The Raid

101 minutes of nothing but straight HANDS. The premise is so gripping and its execution is just as strong, proving that you don't need fancy CGI or a convoluted plot to make one of the best action films of all time. The way that martial arts is weaved throughout the fights without feeling overly choreographed is a testament to the skills of both the actors and the director too. The fights don't rely on perfect fighting techniques, and you can see when characters get desperate and will do anything just to hit their opponent. Mad Dog is the best character for me — holding someone at gunpoint, leading them to a room, and then putting the gun down and telling them that you prefer to fight with your hands is so cold. Some of the moves they were pulling out during the fights had me rewinding to watch them again, from the Superman punch to the strikes that finished off Mad Dog, and I know that I'll be rewatching these fights a hundred times as I convince everyone I know to watch this film. ABSOLUTE CINEMA.