THE BIG 4 (2022)

Directed By: Timo Tjahjanto

Written By: Timo Tjahjanto and Johanna Wattimena

Cinematography: Batara Goempar

Editor: Dinda Amanda

Cast: Abimana Aryasatya, Putri Marino, Lutesha, Arie Kriting, Kristo Immanuel, Marthino Lio, Michelle Tahalea, Michael Kho, Donny Damera, Budi Ros

A by-the-book detective investigates the death of her father and follows a clue to a remote tropical island, only to find out his true identity as a leader of a group of assassins. Now hunted by his enemies, she has to team up with the crooks her father had trained – four retired, down on their luck assassins itching to get back in the game.


Directed by Timo Tjahjanto, like Director Gareth  Evans they bring beauty and energy to their Jaw-dropping and brutal action sequences. You generally know you are going to have a good time. 

You can never go wrong with either of them as director and as always promise an exciting Experience. You can tell the directors are having fun in their presentations and are thankful they get to keep making movies. 

Wish they would be allowed to make more projects with bigger budgets. Then again that might dilute their aesthetic and take away from Their inventiveness and originality. 

Timo Tjahjanto seems almost like a best-kept secret amongst film fans. Especially action die-hard fans 

As long as Netflix keeps showcasing him he is in for a good ride. His films have great stories and characters to go with them 

Action films for some like me come off as not as emotional. Except for base reactions that provide motivation for the characters or their reactions. Emotions are expressed In These films as an overall bonding experience of action dreams that the audience wishes they could experience with excitement, adrenaline, and hero worship like they were there. As they are like a rite of passage, a shared adventure. 

This film is the most intentionally comedic of all of his films thus far. The storyline might be dark for some. Though This is his most mainstream or as close as he has come so far and designed it seems to appeal to a broader audience with action and a bunch of comedy thrown in as well as a revenge tale. 

As this is an action film, jungle adventure, and island getaway all in one. That is openly comedic. The cliches are here yet updated and funky. 

The drugged high scene is amazing for how physically actress Putri Marino transforms herself and her demeanor 

The ultimate villain Might remind some of Takia Wahtiti’s Performance in the movie FREE GUY only here, actually physically dangerous. Though jsit as impeccably styled and over the top ridiculous that showcases how dangerous he can be.

It Makes you wonder sometimes If the assassins make so many mistakes because they have never seen or don’t realize they are in an action film. So they keep falling for diversions, tricks, and traps.

This film feels like a live-action comic book. It’s full of greatness and sees itself up for a sequel. 

Definitely more of an impressive PG-13 movie except for the graphic violence 

Grade: B

THE RAID 2: BERANDAL (2014)

raid2

Written, Directed & Edited By: Gareth Evans
Cinematography By: Matt Flannery & Dimas Imam Subhono
Music By: Aria Prayogi, Joseph Trapenese & Fajar Yuskemal
Fight Choregraphy By: Iwo Uwais & Yayan Ruhain 


Cast: Iwo Uwais, Julie Estelle, Yayan Ruhain, Arifin Putra, Donny Alamsyah, Oka Antara, Alex Abbad, Tio Pakusodewo, Very Tri Yulisman

He thought it was over. After fighting his way out of a building filled with gangsters and madmen – a fight that left the bodies of police and gangsters alike piled in the halls – rookie Jakarta cop Rama thought it was done and he could resume a normal life. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Formidable though they may have been, Rama’s opponents in that fateful building were nothing more than small fish swimming in a pond much larger than he ever dreamed possible. And his triumph over the small fry has attracted the attention of the predators farther up the food chain. His family at risk, Rama has only one choice to protect his infant son and wife: He must go undercover to enter the criminal underworld himself and climb through the hierarchy of competing forces until it leads him to the corrupt politicians and police pulling the strings at the top of the heap. And so Rama begins a new odyssey of violence, a journey that will force him to set aside his own life and history.

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