1. The Raid
Indonesian film The Raid was one of my favourite films of 2012 and easily one of the best action films I have ever seen. The film follows the story of a SWAT team tasked with infiltrating a tower block and taking out a notorious crime lord named Tama Riyadi. The Raid's lead character is the rookie, Rama, played by Iko Uwais, who may just become a true martial arts sensation if he carries on with performances like he delivers here. Whilst the film's plot isn't anything you haven't seen before, the action rarely lets up and is not only brutal and visceral, but also imaginative and wince inducing. Many of the scenes in The Raid genuinely have to be seen to be believed, not least the final large fight sequence between Rama, his brother Andi and Tama's right-hand man, Mad Dog. Whilst this fight is very long, the pace never drops and your heart-race will be pulsing long after the film has finished. Admittedly, I already knew The Raid would see a sequel. The common story goes that Gareth Evans, who wrote both The Raid and its sequel, Berandal (a working title), was originally all ready to start production on Berandal but could not receive the necessary finance to get it off the ground. Instead, he decided to flesh out the central character of the film, Rama, by linking his new project to Berandal and thus The Raid was born. Berandal promises even more stunning martial arts scenes as well as a sprawling story that will eventually lead into a trilogy further down the line. Whatever happens, I will be awaiting Berandal with high anticipation and a bar that, for me, is set higher than it has ever been. So, any other films that you feel deserve more of our time via a sequel? Or any films here you definitely don't want to hear from again? Let me know in the comments below!