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Selasa, 06 Mei 2014

Movie Review - The Raid 2 : Berandal

The Raid 2 : Berandal



Synopsis
He thought it was over. After fighting his way out of a building filled with gangsters and madmen - a fight that left the bodies of police and gangsters alike piled in the halls - rookie Jakarta cop Rama thought it was done and he could resume a normal life. He couldn't have been more wrong.

Formidable though they may have been, Rama's opponents in that fateful building were nothing more than small fish swimming in a pond much larger than he ever dreamed possible. And his triumph over the small fry has attracted the attention of the predators farther up the food chain. His family at risk, Rama has only one choice to protect his infant son and wife: He must go undercover to enter the criminal underworld himself and climb through the hierarchy of competing forces until it leads him to the corrupt politicians and police pulling the strings at the top of the heap.

And so Rama begins a new odyssey of violence, a journey that will force him to set aside his own life and history and take on a new identity as the violent offender "Yuda." In prison he must gain the confidence of Uco - the son of a prominent gang kingpin - to join the gang himself, laying his own life on the line in a desperate all-or-nothing gambit to bring the whole rotten enterprise to an end.

Credits
·         Starring : Iko Uwais, Arifin Putra, Tio Pakusadewo, Oka Antara, Julie Estelle, Ryuhei Matsuda, Kenichi Endo, and Kazuki Kitamura
·         Written by : Gareth Evans
·         Directed by : Gareth Evans
·         Produced by : Nate Bolotin
·         MPAA Rating : [ R ]
·         Distributor : Sony Pictures Classics
·         Release Date :  March 28, 2014




Movie Review
I know what you want to hear. You want to hear that The Raid 2 is bigger, badder and bolder than the first one. That somehow Gareth Evans managed to up his game exponentially in this sequel to one of the most gloriously violent movies of all time. To his credit, The Raid 2 is in every way a bigger more ambitious movie, offering a more elaborate story, a slew of new characters, and bigger battle ratios. But sometimes more isn't better, it's just more.

The Raid 2 picks up shortly after the story of The Raid: Redemption left off. Rama (Iko Uwais) has brought Lieutenant Wahyu (Pierre Gruno) to the authorities; the wounded Bowo (Tegar Satrya) is promptly excused to receive medical care. Then, a special internal branch of the police force offers Rama a dangerous mission he can't turn down. They want to topple the organized crime of Jakarta, and to do it they need an inside man. So, Rama goes undercover in prison to befriend Uco (Arifin Putra), the spoiled, power-hungry son of a top crime boss. Upon the pair's release, a power struggle ignites that makes Rama's real identity the least of his worries.

First off, it needs to be said that The Raid 2 is a sequel in only the most ornamental of terms. Evans, who wrote and directed the action-packed thriller, races to cut out every surviving character from the first film--save Rama--in the first ten minutes. From there, Rama's arc is overshadowed by the brooding quest of Uco to prove himself as a man/crime boss. Further muddying the waters of this so-called sequel is the recasting of Yayan Ruhian, who memorably played Mad Dog in the first film. He's back as a different hit man named Prakoso, this one cloaked in a ratty beard and bolstered with a tragic backstory. It's great to see him--and his outstanding martial arts skills--again, but it's nonetheless jarring. Really, The Raid 2 could too easily have been an entirely separate Jakarta-set crime drama chock-full of brutal battle scenes and a convoluted plot. But this could have been fine if it weren't so bogged down by too many ideas.

The Raid: Redemption was a slick and satisfying movie that not only offered stupendous and sickening fight scenes but also a tight plot that perfectly fueled the narrative. In the sequel, Evans once more offers jaw-dropping fight scenes full of surprises and lightning fast hand-to-hand combat, plus generous sprays of CGI blood. But they aren't as all-around successful this time. Part of the problem is the settings. In the first film, one battle after another broke out in dingy, grey apartments that were nearly identical. With nothing much to look at in the setting, audiences were able to tune in on the gloriously intense fight choreography. But when Evans throws his fighters in a flashy hibachi restaurant or a sprawling pit of mud packed with rioting prisoners, it's difficult to narrow in on the action, and the impact is lost.

