The Raid: Redemption Review

Written by Bobby Ramos



THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2012)
Starring Iko Uwais, Ananda George,and Ray Sahetapy

I haven't been this excited over an action film that was not Comic book related in a long time. When I first heard about The Raid, I wondered if the pictures in my mind, would match up to what was actually filmed. When I first saw the red band trailer, my mind's mental images were beaten up and shot dead in their tracks. A movie that combined martial arts with gunplay, in the spirit of the underrated era of kung Fu movies in the 80's. But instead of Cynthia Rothrock we have the awesome Iko Uwais which if you have seen his previous collaboration with Director Gareth Evans (Check out “Merantau”), you will know that this is gonna be a fun ride. Before I get into how I felt about this movie lemme run down the plot real quick.

A team of cops are about to raid the building of a notorious crime boss that is entirely inhabited by killers on each floor, but there seems to be more behind it than just a simple tag and bag.

Yup that’s it, the entire plot summed up in a few sentences, which if you ask me is what an action movie should be, and not everything needs to be a slow paced story with a huge 3 hour storyline. This is something that is a love letter to both the genre of Action as well as it's fellow fans.



This movie was a huge “Picnic Basket” full of ass kicking goodies. You got elbows, knees and throws that are so painfully realistic looking. No wire work, no flying in the air, nothing that Hollywood has beaten to death. I will say this, if you are looking for a different style vs. another then you will be disappointed, but if you know the country and that it is the fighting style to know there, you will enjoy what this movie has to offer. You will see some of the sickest kills in fighting history. From broken door frames, to machete gangs, to simply being chucked over the side of a rail!

The characters are all different in their own way, you have the hero who knows the difference from right and wrong but has no trouble killing, and the villain is not a sharped dressed man. It is a dude who says to the world “I don't give a damn what you think about my style, I can eat ramen while shooting you in the head and still be respected."

The direction is a clear display of someone who watched their share of GOOD kung Fu movies. No close up shaky cam stuff that we are being force fed, it's the right amount of framing and the right cuts at the right moments. Yes the action is fast paced but the camera man can keep up with the action. I was in a theater with a crowd who knew how to react and this just added to the violence on display. You will say “OOH” on instinct thanks to the direction and editing.



The soundtrack is an element of its own; I am not a Linkin Park fan AT ALL (Yes even the Hybrid Theory years ((Band not album)). But I give props to Mike Shinoda for seriously providing the best action soundtrack to a beat em up, without having to resort to your typical random usage of Lapdance by N.E.R.D., or Bodies by Drowning Pool. (Dis-honorable mention “Hoobastank” ((Anything by them))). But I haven't wanted to make a playlist for my video games with a modern movie soundtrack in a long time.

With all that said, you will love the final fight of the movie. You will seriously have to pick the people you root for, but despite your decision you will want to stand up and applaud the fighters for putting on a great and bruising fight.

So do I think you should see The Raid: Redemption? Yes, but only if you crave something different, something brutal and something very exciting. But if you don't like subtitles, and non-American leads, then I will suggest this, open your damn mind cause you are missing out!

Casa de Mi Padre Review

Written by Bobby Ramos



Release: 2012
Starring: Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna

When I first heard about Will Ferrell being in an all Spanish film, I seriously did not know what to think, that was until I saw the trailer in 2011 for the film known as Casa de Mi Padre. I was blown away by the star power this movie possessed along with what looked like beautiful cinematography. I searched from IMDB to every movie news site I trusted to find the release date or show times for this movie. To my great disappointment (at the time) it was revealed that the movie was finished, however it had no distributor so it seemed like this film I was dying to see was stuck in distribution limbo.

After a long year of drinking and screaming to the gods why such an idea goes unseen. I found out that someone finally stepped up and was distributing the Spanish comedy. I counted down the days, watched the trailers and interviews until finally the release of the film. I sat in my chair anticipating the trailers to be over. Finally the screen stopped projecting green rating cards and the film was about to start.

Those of you who are unfamiliar with what this movie is about, allow me to explain briefly. The story centers around a rancher named Armando Alverez (Ferrell). Who has never expressed the feelings of love to anyone (Other than his cattle). While tending to his heard he witnesses a murder on his father's land by ruthless drug lord “Onza” played by Gael Garcia Bernal (Amores Perros, Science Of Sleep). When attempting to tell his father of the heinous act (Played by Pedro Armendáriz Jr
of “License To Kill” and “Once Upon A Time In Mexico) , it is cut off by the return of his much more respected and loved brother Raul (Diego Luna, “Milk” & “The Terminal”) who seems to be living the good life of an international business man and not the hard working day to day labors that of the Rancher. Raul has returned from his travels not alone for he has brought his fiancé the lovely Sonia played by the very heavenly Genesis Rodriguez (Man on A Ledge) who seems to have captured the heart of Armando as well. It is later revealed that the acts of Onza are not only affecting the land but also Raul's business as well.

Without giving too much away I will start off by saying that this movie is worth the wait. Not because it has people who's work I enjoy but because this movie pays homage and well pokes fun at the things that make Latin entertainment the amazing spectacle that it has come to be known as. From the first shot of the “Mexico Scope” logo, to the brilliant performance during the end credits. Casa de Mi Padre is beautifully shot and scored and carefully crafted to it's fullest, making it a campy delight. After a while you forget about the whole Chuck Heston joke of Ferrell playing a Mexican and just focus on the other funny elements of the movie (Novella close-ups, musical cues and amazing puppetry.)

So fans of Spanish cinema, grindhouse and painted set backgrounds check out Casa de Mi Padre and try your best not to wanna talk in an accent after it is done.



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4 out of 5