 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Raid: Redemption
- Review Date: March 23, 2012
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2012
Common Sense Media says
Indonesian fight/chase movie is well made but ultra-violent.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that The Raid: Redemption is an ultra-violent Indonesian chase/fight movie. The entire movie is basically one extended battle, with guns and knives, as well as hammers, billy clubs, machetes, and martial arts. There's extensive blood, many dead bodies, and many other painful moments of bashing and smashing. Though the movie is spoken in Indonesian, language is also an issue in the English subtitles: "f--k" is used often, as well as "s--t" and other strong words. The movie's main setting houses a drug lab, and some of the occupants are junkies, but these things are only shown in brief flashes. Sex isn't an issue, and the hero is a fairly positive role model, despite the high number of dead and wounded he leaves in his wake -- he's an exceptional martial artist, and he always tries to do the right thing. Still, the movie is too intense for all but the most mature teens.
What's the story?
Rookie cop Rama (Iko Uwais) prepares for a day on the job as a member of a special-forces team: Their mission is to infiltrate a 15-story industrial apartment building and extract a sinister crime lord (Ray Sahetaphy). But when the team is spotted and the alarm is sounded, every resident of the building -- a collection of thieves and killers -- tries to destroy them. Rama finds himself alone, with only his martial arts skills to protect him. Things get even more complicated when he tries to save a wounded colleague, and -- even more shocking -- when he discovers the identity of the crime lord's right-hand man. It all comes down to a brutal, winner-take-all fight with the aptly-named Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian).
Is it any good?
"Clever" may not be the right word for The Raid: Redemption, but it's certainly economical, compact, and potent. Writer/director Gareth Evans -- who was born in Wales and makes movies in Indonesia -- has come up with a good idea for a single-setting story, taking place over the course of one day, allowing for more focus on fighting.
The concept of the floors growing ever more dangerous as they get higher, with escape only on the bottom floor, is intriguing (and video game-like), and Evans brilliantly uses the look and feel of the dirty concrete and graffiti to emphasize menace. He often gets the camera close to the action, which sometimes has a visceral effect, but sometimes it's a little too close; there's some off-kilter shakiness and some routine filmmaking "tricks" that can distract from the experience. Ultimately, the movie is too purposefully violent for kids, and the "redemption" of the title never really comes into play (no one is redeemed).
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about The Raid's intense violence. How necessary is it to the story? How does the impact of the violence in a movie like this one compare to what you might see in a horror movie?
Is Rama a role model? Does he believe in people's inherent goodness, even though he's surrounded by corruption? Can he be a positive role model if he hurts and/or kills so many during his ordeal?
Is The Raid a good demonstration of martial arts? Is it used for self-defense or for unleashing violence?
How does the movie's setting -- an industrial, graffiti-covered apartment building -- add to or detract from the story?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 13 years old
April 14, 2012
AGE
Pretty good for an Indonesian film.
Now get this,I don't watch Indonesian films at all but this one was showing at AMC and I heard it was very good so I went to check this out.Surprisingly,it had well cut fight scenes and awesome acting.However,there's lots of bloody violenc and shootings so I don't recommend it to all teens.
What other families should know:
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Adult
May 28, 2012
AGE
Ludiricious battlefest... R-rating deserved.
The Raid: Redemption is a movie made in 2011 by Gareth Evans. This movie tells about a group of elite police officers who want to take control of a tall building that houses a brutal crime lord and his thugs. The violence in the movie is very prolonged, brutal and often very grisly and noise producing. The language is also very strong (alltough it's in malesian, but you'll hear word's such f*ck and c*nt). Due to the thematical disturbance and strong bloody violence nobody under 17 should see this movie. Very intense and gripping.
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Teen, 14 years old
June 18, 2012
AGE
SERBUAN MAUT
Amazingly made Action movie! It is very violent though and there is subtitled bad language (non-sexual context). There is a good role-model, but many bad ones. One of the best Action movies EVER! I love Serbuan Maut
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Adult
August 29, 2012
AGE
The Raid Redemption is the new standard in action films
The Raid Redemption is a violent, intense, and edgy action film from Indonesia and it also happens to be one of the best action films ever made in movie history. Expertly filmed with amazing action scenes and tight choreography helps the film stand on its own and above all the recent action films released in 2012 and before. The film is definitely not for anyone under 16. The film is raw and relentless when the action gets going, especially the climatic fight near the end of the film. I found no faults in this movie. The only one I could think that might not interest people is that the film is in Indonesian with English subtitles. Do not let this minor detail deter you from seeing this film. This is not just another action movie; it's an experience.
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Parent
March 5, 2013
AGE
SUPER BRILLIANT MOVIE
The Raid is crazy gory fun but restricted might be its rating....
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Teen, 15 years old
September 30, 2012
AGE
The Raid
Really fun and entertaining.
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| Studio: | Sony Pictures Classics |
| Director: | Gareth Evans |
| Cast: | Doni Alamsyah, Iko Uwais, Ray Sahetaphy |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 101 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | March 23, 2012 |
| DVD release date: | August 14, 2012 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | strong brutal bloody violence throughout, and language |
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