencak silat clinic. Although the storyline was very poor, it was also fairly nonexistent; compared to Evans’ earlier film, Merantau, that is actually an improvement.

Also, shit, what a difference a haircut makes. Men, cut your damn hair.

#181 - 9/1/2012