Gareth Evans' THE RAID: REDEMPTION

Movie review by Dennis D. McDonald

In the Jakarta slums a derelict apartment building looms. An elite SWAT team arrives, intent on taking down the crime boss who runs his empire from there. They enter the building and fight their way up, floor by floor.

Violence ensues. Much fighting, bloodshed, gunfire, stabbing, and death occur along the way.

It’s all beautifully photographed, choreographed, scored, recorded, and acted. The physicality of all involved is stunning.

It’s also boring as hell. I fell asleep. The nonstop hand to hand combat and lack of tiring on the part of the participants drags down what is essentially a very simple story. Too bad, but in the immortal words of somebody, “Enough is too much.”

Review copyright (c) 2012 by Dennis D. McDonald