Merantau
Directed by:
Gareth EvansScreenplay:
Gareth EvansCinematography:
Matt FlanneryCast:
Iko Uwais, Sisca Jessica, Christine Hakim, Mads Koudal, Yusuf Aulia, Alex Abbad, Yayan Ruhian, Laurent Buson, Doni Alamsyah, Ratna GalihPlots(1)
Yuda (Iko Uwais) leaves the comforts of his village behind to begin his "Marantau", a time-honoured tradition, looking to make his way in the bustling city of Jakarta. After a chance encounter with Astri, Yuda saves her and her younger brother, Adit, from a dangerous trafficking ring and are the group is forced to go on the run. Yudis introduction to the big city is a baptism of fire as every criminal in the city seedy underworld hounds their every step. (iTunes)
(more)Reviews (2)
Gareth Evans's filmography should ideally be seen chronologically, because that's the way to appreciate his development and progress and the work he has produced. Merantau Warrior is understandably weak in terms of plot, but the perfectly clear and traditionally uncompromising action passages are a sure sign that the potential is enormous. Unlike The Raid, it lacks budget and the A-list profile of an action director. It has its flaws, of course, but on the other hand the raw feeling of Jakarta's gritty outskirts and sometimes very decent fights drives it forward. For a directorial debut, a great, bold and in some aspects a (sub)genre-defining achievement.
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I simply enjoy Iko Uwais. He's small, but he's great in action scenes and in my opinion, he's one of the biggest action stars of our time, at least as far as martial arts are concerned. I hope he gets a lot more exposure than just in home-grown, Indonesian work because he deserves more films. Merantau Warrior has a simple story, but the slower pace makes it a specific film.
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