YO! I just watched this for the 2nd time, and it is still the best action film to come out since...The Protector? Ong Bak 2? Whatever film you want to classify as the best Tony Jaa film. Although there are things about The Raid: Redemption that put it above Tony Jaa films (or perhaps I should say Prachya Pinkaew films, er Panna Rittikrai films...shucks! I thought they were done by the same guy?).
The best element of The Raid: Redemption is its non-stop action. This phrase is used a lot to describe films, but in this case it is accurate. The basic plot is a S.W.A.T. team is infiltrating an apartment building, full of known criminals, to extract a "crime boss," who happens to also run the building. In roughly 5 min. we are in the van racing to the apartment building. From that point to the end of the film, the story consists of suspenseful sneaking, huge assault rifle "gun-fights," focused fight-for-your-life martial arts, betrayal, and redemption. There isn't a long set-up, telling you everything about everyone. There aren't middle of the film scenes of dramatic intensity. There aren't even long dramatic death sequences.
Another fantastic element is the brutalness of the film. Many imaginative and emotionally powerful moments have been created by keeping the visual of a brutal killing off-screen. This film demonstrates that these visuals can have an important impact. This film shows that sometimes reality has to be seen to be appreciated. The fragility of life is enhanced by visuals of these killings. How easy it is to kill someone with gun. How when given the choice between life and death we (humans) will do whatever we need to in order to live. This film does not shy away from the truth of death.
If you like action films, especially martial arts films, you would be doing yourself a dishonor in NOT watching this film. Easily 5 stars. And if you are one of those fools who can't watch a film with subtitles...kill yourself.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Real Steel - Real Pigslop
Real Steel is a movie about robot jocks piloted by humans...oh wait isn't that Robot Jox? Right. This is a movie about Robot Boxers controlled by humans. I can't believe this movie was made. Not only is the plot pointless and ridiculous (a dead-beat dad who doesn't care about his son, starts caring about his son when he has a successful robot boxer), but it's also poorly constructed.
I suppose it would be more accurate to say the script is a waste of time, energy and space. The actors, the sets, the special effects and so on aren't really grating or obnoxious; it's just the screenplay. Besides the absurd overall plot, there are also tons of unclear concepts. These concepts are not fleshed out; they are not logical; and mostly they are confusing and annoying (or perhaps...simply unnecessary).
I can't really recommend this movie to anyone. Even if you like robots...well, maybe if you are obsessed with robots (although then you would have already seen it, I presume)...this movie is a waste of 2 hours and 7 minutes.
I suppose it would be more accurate to say the script is a waste of time, energy and space. The actors, the sets, the special effects and so on aren't really grating or obnoxious; it's just the screenplay. Besides the absurd overall plot, there are also tons of unclear concepts. These concepts are not fleshed out; they are not logical; and mostly they are confusing and annoying (or perhaps...simply unnecessary).
I can't really recommend this movie to anyone. Even if you like robots...well, maybe if you are obsessed with robots (although then you would have already seen it, I presume)...this movie is a waste of 2 hours and 7 minutes.
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