The Raid: Redemption was such a revolutionary movie, it is no wonder it is near the top of our 19 action movies that changed everything. The Indonesian martial arts thriller came from writer-director Gareth Evans and now the wunderkind is back with the sequel, The Raid 2.

The Raid 2, in short and believe it or not, pushes the envelope even further than the original.

Iko Uwais is Rama, a policeman with a wife and baby who is compelled to leave them behind and go undercover to once and for all rid his city of the crime lord that runs it. There’s a reason the time is now: Said crime lord’s son is in jail serving a prison sentence and Rama has to be arrested and head to one of Indonesia’s most notorious prisons.

To say he is greeted with open arms is the exact opposite of what occurs. In fact, there are a couple of fists and fury fights that kick off this film within the first act. Uwais battles dozens of men at once in each fight and it is truly mind-blowing. What’s absolutely incredible is how Uwais and Evans up the ante with each successive fight scene.

See, Rama befriends the son of the gangster in prison. And when they both get out, Rama is taken into the family business because of how he protected the son in prison. Then, he more than proves himself when the gangsters come under attack. But, things are not easy for Rama. He misses his family, and the killing he has to do on a daily basis -- he begins to think -- is not why he signed up to be a cop.

Evans is not only a powerful filmmaker in terms of capturing violence as ballet with its fluid motion and kinetic intensity, he also has written a screenplay that is one of the more compelling crime stories we’ve seen in some time. There are real levels of emotion that run the gamut throughout his film, and what Rama feels, we feel. It is astounding.

But, at the end of the day why people must see this film is teased in The Raid 2 trailer -- non-stop action that is eye-popping at a minimum and revolutionary at its best.

There is even a car chase that features a one-on-four martial arts fight... in the car! Imagine some of the most astonishing fight choreography you’ve ever seen, all within the landscape of a pedal-to-the-medal car chase. And that is just one example of how Evans is a force of nature in action movie making. 

A third The Raid has already been green lit and we cannot wait. The British-born, Indonesian-raised filmmaker clearly has had the freedom to build his craft in his adopted homeland. We honestly cannot wait to see what he does with an expanded budget and film infrastructure like we have here in Hollywood. If he is truly left to his own devices, he will change filmmaking forever.

But, for now, our The Raid 2 review can report that Movie Fanatic urges you to run, don’t walk, to see Evans’ latest.

To get caught up on all that is the world of Evans, watch The Raid online and prepare to be amazed.