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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Film Review: Fantastic, Visceral ‘The Raid: Redemption’ Beats Up Hollywood Action Movies
Submitted by BrianTT on March 23, 2012 - 9:59am
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Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “The Raid: Redemption” review.
“The Raid: Redemption” stars Iko Uwais and Joe Taslim. It was written and directed by Gareth Evans. It was released on March 23rd, 2012. It is rated R.
The Raid: Redemption
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics
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 Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Gareth Evans’ “The Raid: Redemption” is a powerhouse kick to the gut of bored action movie fans. And the face. And the kneecap. And the balls. It’s an aggressive, adrenaline-fueled success in so many ways that it might make you like recent Hollywood action films less than you remembered. They weren’t this powerful, super-charged, or generally remarkable. For its target audience, I find it impossible to believe that “The Raid” won’t connect. In other words, if you like martial arts action movies, you have a new must-see.
Inspired by “Die Hard” and “Assault on Precinct 13,” “The Raid: Redemption” has a wonderfully simple action movie foundation. So many modern action blockbusters, especially those produced by the Hollywood machine, over-complicate their set-up on their way to bloating running times, too many speaking roles, and twist endings. Forget that nonsense. More often than not, the best action movies can be summed up as simply as “The Raid” — a team of SWAT members try to take a building that has been controlled by a ruthless crime lord. It doesn’t go well.
| Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “The Raid: Redemption” in our reviews section. |
Imagine a rundown building in which every one of the tenants has at least a loose connection to the malicious gangster who runs it. Some work directly for him. Others serve as his spotters. But most are just poor people who owe allegiance to him as their landlord more than they do the cops trying to take him down. When the crime lord learns that a SWAT team is in the building, he gets a loudspeaker and announces that it’s every tenant’s responsibility to try and take them down. Kill some cops, make some powerful friends, and get free rent out of the deal. Sounds good.
Continue reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “The Raid: Redemption” review.The Raid: Redemption
Photo credit: Sony Pictures Classics
