The Raid 2: Now We Fight Inside, Outside, and on the Road

How could The Raid 2 succeed as a sequel to one of the best action films of all time?The Raid  was a low-budget martial arts/action film from Indonesia that rocked the genre and gained worldwide attention.But instead of playing it safe and replaying the original's formula, The Raid 2 goes for it all.The first movie spans a few hours. But the sequel? It's a two-and-a-half-hour epic undercover cop crime saga that unfolds over two years.And not to worry. Writer/director Gareth Evans expanded the scope of the action as much as the story. Stars and choreographers Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian return, along with the explosive Cecep Arif Rahman, as The Assassin, and more.But can The Raid 2 deliver a plot along with the explosive action?Listen to this episode as I explore an unbelievable chase scene, whether or not retrofitting this sequel into an existing screenplay works, and the mesmerizing final showdown.Written and Directed by Gareth Evans. Starring Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Oka Antara, Tio Pakusadewo, Alex Abbad, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endō, Kazuki Kitamura.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com