When most of us heard that the version of Gareth Evans’ “The
Raid 2: Berandal” that screened at Sundance earlier this year was 149 minutes
long, we assumed that was an ideal cut, and that the theatrical release would
be trimmed significantly. Nope. The film is being unleashed in its full, two-and-a-half-hour
glory—the true director’s cut reportedly hovers around two forty-five—and thank
whatever deity or higher power you put your faith in, because it is as nuts as
you hoped it would be. “Berandal” takes everything the first film, “The Raid:
Redemption,” does and cranks it up exponentially. An increased budget means
multiple locations, bigger set pieces, and insane action scene piled on top of insane
action scene.
