Is ‘Lari’ a Malaysian knockoff of ‘The Raid’?

"Lari" Malaysian Theatrical Poster

"Lari" Malaysian Theatrical Poster

At first glance, a new Malaysian martial arts film called Lari appears to be knockoff of The Raid. Whether it was intentional or not, the film’s poster features Aaron Aziz in SWAT-style clothing, similar to what Iko Uwais wears in The Raid, which happens to be the most influential action film of the last 15 years.

To set the record straight, the trailer for Lari looks nothing like The Raid. Instead of taking place in a single building, Lari is filmed with a much broader scope that includes car lots, jungles and boats. In The Raid, Uwais is practically in his SWAT outfit throughout the whole movie; whereas in the trailer for Lari, you’ll notice that Aziz is barely seen wearing SWAT garb at all.

Whether or not marketing strategies (in this case, Lari’s poster design) were feeding off the success of The Raid or not, Lari delivers the goods as far as the trailer is concerned. If anyone out there has seen Lari, definitely share your thoughts.



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5 Responses to Is ‘Lari’ a Malaysian knockoff of ‘The Raid’?

  1. TAPP says:

    Don’t hold your breath on this one. It’s not nearly in the same league as The Raid. Fight choreography is repititive and generic. The trailer shows everything more high flying there is. Plus, there is so much quick cuts that you can hardly appreciate what is going on anyway. It’s a very late and cheap knock off from the Thai action movie wave. Do yourself a favor and give it a pass.

  2. Nick says:

    Just because he’s wearing a SWAT uniform, its raised questions of ripping off The Raid? So, The Raid didn’t called out for copying 1000s of other SWAT movies, but this does? Calm down is all I can say.

    • True. But you have to take into consideration how influential The Raid is to both action and martial arts movies. And to have an Asian martial arts flick with a guy wearing SWAT gear on the poster – and not in the trailer – is a pure marketing ‘hook’ if you ask me. It’s just my opinion. Movies, especially Asian movies, have always used cheap ways of marketing off popular trends to pull an audience in. And I did write that LARI isn’t exactly a rip-off, only its poster could have been a possible attention-grabber, at first glance. If anything, I’m saying “it is not a rip-off.”

  3. Ningen says:

    Looks more like a Flash Point knock-off…

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