In the pantheon of modern action cinema, few films command the respect and reverence of Gareth Evans’ The Raid 2: Berandal . Released in 2014 as the follow-up to the 2011 cult classic The Raid: Redemption , this Indonesian martial arts epic is frequently cited by critics and directors (including Quentin Tarantino) as the greatest action movie ever made.
What keeps people coming back to this film a decade later? It’s the sheer technical mastery of the Silat-based combat.
Features warring syndicates, corrupt officials, and family legacies.
The core of the film is a battle of wits between Patnaik and Dadabhai (played by Riteish Deshmukh), a revered philanthropist whose public image hides a massive empire of corruption .
The film explores the clash between a "saintly" public persona and deep-rooted corruption, focusing on a battle of wits rather than just physical action. The Times of India Reception: