Hollywood Popular Artists

Dec 18th 2012, 22:00

You've seen our Top Ten of 2012 list, but now let's take a look back at the movies that just missed the cut. These are our Honorable Mentions of 2012.

Here's a fun game to play: tell your friends that you want to watch a movie. When they ask what you have in mind, tell them it's an Indonesian movie, a film that only got a small release in the States. They'll likely scoff at your suggestion, but when you insist, they'll probably give in. Then watch as the next 100 minutes unfold and your friends' faces melt in awe of the incomparable action flick, "The Raid: Redemption."

From the mind of Welsh-born writer-director Gareth Evans, "The Raid" takes our conception of what a modern action film is supposed to be and turns it on its head. There's no CGI, the best action doesn't involve guns, and the toughest guy in the room doesn't have muscles bursting out of his greasy tank top. His name is Iko Uwais, a martial artist, and by the end of the movie, you'll be convinced he's something more than human.

The story is as straight forward as it get. An elite SWAT team gets word that a notorious drug lord is hulled up inside a high rise full of thugs, so they go in to get him. But guess what. When the criminal mastermind gets word of the raid, he locks down the block and puts a price on each copper's head.

So the team is left to fight their way out by any means necessary. In this case, "any means necessary" meeting unbelievable martial arts skills. It is no understatement when we say that the third best fight scene in "The Raid" is better than any other combat sequence in any other movie this year. It's that good.

While "The Raid" didn't exactly set the world on fire—as it had every right to—it was seen by enough of the right people to keep the flame going. Evans is currently prepping a sequel, "Berandal," which will also star Uwais.

Finally, tell your friends "You're welcome."

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