by Aly Lalji
In 2012, when Welsh writer, director Gareth Evans set free his baby, The Raid: Redemption, western audiences embraced his Indonesian action caper resulting to be a confirmed cult classic of action and martial arts. Who were these unknown Indonesian actors? Let alone, who was Gareth Evans? We watched, we were intrigued and we learned. The intense, brutal and bloody Indonesian sub-titled film cost $1:1 million and made $9.1 million at the box office.
In 2012, when Welsh writer, director Gareth Evans set free his baby, The Raid: Redemption, western audiences embraced his Indonesian action caper resulting to be a confirmed cult classic of action and martial arts. Who were these unknown Indonesian actors? Let alone, who was Gareth Evans? We watched, we were intrigued and we learned. The intense, brutal and bloody Indonesian sub-titled film cost $1:1 million and made $9.1 million at the box office.
Subsequently, a sequel was spawned with a bigger budget of $4.5 million, making only $6.3 million at the box office. Putting that aside, the sequel was given five stars by many critics and it was dubbed as ‘The Dark Knight of action films.’ The sequel was a 150 minute epic and was defined as an exciting, electrifying piece of entertainment. A franchise was possibly born
An American remake is now commencing into pre production scheduled for a January shoot. Australian director Patrick Hughes, who will taste and smell success with directing The Expendables 3, is the chosen one to take on the challenge of directing The Raid remake. Good luck is all that anyone can say. How could he possibly top the action choreography that Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais conveyed? The original film was pure, pleasurable perfection, although we mustn’t be too pessimistic for the remake.
Gareth Evans is on board as Executive Producer; so his blessing has been given and although he will cash in on the remake, let’s not forgets what remakes are for. They are simply for mainstream western audiences who have low attention spans. They are simply for the people who can’t engage in other cultures and cannot work up the motivation to read English sub-titles. In other words, the remake is for lazy sub-human sloths.
Taylor Kitsch has been offered the lead role and is contemplating to accept it. At this juncture in his career, it would be a wise decision to take it, considering he starred in John Carter, 2012’s blockbuster flop, not to mention the boring Battleship. Last chances don’t come often, so grab it now before it goes to Chris and Liam Hemsworth, also rumoured of casting.
Obviously, the premise will be the same. A SWAT team enter a building to get to the top and arrest the drug king pin, where many fights, battles and brutality will occur along their plight. A mainstream movie audience will always need their fix that looks like a violent action game. The Raid: Redemption remake will deliver that, but to the true fans, it may disappoint.
An American remake is now commencing into pre production scheduled for a January shoot. Australian director Patrick Hughes, who will taste and smell success with directing The Expendables 3, is the chosen one to take on the challenge of directing The Raid remake. Good luck is all that anyone can say. How could he possibly top the action choreography that Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais conveyed? The original film was pure, pleasurable perfection, although we mustn’t be too pessimistic for the remake.
Gareth Evans is on board as Executive Producer; so his blessing has been given and although he will cash in on the remake, let’s not forgets what remakes are for. They are simply for mainstream western audiences who have low attention spans. They are simply for the people who can’t engage in other cultures and cannot work up the motivation to read English sub-titles. In other words, the remake is for lazy sub-human sloths.
Taylor Kitsch has been offered the lead role and is contemplating to accept it. At this juncture in his career, it would be a wise decision to take it, considering he starred in John Carter, 2012’s blockbuster flop, not to mention the boring Battleship. Last chances don’t come often, so grab it now before it goes to Chris and Liam Hemsworth, also rumoured of casting.
Obviously, the premise will be the same. A SWAT team enter a building to get to the top and arrest the drug king pin, where many fights, battles and brutality will occur along their plight. A mainstream movie audience will always need their fix that looks like a violent action game. The Raid: Redemption remake will deliver that, but to the true fans, it may disappoint.
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