Movie Trailer: 'The Raid: Redemption' U.S. Trailer

Is there any more that I can possibly write about my anticipation for The Raid?  At this point, I just want to see the damned movie already.  It certainly doesn’t help that Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions keeps dangling film clips and trailers in front of fans like carrots in front of Bugs Bunny.  They obviously know they have one Hell of a product on their hands, and have no compunction about teasing it up until the zero hour.  What else could possibly explain their curious decision to rename it The Raid: Redemption so late in the game?  Just what is that title change supposed to signify?

Perhaps to announce this curious title change, Sony has released the U.S. trailer for the film, which amazingly has even more new footage.  Some of it reveals quieter moments in a film that doesn’t appear to have many of them.  Every other trailer or clip released up until now has shown what happens after all Hell has already broken loose in that 30 story high-rise.  The U.S trailer shows a bit of the calm before the storm.  

The opening moments show Rama doing calisthenics and combat training early in the morning.  He tenderly kisses his pregnant wife’s belly before going out to work on what will surely be the roughest day on the job he’s ever had.  It’s all reminiscent of Ethan Hawke's opening moments in Training Day.  There are a few more shots of the villain that stress his omnipresence in his fortress.  He seems to be someone that his minions hear from more than they actually see.  

There’s even a tip off as to exactly when and where the squad of police pass the point of no return in the villain’s stronghold. At the halfway point, the trailer explodes into action.  The agility of the stuntmen has to be seen to be believed.  It’s simply amazing.  These guys have to be the most flexible and durable stunt players ever.  The trailer ends with Rama ramming a henchmen's head into a wall repeatedly.

Apparently there’s no such thing as overkill when it comes to the marketing for The Raid.  How can there be, when the product looks this exciting?  That sentiment appears to carry over into the film itself, which is quite obviously bursting at the seams with all manner of carnage and mayhem.  Here I was thinking that the ceiling of action cinema had been reached a long time ago, and now Gareth Evans unleashes this beast upon the world.