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faisal_al
Reviews
Puteri Gunung Ledang (2004)
The legendary myth of Puteri Gunung Ledang
As kids back home in Malaysia, we were told of legendary warriors, magical princesses, powerful kings, mysterious places, epic battles, and curses which made us shiver in the night. And no other tale combines these elements more effectively than the story of the legendary Princess of Mount Ledang and the Malaccan empire. So, with a deep story already written, throw in a solid cast, with an explosive budget... what could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a bit, actually. But before we get into that, let's get into what's good about the movie. For one, the expensive production is really evident from the movie - the props, the picture quality, the setting, the sounds. On the surface, Puteri Gunung Ledang (PGL) is a real visual treat, and is a nice portrayal on how the Malaccan empire back in those times. The story is told rather well, and it is interesting to see the mythology in full graphic detail, with some pretty good storytelling across the board.
A bloated production, however, doesn't quite make this movie what it could - and should - have been. The movie opens up with M. Nasir as Admiral Hang Tuah, the legendary Malaccan warrior, bringing a couple of bandits to justice. This was an excellent opener. The story then begins with the royal expedition between two great empires. For the first 30 minutes, i was hooked and impressed - the fight scenes, backdrops, beautifully handled shots, and interesting dialogue; at that point, i was convinced that this could possibly be a great movie. However, the momentum just breaks off completely, and as the story drags to the two-and-a-half hour mark, my interest slowly wanes off into boredom.
So, what's wrong with it? How could they mess up such brilliant opening sequences? It's mainly the storytelling. The opening sequences laid out set piece after set piece, leading viewers to believe that this could lead to a powerful climax.. but.. the climax is just unsatisfying and ultimately somewhat predictable. True, some of us know the story already, but really, we were looking for the execution to have that extra ZEST. The buildup is long and draggy, and the final scenes are unexciting and lifeless.
My biggest gripe with the movie,is the actual love story itself. Yes, we all know that PGL is basically a love story. So why don't we feel the intensity of this love? The writing and direction hardly makes us care for the couple, and we never truly feel the deep emotion and sacrifice which they go through. It's just running around, and trading well-written poetry. Furthermore, the portrayal of the empires seem a bit weak and not as powerful as we were led to believe.
All that said, there are some notable performances throughout the movie. M Nasir excels superbly as Hang Tuah, and plays his part out superbly. The sultan of Malacca, as well as the Queen, is played exceptionably well, too. Tiara Jacquelina was okay, but she was hampered by mediocre dialogue. The only problem I have with these characters isn't the acting, but rather the overall script - most of them weren't really portrayed with enough depth to make us care for them.
Overall, I am quite disappointed with the movie. Given the production budget, list of superb actors, and great background plot, this would have been a surefire hit. Instead it misses the mark, having a dragged-out, unsatisfying story, relying on the fat production to work out its magic. Still, like I mentioned, I have faith that if someone could pick up where this movie left off, and improve these crucial areas, this could be a great movie (and in fact, I was told the theatrical play is much better, which is a good sign). As a movie, however, PGL isn't all that good. I would still recommend the movie for everyone, just to learn on the myth itself, but don't expect the legendary love epic that will blow you away.
Sepet (2004)
The best Malaysian movie in recent years
I'll be honest, I'm not a big fan of Malaysian movies. To be even more honest, I *dislike* Malaysian movies. But hey, with a movie scene plagued with ridiculously clichéd love story lines, even more ridiculously clichéd characters, stupid comic relief characters, can you really blame me? When I read about Sepet pretty much gobbling up all the awards in the 2005 Malaysian Film Festival, and with such hype and controversy surrounding the movie, you can imagine I was more than just a little curious... so I watched it.
And let me tell ye something, this movie isn't only as good as I expected it to be, it's better than I ever hoped it to be! It's a simple story, really - Orked, a Malay girl from a well-off family, living in a contemporary city environment, with a soft spot for pretty-much-everything-Chinese, falls in love with Jason, an average Chinese guy, a VCD vendor pushed about by gangsters. As the story unfolds, we are presented with the world that Orked and Jason live in - their friends, families, and day to day lives - along with some buried tales of the past.