Still, the bigger problem is that these fight scenes are nested in an overly complicated mafia plot that bloats the running time to 150-minutes. As Uco strolls through a predictable pattern of frustration to betrayal, his and Rama's story is staggered by fight scenes, which makes them feel shockingly episodic. Worse yet, because so much attention goes to Uco's lackluster thread, other more intriguing elements--flashy new assassins Prakoso, Hammer Girl, and the less eye-catching Baseball Bat Man --are woefully underdeveloped. Sure, Hammer Girl looks cool as hell in the trailers, but don't expect much more than that.

Don't get me wrong: The Raid 2 offers exactly the kind of pulse-pounding, mind-snapping fight scenes we came to expect because of the sensational original. But Evans had no editing eye when it came to shaping his story, and as such the film feels more like a rant than a cohesive narrative, or a powerful part two to Rama's tale. There are just too many ideas here. Rama's adventure is sidelined for Uco's story. Uco's story eats up tons of screentime, leaving little room for the proper development of the sequel's more compelling characters, or even a solid build for Rama's thread. The lop-sided narrative deadens the emotional impact of the deadly finale. As someone who was positively crazy over The Raid: Redemption, it pains me to say it, but The Raid 2 is half wildly entertaining, and half a slog.

Passive Verb Forms

PASSIVE VERB FORMS
Change the verb to the active voice and rewrite the sentence. Be sure to keep the same tense. In some cases, it will be necessary to supply a subject (see the second example).
1.       The books were taken by John.
John took the books.
2.       The boxes were mailed today.
He mailed the boxes today.
3.       The two packages were opened by my secretary.
My secretary opened the two packages.
4.       Our homework is corrected by our teacher.
Our teacher corrects our homework.
5.       Two buildings have been constructed by that company.
That company had constructed two buildings.
6.       That room wasn’t cleaned carefully yesterday.
He didn’t clean that room carefully yesterday.
7.       The truck is being loaded by the men now.
The men are loading the truck now.
8.       Was that machine checked by the inspector?
Did the inspector check that machine?
9.       Will that report be written by the same committee?
Will the same committee write that report?
10.   Has the news been announced by the president yet?
Has the president announced the news yet?
11.   The mail is delivered to this office twice a day.
This office receives the mail twice a day.
12.   All of us were surprised by his frank attitude.
His frank attitude surprised all of us.
13.   Was the repair work done by the mechanic?
Did the mechanic do the repair work?
14.   He wasn’t very much respected by the employees.
The employees didn’t respect him very much.
15.   Are many courses in English given during the summer?
Are they giving many courses in English during the summer?


USING PASSIVE VERBS
Change the verb to the passive voice and rewrite the sentence. Be sure to keep the same tense.
1.       He signed the letter.
The letter was signed by him.
2.       The secretary opens the mail every morning.
The mails is opened by the secretary every morning.
3.       The committee is considering that proposal right now.
That proposal is being considered by the committee right now.
4.       The army will complete that project next year.
That project will be completed by the army next year.
5.       His boss has transferred him to another department.
He has been transferred to another department by his boss.
6.       Will the company distribute the announcements?
Will the announcements be distributed by the company?
7.        An artist wrote that interesting article about Paris.
That interesting article about Paris was written by an artist.
8.       Today a large number of people speak English.
English is spoken by a large number of people today.
9.       Didn’t they return those books to the library?
Were those books not return by them to the library?
10.   The government has not changed that regulation yet.
That regulation has not been changed by the government yet.
11.   Someone stole all her valuable jewelry last night.
All her valuable jewelry were stolen by someone last night.
12.   Miss Peters wrote all of the reports for Mr. Johnson.
All of the reports were written my Miss Peters for Mr. Johnson.
13.   Bad weather has delayed Flight 202 from Miami.
Flight 202 from Miami has been delayed due to bad weather.
14.   Did the court divide the money among the children?
Were the money divided by the court among the children?
15.   Many scholars have translated that famous Greek epic.
That famous Greek epic has been translated by many scholars.

