The Best Martial Arts Films: Indonesia

Of all the countries that have produced martial arts films, Indonesia is one of the most unique.  Why?  There are a number of reasons.  One:  It’s a very conservative country in terms of its culture and people.  Two:  It’s the birth-place of Pencak Silat, Kuntao, Fitimaen(stick fighting), and Terung Derajat.  While these systems have been strongly influenced by Chinese martial arts, they have their own unique spin on combat and self-defense.  Pencak Silat, like Chinese Kung Fu, emphasizes the external which is the physical training.  It also pays great attention to the internal, which is the essence of combat and self-defense.  Any part of the body is used.  Silat uses strikes, grabs, locks and weapons.  It was also designed to be used in any environment, whether it’s in a wide-open space or in tight spaces.  It has to be flexible like that to be effective.  It’s certainly one of the most brutal styles that I’ve ever seen, but it makes for an awesome basis for an action movie, and Indonesia’s got some pretty fantastic martial arts flicks.  This is my list for The Best Martial Arts Films: Indonesia.

WARNING: SOME OF THE FOLLOWING CLIPS FEATURE SOME EXTREMELY VIOLENT MOMENTS SO READER/VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Merantau

Merantau is the feature film debut of Silat experts Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian, who would continue to team in some of the other films on this list.  This is the first real big action movie out of Indonesia, and it took the world by storm.  Featuring not only an amazing style of combat, but Iko Uwais is a revelation is far actors go.  Not only is he a great martial artist, he’s a fantastic actor.  The story of Merantau features Iko’s character venturing out into the real world for the first time only to end up getting embroiled in the crime of human trafficking.  Directed by Welsh director, Gareth Evans, Merantau is a phenomenal martial arts flick that not only has some of the most amazing fight scenes I’ve ever, which includes the elevator fight scene just above, it also takes the issue of human trafficking seriously, even though it’s not particularly realistic.  The fight scenes are absolutely crazy.  For a first major action film out of Indonesia, this one is a serious gem.  Highly recommended.

The Raid

Merantau was such an astounding hit in Indonesia and the rest of the world, how could possibly top that?  The answer:  The Raid.  Released in 2011, The Raid has been widely regarded as one of the best action movies of the decade and the best action film of 2011, and it’s really hard to disagree.  Iko Uwais stars as Rama, a member of an elite police unit sent into an apartment complex run by a vicious drug lord.  The result is a non-stop action film from beginning to end.  The first 15-20 minutes are basically a gun fight, but it’s all hand-to-hand combat afterwards.  The hall-way fight scene above is one of the MANY incredible fight scenes in the film, and it’s been featured on a number of HORROR movie websites, that’s how brutal it is.  I’m telling you, though, if it’s action you want, it’s action you will get.  Like Merantau, The Raid was an enormous international success.  After the film’s release, Gareth Evans began work on a sequel.  Speaking of which:

The Raid 2

The follow-up to The Raid is more of a crime thriller than a full-on action flick.  But don’t let that fool you into thinking that they skimped on the fights.  They didn’t.  In fact, some of these fights, including the infamous kitchen fight are even more violent than the film’s predecessor.  Iko Uwais once again plays Rama, who goes undercover to infiltrate a crime family to bring them down.  Raid 2: Berandal not only features an awesome story, it’s also got some really impressive acting and fight sequences.  The individual fight scenes for Baseball Bat Man and Hammer Girl are just some of the other highlights.  I leave it to you to find those on YouTube.  Awesome, is all I can say.  Also, the kitchen fight scene is an astounding 6 minutes long.  It gets brutal.  I wasn’t kidding when I posted that warning.

The Golden Cane Warrior

The only movie on this list that doesn’t feature Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian, The Golden Cane Warrior is Indonesia’s answer to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.  This film features Fitimaen as the main style of combat.  It’s not exactly well-known, but it is pretty spectacular.  The film follows a group of students training to be the future keeper of the legendary Golden Cane, when two of the students betray their master and seek the weapon for themselves.  I mentioned Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, because the stories are very similar in many regards.  Story-wise, there’s nothing original here.  It’s not bad, but I’ve seen it before.  The plus-side is that it’s still a pretty good story that has some decent acting and some pretty wild martial arts.  The Golden Cane Warrior is the only movie on this list that employs the use of wires in the fighting.  It’s a period fantasy piece, so I’m absolutely okay with it.  The final fight of the film is great, although the conclusion is slightly anti-climactic.  Overall, it’s a beautiful film featuring some of Indonesia’s spectacular scenery.

Overall, I’m extremely impressed with the action films that Indonesia has produced.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen martial arts flicks that intense in a long time.  I’m absolutely curious as to what’s coming next.  Iko Uwais is reportedly going to reprise his role of Rama for The Raid 3, but he’s already begun to branch out into international film territory.  Hell, he and Yayan even showed up in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  It was a brief appearance, but it was still awesome.  If you’re looking for top-notch and brutal action movies, Indonesia is one of the best stops.