As a lifelong martial arts enthusiast and action movie aficionado, I have to say that both Baaghi and Life After Fighting have truly captured the spirit of the iconic The Raid in their own unique ways. What sets these movies apart is not just their breathtaking fight sequences, but the depth of character development they offer.
The upcoming Hollywood remake of the 2012 action hit “The Raid: Redemption,” directed by Gareth Evans, has faced challenges in production. However, two exceptional martial arts movies have emerged that make a direct remake less necessary. In an interview with Kristian Harloff, actor Frank Grillo, who starred in both “Werewolves” and “Creature Commandos,” discussed the difficulties of bringing the Hollywood version of “The Raid” to life, a project he was previously connected to. Grillo also expressed his new thoughts that the original two “Raid” films are best left untouched, stating that if something is extremely hard to replicate, it might be suggesting something significant.
As a fan, I can’t help but be drawn to “The Raid,” a film that delves into the thrilling exploits of an Indonesian police unit. They storm a Jakarta apartment complex teeming with criminals, only to find themselves in a desperate struggle for survival when the building’s criminal mastermind unleashes his followers against them. After more than a decade in development, it appears that an English-language remake of “The Raid” may never see the light of day. And honestly, I think that’s for the best. Instead, two captivating martial arts films from India and Australia have brilliantly captured the essence of “The Raid” – namely, “Baaghi” and “Life After Fighting.
2016’s Baaghi Is A Bollywood Riff On The Raid
After making his first leading role appearance in the 2014 film “Heropanti“, Tiger Shroff reappeared in his second movie as a leading man with the Bollywood martial arts film titled “Baaghi“, which translates to “Rebel” in English. In this film, Shroff plays a rebellious character named Ronny who is trained in martial arts by Guruswamy (Grandmaster Shifuji Shaurya Bharadwaj). As time goes on, Ronny mastered the Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu. However, when his girlfriend Sia (Shraddha Kapoor) is taken captive by Raghav, a merciless adversary played by Sudheer Babu, Ronny must fight through an entire apartment complex filled with his enemies’ minions to rescue her.
In a Bollywood-style twist on “The Karate Kid” and taking inspiration from Tony Jaa’s 2003 film “Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior,” Baaghi follows this pattern in its initial and middle sections. However, the true highlight of the movie is the extended climactic battle set in a massive apartment complex, where Tiger Shroff delivers fight after breathtaking fight in a Bollywood homage to “The Raid.” The film’s showcase of Shroff’s remarkable martial arts abilities, gymnastics prowess, and captivating screen presence, coupled with its tribute to the ancient Indian martial art of Kalaripayattu, make Baaghi a must-watch for martial arts enthusiasts.
The hit film “Baaghi” catapulted Tiger Shroff to prominence as a leading actor in Bollywood action movies, and it initiated the successful and continuing Baaghi movie series. Coincidentally, viewers of “The Raid” can find a similar excitement in “Baaghi”, with its action sequences reminiscent of “The Raid”, blended with typical Bollywood pizzazz and musical performances.
2024’s Life After Fighting Has An Epic Raid-Style Finale
2024 witnessed Bren Foster’s directorial debut, Life After Fighting, emerging as another spiritual sequel to the acclaimed film The Raid.. This movie revolves around Alex Faulker (played by Foster), a successful Australian MMA champion who operates a bustling martial arts school. When two of his students are taken by child traffickers, Alex embarks on a perilous confrontation with the abductors, a battle for survival.
Life Beyond Brawls
Bren Foster’s directorial debut features a remarkable script and direction, while his acting talent and impressive martial arts skills place him on par with greats like Scott Adkins, Michael Jai White, and Iko Uwais from “The Raid”. Moreover, the final 40 minutes of “Life After Fighting” match the intensity and power displayed in “The Raid”, making it one of the most impressive final confrontations since “The Raid” itself.
Baaghi & Life After Fighting Work Better Than A Direct Remake Of The Raid
Instead of copying the storyline of “The Raid“, films like “Baaghi” and “Life After Fighting” incorporate high-stakes combat sequences in unique environments, tailoring these scenes to fit their individual narratives and characters. This is a key reason why these movies are so effective.
In the thrilling saga of “Baaghi”, I found the climactic scene reminiscent of “Raid” to be a fitting conclusion for Tiger Shroff’s character, Ronny, as he transformed from an unruly youth into a disciplined warrior driven by love. Unlike many films, “Baaghi” doesn’t portray Shraddha Kapoor’s Sia as a damsel in distress needing saving. Instead, she stands tall as a warrior in her own right, mirroring the iconic wall-slam move from “The Raid” during the finale.
In “Life After Fighting,” Bren Foster weaves a tale about Alex, who grapples with remorse over the demise of his MMA career and marriage. Simultaneously, he directs his combat determination towards motivating his trainees. The story mirrors its “Raid” genealogy in the climax as Alex’s martial arts prowess and warrior mentality are pushed to their limits in the toughest battle he has ever encountered. This time, Alex fights not just for himself but for those he cherishes most profoundly.
Ultimately, “The Raid” being one of the top action movies of all time poses a challenging task for any potential remake. Although many action films have been impacted by “The Raid,” “Baaghi” and “Life After Fighting” are two that seem to grasp its essence particularly well. These titles have emerged as the most captivating tributes to “The Raid” that one could hope for, virtually rendering a remake redundant.
The Raid: Redemption is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Read More
- ENJ PREDICTION. ENJ cryptocurrency
- BCH PREDICTION. BCH cryptocurrency
- Top gainers and losers
- EUR RUB PREDICTION
- JASMY PREDICTION. JASMY cryptocurrency
- AVAX PREDICTION. AVAX cryptocurrency
- ONT PREDICTION. ONT cryptocurrency
- FEG/USD
- UNI PREDICTION. UNI cryptocurrency
- BADGER PREDICTION. BADGER cryptocurrency
2024-12-15 03:10