Merantau tagged posts

April 12, 2014, Posted in  Reviews

Director: Gareth Evans (as G.H Evans)

Writer: Gareth Evans (as G.H Evans)

Cast: Iko Uwais, Sisca Jessica, Alex Abbad, Mads Koudal, Yusuf Aulia, Yayan Ruhian, Laurent Buson, Donny Alamsyah, Christine Hakim

Cert: 15

Running time: 107mins (International version)

Year: 2009

The lowdown: The breakthrough film for Raid director Gareth Evans, Merantau is a martial arts gem. A showcase for telecom-company-dispatch-driver-turned-action-superstar Iko Uwais and the Pencak Silat fighting style, this riotous adrenalin rush pays affection tribute to old school kung fu cinema. Uwais is perfect as the country boy pitted against gangsters and slave traders, while Evans directs like he’s got the hottest superhero property on the planet. Glorious fun.

The full verdict: Gareth Evans’ low budget debut ...

April 12, 2014, Posted in  Reviews

Director: Gareth Evans (as G.H. Evans)

Writer: Gareth Evans (as G.H Evans)

Cast: Nicholas Bool, Mads Koudal, Jared Morgan, Solitaire Mouneimne, Emma Powell

Cert: 18

Running time: 77mins

Year: 2006

The lowdown: Gareth (The Raid 2) Evans’ micro-budgeted, Cardiff based debut is a sombre, sordid tale riffing on the urban myth of snuff movies and the God’s lonely man vengeance of Taxi Driver. Sandpaper rough but brimming with potential, its chief fascination comes from seeing Evans’ themes and style in embryonic form.

The full verdict: Footsteps  (also known as the blunter Vengeance Day on UK DVD) is raw. Raw in its story and themes, raw in its production and execution, raw in its talent.

And a raw blueprint for what would come once Evans had relocated to Indonesia.

A basic story h...