The Raid: Redemption

A bloody punch-up that is the perfect embodiment of the action adventure movie. The plot is maybe as simple as the thought processes of the Hotel Paradise guests, a SWAT team raids an apartment block of bad-ass killers and come up against tough resistance, but prevail. Amazing choreography, no shortage of brutality, blood splatters, fight dosage according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Yayan Ruhian is a killing machine and Iko Uwais is a grandmaster. Shinoda’s soundtrack is great for this movie. (07/19/2012)

This is by no means a perfect film, the fight choreography, although shot in an absolutely breathtaking way, starts to get a bit tiring towards the end and some scenes are awfully exaggerated and contrived. But in spite of that, or maybe because of it, this is, I dare say, the best and most honest action flick ever made (The Rock is just such a weak concoction in comparison). I believe that even Chuck Norris would have to take his hands out of his pockets this time to get it all done in 100 minutes :-D (03/26/2013)

I have to say that I was really surprised by what is still possible to do in an action movie. This is truly butchery. One apartment building and a proper group of people who want to kick some asses. There is shooting, but primarily hands and feet are used. These are the scenes that will absolutely blow you away, and you will be amazed. You don't just see such carnage easily. It's pounding from the beginning to the end, and moreover, it looks incredibly real. (07/04/2014)

An assault of pure physicality that more than anything else harms its own aura. With the label "action spectacle of the year" or even the decade, the expectation automatically arises that something more will emerge from The Raid: Redemption than just a bloody brawl. It doesn't – and it's not necessary. In the catalog of Indonesian fatalities, the boiling adrenaline was most heightened by seemingly inconspicuous but deadly Mad Dog Yayan Ruhian. His main performance, in which he gradually transitions from rubber jumps, twists, and turns to gathering the last remnants of strength for the hardest blow, literally takes your breath away. (12/18/2014)

An uncompromising action cutup that, despite the brilliant fight choreography, feels slightly repetitive, especially in its second half. In any case, the final impression is very strong, because I've probably never seen anything like it. A perfect example of a film where the characters themselves merely play second fiddle and where everything is strictly orchestrated for an intense, brutal action experience. (05/01/2020)