Sure enough, the plot doesn't sound like something completely original - one girl, one boy, from completely different backgrounds, fall in love. What makes this movie so good is the execution in everything, and especially depth of the characters in Sepet. Each one of them - from Jason's mother, to the couple themselves, even right down to Orked's maid (!) - all have deep, interesting personalities. Each of them creates a beautiful atmosphere, and the viewers are immersed completely into the lives of Orked and Jason. And director Yasmin Ahmad actually makes you feel like you care for these characters, and will take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions as we feel the world they live in. To top it off, the regular doses of humour (especially from Orked's parents, played by Ida Nerina and Harris Iskandar) fit in well with the pacing and overall atmosphere of Sepet, adds some flair and colour to the story but never goes overboard. I heard the actors were never given scripts and were to improvise the characters themselves - Don't know how true this is, but if that's a way of praising the superb performance by the actors and actresses in the movie, I wholeheartedly agree!
But what REALLY sets this movie aside from all the other Malaysian movies out there today, is that Sepet isn't just a deep love story with bright characters, it's a painfully realistic outlook into the world of city life in Malaysia. The conflicting cultures, imperfection and sincerity in people, the underlying truths beneath each untold story, insecurity, repentance, trust.. the list goes on. I'm particularly impressed with how Yasmin Ahmad is not afraid to display common stereotypes in Malaysia - races, age, social hierarchy, etc. It is shockingly realistic, and it's not surprising why this movie did stir up some controversy back home.
Overall, this is perhaps the best Malaysian movie I've seen in recent memory, and I'm hard pressed to deny that this is the best Malaysian movie ever, and perhaps one of the few which I dare say is good enough for international standards. Kudos and hats off to Yasmin Ahmad; Great stuff!
Running Scared (2006)
Unbelievably awesome!
I accidentally came across this movie while browsing the Apple trailer website while i was really bored. I was somewhat impressed, and seeing the really high user rating on IMDb, I bought the DVD - and boy was I blown away!
This movie is a fine example of how crime/action movies with a somewhat simplistic plot can be pulled off with style, attitude and even substance to boot! The movie's pacing is superb... the momentum never slows down for a second; the suspense keeps hitting you in the face, and will definitely keep you at the edge of your seat. The brilliant cinematography and direction keeps the thrills and action scenes really intriguing throughout. There's a huge chunk of action in this movie, and what's best about this movie is the action never gets old or feel uninspired. The movie also has some deep characters and interesting subplots, creating an intense and believable atmosphere. Everyone of the actors/actresses pulled off their roles really well.
And to top it off, as it the movie wasn't already brilliant already, the plot takes some surprising turns towards the end, pulled of stylishly, sealing off my Seal of Approval stamp on this movie.
It isn't perfect of course; some of the set pieces throughout the movie does seem a bit cliché (particularly Oleg's journey). It may be fairly graphic and disturbing to some, but I thought it fit in nicely with everything. Highly recommended to fans of the genre!
The Departed (2006)
Excellent remake
In a nutshell; a remake of an already superb movie Infernal Affairs, with Scorsese at the helm, and one hell of a cast. It's no surprise that this movie had extremely high expectations, and guess what - it's no surprise that this movie is so highly acclaimed too.
I went to the movie feeling very skeptical - I was a big fan of Infernal Affairs, and was worried if the enjoyment of the movie would be ruined by the fact that I already knew what was going to happen. Surprisingly this movie exceeded my expectations! The casting was spot on - Wahlberg and Baldwin provide memorable (and sometimes hilarious) performances even despite their supporting roles; Nicholson delivers an expectedly sinister and gritty performance; but more importantly, Leonardo DiCaprio completely blew me off my socks - I've always somehow always doubted this guy, but in The Departed, he pulled off the role of Billy Costigan extremely well.
Although the film is a remake, Scorsese added a few minor details that really set it aside from its remake. The film did lack some of the 'cool edges' that the original Infernal Affairs had, but makes up with a much more believable, humanistic character progression through and through. The characters and their actions are much more believable this time around. To top it off, some of the witty dialogue by the supporting cast provide a nice touch to the overall feel of the film with its dark humor and interesting personalities. The feel is also much darker and grittier than the original.
Some may complain that this movie is a little long. I admit, it did feel so at some places, but after I finished watching it, i thought back, and realized that all the scenes really strengthened the drama and explored the characters really well, and in the end.. it makes the plot more believable, and explores the theme of trust, loyalty, identity, and ambition even better than the original Hong Kong flick. The intensity of the final 20 minutes of the film will keep anyone at the edge of their seat. I highly recommend this to anyone, whether you've seen the original Infernal Affairs or not.
