MovieChat Forums > Serbuan maut 2: Berandal (2014) Discussion > How on earth can people prefer this mess...

How on earth can people prefer this mess to orginal???

posted 9 years ago by cfletcher-iw
39 replies | jump to latest

I was shocked when I saw the high score of 8.1 for this movie and I was even more shocked that it scored significantly higher than the excellent first movie!

I've watched The Raid 2 twice just to be sure, but my initial reaction didn't change - this sequel is a mess and it feels like they quickly churned this out in a rush to capitalize on the success of the first film.

Don't get me wrong, this is still a decent film, but I think it's worse than The Raid 1 in just about every way. The pacing is all wrong this time around - there's too many stop-start moments that break up the flow, with many sections just plain boring. The story isn't very good. The "overambitious son wants to take over from his father" feels tired and specific plot points are confusing and it's hard to keep track of some of the characters and their names. This also damages the viewing experience during the action sequences...

At several points there were frantic fight scenes going on - but I had very little idea of what was going on or why they were even fighting. Without a clear, solid plot to back it up it's just a load of random violence for no reason. Within the first few minutes Rama gets attacked by about 15 people in a toilet, but there's no explanation as to why they were attacking him in the first place! A bad guy from the first movie is mysteriously back alive and well - though I'm guessing that he's supposed to be a different character (so yet another poor element to this film that adds confusion). Also, why is Rama in prison for over 2 years when the plan was for 3 months? There's so many plot holes or sections like this that aren't explained clearly that by the end I couldn't give a *beep* what happened to any of the characters.

As I say it's not a bad movie, it's just much much worse than the first and it would have been so much better if the actual "raid" element came much sooner in the movie. After all the film is called The Raid then the actual raid part is rushed through in about 5-8 minutes near the end to make way for all the boring plot earlier on 

[–] jaerell626 9 years ago

Within the first few minutes Rama gets attacked by about 15 people in a toilet, but there's no explanation as to why they were attacking him in the first place!

While a reason isn't explicitly spoon fed to you.. if you actually listened to the conversation Uco had in prison with Rama, he specifically says "Loners don't last long" in which Rama replies "obviously" and gets up. The scene is set up this way to convey Rama's situation being all by himself in prison with no alliances.

Also, why is Rama in prison for over 2 years when the plan was for 3 months? There's so many plot holes or sections like this that aren't explained clearly that by the end I couldn't give a *beep* what happened to any of the characters.

Again.. you weren't watching the movie. In prison, the guy that sits with Rama in the prison during the visitation hours explains this. That was the importance of the whole scene. Don't call things like these plot holes if you won't watch the movie. They are explained clearly.

No way you watched this movie twice and STILL didn't get the obvious answers you were looking for...no way. They are right in your face.

[–] TheBeardedWonder 9 years ago

Yeah that's pretty funny. How do you watch it twice and still not even understand the basic things like that? Maybe subtitles were just too much for them to keep up with...

'Get yourself a real dog. Any dog under 50 lbs is a cat and cats are pointless' - Ron Swanson

[–] jaimecuriel75 9 years ago

I couldn't agree more. From a technical point of view it is stunning but other than that there are too many plot holes or inconsistencies that make it a worse film than the almost perfect first part (but still an enjoyable film)

[–] Mackentorsk 9 years ago

You see this movie for the action.
And it's glorious.

-*Inserting random phrase by famous madman/idiot that makes me feel intelligent*-

[–] jaimecuriel75 9 years ago

That is correct, that's why I said it's enjoyable. But to be perfect it should have a decent story, and it doesn't.
There are too many silly situations in the film: why on earth almost no one is carrying a *beep* gun? Why all these gangsters are carrying nothing but knives, hummers and things like these?
Why, in the car chase, the guy who's trying to help Rama doesn't use his guns until the very end of the chase, why does it take so long until he decides to use them?
Why, in the car chase, the guy who's driving the car where Rama is fighting just keeps driving as if nothing was happening when all the people in the car are trying to kill each other?

[–] toph1980 9 years ago

That is correct, that's why I said it's enjoyable. But to be perfect it should have a decent story, and it doesn't.

What funny country do you come from where 8/10 is considered perfect, and can I please have some of whatever you're high on, tyvm.

--
A picture with a smile - and perhaps, a tear.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] cfletcher-iw 9 years ago

To cash in on the success of the original they presumably rushed it out as fast as they could. It certainly shows.

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[–] meatybits 9 years ago

The raid 2 was written before the first one was. Do your research

[–] Falconeer 9 years ago

..and i'm 'shocked' by your post; "The Raid 2" is an absolutely incredible film, perhaps the best action film i have seen in years. Everything about it is perfect, from the many fight scenes, to the classic father/son rivalry story, the beautiful sets, the flawless lighting, the outstanding cinematography, and even the acting..everything is perfect. The fight choreography is incredible, and the "slow parts" that you mentioned are just as fascinating as the action sequences. The first film, "Raid: Redemption" is a fine film, but after seeing the sequel, that movie becomes a mere practice session for the masterpiece that follows it. "The Raid" was a bit lacking in story for my taste, and feeling. But this latest movie nails it all perfectly. It is the first action movie that is also a work of art. I personally felt physically drained after watching it. I can't imagine anyone preferring the first installment.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

[–] keithkat 8 years ago

Agree

[–] AironicTonic 9 years ago

I was excited when I saw it had a higher rating than the prequel, which was thrill-a-minute, not overly long, with some of the best choreographed and fluid fight sequences ever put to film. But I share the OP's opinion: utterly baffled how such a disjointed, incoherent mess of a film that simply goes through the undercover Asian crime drama cliches and lacks almost everything that made the first great - even the fights lacked the intensity, bar the random toilet part - whilst having little to nothing to do with the first. Genuinely baffled. Bigger certainly didn't mean better here.

[–] smackajacka 9 years ago

Agreed. I have no idea what people saw in this. The first was spot on whereas this was a true mess.

[–] avidnewbie 9 years ago

I happened upon the Raid 2 first because it was on cable t.v. I really enjoyed it and after hearing that the first one was even better I bought The Raid Redemption on Ebay. Now having finally watched and compared both films I must say that the Raid 2 is the superior film IMHO. While the first film does boast an intriguing premise and starts out great it eventually ran out of steam once the fights became redundant. More action in relentless succession is not necessarily better action. Although the Raid 2 does borrow it's themes from other more polished crime dramas it never the less does deliver quality entertainment. 2 is more polished, more detailed, more nuanced and more engrossing than the first.Lets not forget the first movie is confined for 90% of it's run time in one stale building!

[–] ewansp-2 9 years ago

Exactly.

[–] shoobe01-1 9 years ago

Agree entirely. Mess is the right word. It's nicely filmed (occasionally beautifully), well acted, has the budget to encompass the scope, but it's not clear why it needs that scope.

It's NOT an action movie, but wants desperately to be some massive gang/crime drama but even carefully watching I barely had any idea what is going on, and never cared. An epic crime drama has to, above all have a coherent plot and a story that supports the action.

[–] theyellowsquad 9 years ago

How was the plot not coherent?? This isn't The Prestige, or Interstellar (both amazing films, but also the movies that I can see people have issues understanding). This is a well done but simple undercover cop/gang movie.

You are an idiot.

[–] halssila 9 years ago

IMO first was better. more compact.

This was kind of messy compared,I agree, but still a blast action flick!

[–] Costellog83 9 years ago

I didn't particularly like the 1st one.. but this one is trash.