This is my entry to the CineTV Contest #64 - Favorite Action Movie
I was inspired by my good friend @mypathtofire to compete in this competition cause I noticed him participating in one of these before.
Photo by RDNE Stock project: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-pair-of-men-wearing-white-and-gray-doboks-sparring-8612528/
In the month of June 2023 we are all talking about the recently released action movie called "John Wick Chapter 4", I might disappoint a lot of people in saying it is "NOT" the best action movie of all time nor is any of the John Wick movies previously released either. But I must give my reasons as to why I do not approve of John Wick 4 make no mistake I enjoyed the movie but I consider it a 5/10 and not even a 6. Here are my valid reasons:
- John Wick is shot and he goes down from a huge building in the end of part 3 but some how we see him 100 percent fine riding a horse in pursuit of some people and insanely shooting them with his gun. Now what happened before in part 3 at the end? the writers failed to explain how did John Wick recover so fast is he super man or something?
- More than multiple times in the movie John Wick is seen thrown through heights and also in one famous scene at the end he is kicked through over 100s of stairs yet he keeps getting back up.
- We are told John Wick uses a bullet proof suit yet even when enemies shoot at his head multiple times during the movie over 100s of times really he just covers his head with his coat some how evading these gun shots. How is that even possible now I can leave that up to you guys to decide.
- There were multiple times during the movie John Wick should have died already but we only see this at his tomb at the very end of the movie.
- John Wick does not show reality in what so ever sense and I feel the writers should label him as a super hero cause this franchise has become another cash grab like the "Fast & The Furious" Franchise.
- How is it possible that we will have a John Wick Chapter 5 when John dies at the very end of Chapter 4?
The Raid: Redemption is the title of the movie that I have chosen to be my all-time favorite action movie and you can make one thing for sure the hero of the movie is punished throughout the entirety of the reel time and we the audience feel his pain some how connecting with him on an emotional level unlike John Wick also The Raid: Redemption even though depicts 10 times more realism than the entire John Wick franchise and for me is a 10/10 rated movie in all departments really.
Please refer to the IMDB Link for more in-depth details if you are interested in watching this movie.
Directed by Gareth Evans and starring Iko Uwais this movie was filmed in Indonesia by an Indonesian production company and not Hollywood and later was distributed to the United States Of America directly without the involvement of any studios according to my research with the title "The Raid: Redemption" for American Audiences.
Story
The premise is very simple a Police raid is being called for with a squadron of more than 12+ policemen to go to a drug lord to bring him to justice in a highly secure area that has a huge 15 stories building as its headquarters; with the main villain residing on the 15th floor. The policemen know that this task would not be an easy one however they do not realise that it is in fact an impossible one.
Action
You do not wait for 30+ minutes for the action to start rolling in. The fight sequences start within the first 15 minutes and continue throughout the movie. Special close-in Panasonic hand-held video cameras are used to film hand-to-hand combat scenes without the use of any shaky cam whatsoever. The fight scenes throughout the movie are a spectacle to watch as we continuously see how the main hero Rama continues his struggle but his grit and determination to cross the finish line is a treat to watch. Indonesian kung fu-style combat is in full effect in this movie which is really intense to watch and is really enjoyable.
Plot Twist At The End
Yes, the premise is quite basic but this does not mean it has a twist at the very last part of the movie which I will not spoil for you all. But I will say this much the drug lord had internal connections in the police department all along and these dirty cops are revealed at the later stages of the movie.
Why I Consider It The Best Action Movie Ever Made
After its release there were countless movies that were inspired by this movie and the most notable one was "Dredd" which was based on the Judge Dredd comic book. My reason is simple it has non-stop action all throughout the movie but not only that the intensity never loosens up comparing it to movies like "The Expandable" franchise you will start laughing at the latter when you watch this one. The main hero is fighting one on one with lots of intention and his sole purpose is to survive each and every fight he gets into. The building has traps everywhere and close-quarter corridors, doors, broken walls, and vantage points for enemies to fire bullets at any given time. So the main hero has to be on his toes at all times to survive each and every building story. Climbing one building story at a time and not only that over and over again facing enemies in close-quarter combat situations.
Why I Feel The Raid: Redemption > John Wick Chapter 4 In Every Way Possible
John Wick Chapter 4 and The Raid: Redemption are both top-notch action films, but I think The Raid: Redemption is better in every regard. Some of the explanations are as follows:
- The action is more visceral and lifelike. The action sequences in The Raid: Redemption are superbly choreographed and lifelike. The violence is intense and gory, and the performers use actual martial arts methods. The action sequences in John Wick Chapter 4 are equally expertly orchestrated, but they are more flashy and stylized. Additionally, the violence is less graphic and more comical.
- The narrative is more interesting. The story in The Raid: Redemption is straightforward but powerful. A teenage police officer is dispatched to a high-rise apartment complex that is under the hands of a drug lord. To free a hostage, the officer must battle his way through the structure. The plot of John Wick Chapter 4 is more intricate, but it is also more muddled and perplexing. Because of the time-jumping in the film, it is challenging to remember who is who and what is happening.
- More intriguing are the characters. The Raid: Redemption has well-rounded, relatable characters. The drug lord is a threatening antagonist, yet the cop is a likable protagonist. In Chapter 4 of John Wick, the characters are less fully realized. The antagonists are one-dimensional caricatures, and the protagonist is a mysterious loner.
- More intensity and tension are present in the environment. There is a feeling of claustrophobia and anxiety throughout The Raid: Redemption because it takes place in just one place. Since John Wick Chapter 4 is set in several different places, the tension and suspense are not as high.
Overall, I think John Wick Chapter 4 is a weaker action film than The Raid: Redemption. The tale is more engaging, the characters are more compelling, and the atmosphere is more intense and suspenseful. The action is more realistic and visceral.
I strongly suggest watching The Raid: Redemption if you enjoy action movies. So do not waste your time if you have come all this way reading my essay and take some popcorn before watching The Raid: Redemption on your 4k tv sets right now.
A special thanks to CineTv for organizing this event and giving me an opportunity to participate as I consider myself a newbie writer for me this is a golden chance to get some new set of eyeballs on my content.