Deep in the heart of Jakarta's slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world's most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when... see more
Deep in the heart of Jakarta's slums lies an impenetrable safe house for the world's most dangerous killers and gangsters. Until now, the run-down apartment block has been considered untouchable to even the bravest of police. Cloaked under the cover of pre-dawn darkness and silence, an elite swat team is tasked with raiding the safe house in order to take down the notorious drug lord that runs it. But when... see more
I keep seeing a lot of praise for this film, saying it's "the best action movie ever seen". It's either they haven't watch that many action films or all the hype train is blindly choo-chooing around Gareth Evans whose work I recall was included in _V/H/S/2_ (2013). Maybe it's the result of such a low budget production that's sending off the horns here. After all, the entire movie takes place in that one old building seen in the movie poster anyway, kinda like _Die Hard_ (1988).
So I rented this on VUDU recently, and thought it was just good. The gritty nature of it is very typical to look at, that bland "Call of Duty" look or even that _Dredd_ (2011) movie. Parts of the film and its premise reminded me of Tony Jaa's _Ong-Bak_ series with the flying elbows and flying knees, while certain notable scenes (where the first bullet shot sends off an array of mayhem) reminded me a little bit of _OLDBOY_ (2003); that grenade in the refrigerator is just like in _Die Hard_; and how the SWAT team head on upwards the building reminded me of infected going up that building in _[REC]_ (2007)/_Quarantine_ (2008). I do however very well respect how the main characters prefer fists over gun when they fight as a way of honor, a code to true fighters alike, which made me think of things like _Street Fighter_ and _Mortal Kombat_. Tony Jaa, Donnie Yen, Jackie Chan, Jet Li all represent their country's action flick counterparts as does _The Raid_ series for Indonesia. Give it a go if you're looking for more of that modern fist-pumping Asian action flick.
I feel like 8 is harsh because the choreography in this movie is so good. Much better than the famed John Wick. However, the pacing is off. I honestly wouldn't mind if the movie was even shorter because the third act drags.
Mad Dog is an amazing villain.