Exclusive: Some tidbits of information from the Sundance Q & A for The Raid 2 with director Gareth Evans

UPDATED: Check out our exclusive video of star Iko Uwais doing a martial arts demonstration during the Q & A below!

THE RAID 2 premiered at Sundance last night, and critics that were there have been gushing about Gareth Evans' new film. One said, "RAID 2 makes RAID 1 look like a Saturday morning cartoon," and another described it as "Relentlessly brutal violence dialed to the maximum. Unbelievable body count + insane fights = operatic level of mayhem." JoBlo.com's very own Chris Bumbray was also there (you can read his full review here, where he calls THE RAID 2 "the most violent mainstream film since THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST," and says it could be the best action sequel since TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY), and took part in a Q & A about the film with director Gareth Evans. You might be aware of some of these items of information, but here are a few of the things he talked about for THE RAID 2.

• The script for THE RAID 2 existed before the first film, and it was called BERANDAL. However, it was too expensive to make, so he created THE RAID because it was something they could do cheap. After the original TIFF screening, Evans rewrote the movie to fit Iko Uwais character.
• The film will not be called THE RAID 2: BERANDAL in North America.
• Gareth Evans just finished the movie on Sunday
• There's a car chase in the movie that took 12 days to shoot. The final fight took 10 whole days. There were 120 total days of filming for THE RAID 2.
• 3 composers worked on the soundtrack. The original Indonesian composers from THE RAID joined Joseph Trapanese, who helped score the first film with Mike Shinoda who wasn't involved here.
• Gareth Evans cited Sam Peckinpah and John Woo as influences.
• There were a ton of jokes about the MPAA during the Q & A because of the insane action in THE RAID 2, and Evans told Chris Bumbray personally that the MPAA hasn't seen it yet, but hopes it goes out uncut. Fingers crossed!

After reading all of the fantastic reviews, I really can't wait to see THE RAID 2. I mean, I was excited before, but the first reviews make it sound like THE RAID 2 could be one of the best action movies ever. But critics haven't just been talking about the awesome fight scenes. They've also been saying the scope is bigger, the characters are great, and the plot is deeper than the last film. Hopefully all the hard work pays off, and the film performs well at the box office when it hits theaters.

Gareth Evans' THE RAID 2 starring Iko Uwais will be released on March 28th, 2014. And check out Uwais martial arts demonstration from the premiere below!