Expanding the Universe with The Raid 2.
We often talk about world building on our podcast. We also talk about leveling up and not simply remaking the first film when you make a second one. With The Raid 2, writer-director Gareth Evans proves he understands all of this. The world building expands in exciting ways, and the film levels up to take us outside of the building into the streets of Jakarta. Join us – Pete Wright and Andy Nelson – as we wrap up our series looking at The Raid films with Evans 2014 followup, The Raid 2.
Here’s a hint at what we talk about.
So much action. It’s a thrill ride from start to finish, and Evans proves he doesn’t need to keep it in an enclosed space like he did the first film. We get more with the corrupt cops, more with the gangs, more with Rama as he agrees to step away from his family to help take down the criminal elements in Jakarta. It’s big and it’s operatic in scope. Is the violence too much though? Or is it part of the opera?
How about the performances and the story? Too convoluted or does it all work? And why isn’t Evans doing more?
There’s a lot to discuss with this fantastic conclusion to Evans’ epic. We have a great time chatting about it, so check it out then tune in. The Next Reel – when the movie ends, our conversation begins!
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