The Raid - Redemption -2011- Remastered Bluray ... -
This is a concise, professional review template for The Raid: Redemption (2011) – REMASTERED Blu-ray. You can use or adapt it for sites like Amazon, Blu-ray.com, or Letterboxd.
What Makes the Remastered BluRay Different?
The original 2011 theatrical release and subsequent early BluRay transfers, while groundbreaking, suffered from technical limitations common to low-budget, high-intensity indie films. The original digital intermediate was rendered in 2K, and early home releases exhibited noticeable digital noise, crushed blacks (hiding crucial detail in the film’s dark, claustrophobic tenement hallways), and inconsistent audio levels.
The REMASTERED BluRay (typically released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in select regions around 2016-2018) addressed these issues head-on: The Raid - Redemption -2011- REMASTERED BluRay ...
- Enhanced Visual Fidelity: The remaster applies a new 4K scan of the original 35mm source material (the film was shot on the Arri Alexa, but finished on film for certain sequences). The result is a significant reduction in mosquito noise and a sharper, more organic grain structure.
- Improved Color Grading: The grim, concrete jungle of the apartment block now has better depth. Dark scenes—like the infamous “machete fight in the drug lab”—no longer descend into indecipherable shadow.
- Audio Overhaul: The remaster often includes a lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that gives proper separation to the iconic, propulsive score by Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) and Joseph Trapanese. Every fist, crack, and gunshot resonates with room-shaking clarity.
4. Cinematography and Direction (The "Remastered" Perspective)
Gareth Evans’ direction is characterized by a unique blend of kinetic energy and spatial clarity. Unlike many action films that rely on "shaky cam" to hide stunt work, The Raid utilizes wide angles and steady tracking shots to showcase the complexity of the choreography.
Visuals in High Definition: The Remastered BluRay format significantly enhances the viewing experience. The film utilizes a cool, desaturated color palette that accentuates the grimy, claustrophobic atmosphere of the apartment block. The high resolution allows the viewer to appreciate the intricate details of the fight choreography—the speed of the strikes, the impact of the blows, and the spatial geography of the rooms. The lighting design, often using practical lights within the hallways, creates deep shadows that add to the tension. This is a concise, professional review template for
Sound Design: The audio engineering is crucial to the film's impact. The sound of bone-breaking impacts, gunshots in concrete hallways, and the heavy breathing of the characters are mixed with a pulsating score by Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park) and Joseph Trapanese. The lossless audio found in the BluRay release ensures that every punch lands with audible weight.
Is It Worth the Upgrade?
If you own the 2012 Sony BluRay, you might be skeptical. However, the difference is night and day. The original release was notorious for a slight "waxiness" in skin tones due to early digital compression. The REMASTERED BluRay strips that away. Iko Uwais’ face, covered in grime and blood, looks human again. What Makes the Remastered BluRay Different
Furthermore, the remaster corrects the infamous framing error in the elevator shaft sequence. In previous versions, the top of the frame cut off the grapple hook’s trajectory; now, the 1.78:1 aspect ratio is perfectly windowed, giving you the full vertical terror of the fall.