Elizabethtown (2005)
Surprisingly good!!
I watched Elizabethtown, not knowing what to expect. "An unlikely romance blooms" does seem somewhat cliché, but this movie is far more than that. About a death of a father and how that affected the lives around him... and the irony that it made someone's life a whole lot better..? The actors and actresses in this movie give some absolutely shining performances. I was especially surprised by Orlando Bloom's performance. I never really liked him, seeing that his roles are often obscure and never really grab your attention, but in Elizabethtown, he does a near-perfect job of playing Drew, a very lost young man whose career just crashed in flames. Kirsten Dunst gives her usual superb acting, as a genial stewardess... and the rest of the cast does a nice job at giving this movie life.
The humour is well delivered, with nice mix and balance of tragicomedy and weird personalities. The movie does give a nice tour around Kentucky as well, which is somewhat odd, but a cool touch nevertheless. It' Go see this movie without any expectations, and trust me, you will be delightfully surprised.
Serenity (2005)
One heck of an enjoyable ride
I saw Serenity couple of weeks back, not knowing much at all about it at that time. I read several reviews saying this movie is good, but i was still somewhat sceptical. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed it!! This could very well be the best sci fi movie since recent years (Though there weren't many sci fi movies recently to begin with).
The characters in the movie give a huge degree of life into the movie. From the humour, the plot, the crew personalities, right down to the action - there isn't a single dull moment in Serenity. This may be a science fiction movie, but the special thing about the movie is that it brings everyday problems we face today, set in a futuristic world (without aliens!), blurring the notion between right and wrong, good and evil - it's all about survival.
Suffice to say, anyone can enjoy this movie, whether you're a fan of science fiction or not. Highly recommended!
War of the Worlds (2005)
A great invasion drama!
Despite having heard 'not-too-good' comments about this movie from my friends, i actually found it very entertaining! The movie starts out showing Tom Cruise as a negligent and careless father Ray Ferrier, and it works!! As Earth gets invaded (and my God, this must be the scariest, most ruthless Earth invasion i've ever laid my eyes upon in movies), we start to see Ray Ferrier's character evolving into a warm, caring father. What makes this movie work so well is that not only we are given superb visuals of Mass Destruction, but also a very involving drama of a family struggling for survival. The CGI are used to good effect, and the scenes are so full of suspense and haunting sense of extermination, it becomes scary! Perhaps my only gripe of the film is the title. Not that it's bad or anything, but "War Of The Worlds" gives us the impression that this is indeed an "epic battle" of aliens vs. humans, when it is in fact, the tale of a family desperately trying to survive a ruthless extermination. Though the movie does suck me in most of the time, towards the end, the way the movie ends is just a bit too... drastic, and when the movie does end... well, i don't want to spoil anything here, but you can't shake off the feeling of cliché at the very end.
But, all in all, a very enjoyable movie. The thrills and buildups, once given away, may not be as engrossing to make us watch it many many times, but for that one sitting, needless to say, i really enjoyed War Of The Worlds.
Batman Begins (2005)
The Story of the Dark Knight's birth the way it should be told
Finally, a movie that reaffirms my faith in the Batman movie franchise again. This Batman is a lot darker, grittier, personal, and involving than i would have come to expect.
The best thing about this movie is, everything is so hauntingly believable - the trauma faced by Bruce Wayne, the motivation he faces to seek 'justice', heck, even the villains have a logical motivation, perhaps one of the smartest plot i've seen in "comic book" movies in recent memory (save for X-Men 2). The torment endured by Bruce Wayne absorbs us in, and gives a sense that he truly is a hero - or Dark Knight, well done Christian Bale! And of course, the all-star cast helps. Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, and especially Michael Caine - give superb performances, all further enforcing character and personality into Batman. The only thing i have to complain (which makes me give a 9 instead of 10) is the fact that in the earlier part of the movie, the alternating flashbacks can get in the way of things, even interrupting the momentum of the movie at times, but sometimes it is done to good effect, so it never really ruins the film.
All in all, great acting, great plot, great atmosphere - i dare say this is perhaps one of the best movies of the year i've seen so far.