ACTIVE vs PASSIVE
Use the correct voice (active or passive) and the correct tense of verb in each sentence.
1.       Everyone (shock) by the terrible news yesterday.
 Active          : The terrible news was shocked everyone yesterday.
2.       Almost everyone (enjoy) the lecture last night.
Passive         : The lecture was enjoyed by almost everyone last night.
3.       English (teach) in the schools of almost every nation.
Active           : English taught in the schools of almost every nation.
4.       That proposal (consider) by the members right now.
Passive         : That proposal is considering by the members right now.
5.       The accident (happen) right here at 6:30 last night.
Active           : The accident happened right here at 6:30 last night.
6.       Smith (teach) at the University of Washington since 1948.
Active           : Smith has taught at the University of Washington since 1948.
7.       Mr. Harris (divide) the class into two sections tomorrow.
Passive         : The class will be divided into two sections by Mr. Harris tomorrow.
8.       Wilson (borrow) the money from Brown two weeks ago.
Active           : Wilson borrowed the money from Brown two weeks ago.
9.       Not much (say) about the matter since that time.
Active           : Not much said about the matter since that time.
10.   My friend (write) to me about it several times now.
Active           : My friend is writing to me about it several times now.
11.   Davis (promote) to the rank of sergeant last week.
Active           : Davis was promoted to the rank of sergeant last week.
12.   That event (occur) shortly after the meeting last week.
Active           : That event occurred shortly after the meeting last week.
13.   All the students (bring) guests to the party tomorrow night.
Passive         : Guests will be brought by all the students to the party tomorrow night.
14.   Less than half of the cans of paint (use) up to now.
Passive         : The cans of paint is being used less than half up to now.
15.   More classes in English (list) in the catalog next fall.
Passive         : The catalog will be listed more classes in English next fall.
16.   Everything (go) well so far. There (be) no trouble yet.
Active           : Everything is going well so far. There is no trouble yet.
17.   That movie about Napoleon’s life (disappoint) me greatly.
Active           : That movie about Napoleon’s life disappointed me greatly.
18.   The mail (deliver, always) to this office before 10 a.m.
Active           : The mail is always deliver to this office before 10 a.m.
19.   Who (furnish) the food for the picnic next weekend?
Active           : Who will furnish the food for the picnic next weekend?
20.   At this time, much attention (devote) to that problem.
Active           : At this time, much attention is devoting to that problem.
21.   Think carefully. I’m sure you (remember) his name.
Active           : Think carefully. I’m sure you remember his name.
22.   We (treat) very kindly by our hosts last Saturday.
Active           : Our hosts were treated us very kindly last Saturday.
23.   Mr. Wilson (make) something interesting statements yesterday.
Passive         : Something interesting statements were made by Mr. Wilson yesterday.
24.   A new textbook (publish) by that company next year.
Active           : That company will publish a new textbook next year.
25.   The noise from the trains (annoy) me terribly last night.
Active           : The noise from the trains annoyed me terribly last night.
26.   That old red house (build) in the year 1822.
Active           : That old red house was built in the year 1822.
27.   The report (examine, not) by a committee of experts yet.
Active           : A committee of expert has not examine the report yet.
28.   Cocktails (serve) to the guests about 10 minutes from now.
Passive         : Cocktails will be served to the guests about 10 minutes from now.
29.   His sharp remarks (embarrass) everyone last night.
Active           : His sharp remarks embarrassed everyone last night.
30.    Fred (introduce) to the fellow by Mr. Brown yesterday.
Active           : Mr. Brown introduced Fred to the fellow yesterday.
31.   Listen to this! I think this news (surprise) you!
Active           : Listen to this! I think this news will surprise you!
32.   The Ajax Shoe Company (employ) 25 new men next month.
Active           : The Ajax Shoe Company will employ 25 new men next month.
33.   Only 25 new students (admit) into the department in 1955.
Active           : Only 25 new students were admitted into the department in 1955.
34.   A second coat of paint (spread) over that surface tomorrow.
Active           : A second coat of paint will spread over that surface tomorrow.