Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa (Malay)

"Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa" is an action packed film filled with mythical characters that uses computer generated imagery (CGI). The story tells of a warrior and sea captain named Merong Mahawangsa who is of Iskandar Zulkarnain's descendent. Merong Mahawangsa was asked to escort the Prince of Rome to Langkasuka to marry the beautiful Princess of China from the Han Dynasty. Soon, they encounter various difficulties as the Princess of China is kidnapped and Merong Mahawangsa and his group of soldiers are attacked.

Watching this heavily-marketed KRU epic, ("The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines" to other markets) is like watching a Thai movie with the special effects of a Hollywood production. Full of action, mythical characters and props from another time, the movie took two years to complete, as revealed by the movie's director Yusry Abdul Halim, calling it the most challenging ever for him.

At the cost of some RM 8 million (which KRU Studios head honcho Norman Abdul Halim said was barely enough!) the movie will be hailed as the most expensive Malaysian-made movie of all time, next to "Puteri Gunung Ledang" in 2004. It was shot over 52 days in various places like Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan and Pulau Perhentian.

"Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa" under the direction of Yusry has successfully brought variation and marked improvement on the CGI aspects that KRU Studios used to be scrutinised over. It also benefits from having martial arts expert Chan Man Cheong aboard (responsible for the action sequence in blockbuster movie like "Hell Boy 2", "Rush Hour" and "Police Story") and other consultants must have done a decent job to get the period details right. The props and main set consisted of just the 2nd Century Malay village, the piers and some palaces, while the rest were computer-generated.

It is by and large a rather impressive movie, although the movie appears quite "dark" in terms of lighting, to which the director has responded in a press conference by explaining that it was done to reflect two different situations. With a line-up featuring Stephen Rahman Hudges, Jing Lu, Gavin Stenhouse, Hendrik Norman, Rahim Razali, Wan Hanafi Su, Ummi Nazeera, Khir Rahman, Craig Fong, Nell Ng and many more, it is definitely something every Malaysian should watch to see how far we've come.

Do watch out for some rather inappropriate dialogue though - when Khir Rahman's Kamawas character tries to seduce Jing Lu's Meng Li Hua Chinese princess character. You have to forgive this particularly cringe-worthy moment and look at the bigger picture - which is in essence a good, entertaining movie.

Gamer (English)

Synopsis

"Game" is a near-future action/thriller starring Gerard Butler (Kable) as the champion of an online game called "Slayers". Mind-control technology has taken society by storm and "Slayers" allows humans to control other humans in a mass-scale, multiplayer online game. With his every move tracked by millions, Kable's ultimate challenge is regaining his identity and launching an attack on the system that has imprisoned him.

Classification: U
Genre: Action / Thriller
General Release Date: 10 Sep 2009
Running Time:
Distributor: Golden Screen Cinemas
Cast: Gerard Butler, Kyra Sedgwick, Logan Lerman
Director: Mark Neveldine, Brian Taylor

This movie review is not available at the moment.

Kung Fu Cyborg (Cantonese)

Synopsis

Set in the future, this is the story of De Ming, a national secret, as it is the first cybernetic organism programmed with social conscience created by the Chinese government. To test De Ming's sophisticated identity, he is sent to a remote village as a newcomer. Unaware of his true nature, the villagers come to care for him. Then an unbelievable confrontation turns everything around when another cyborg, K-88, disappears after a neutral meltdown and goes on a rampage. De Ming, together with its guardian Xu, are sent to hunt down the malfunctioning K-88.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Action / Science Fiction
General Release Date: 27 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 44 Minutes,
Distributor: Ram Entertainment
Cast: Alex Fong Lik Sun, Eric Tsang, Ronald Cheng, Wu Jing
Director: Jeff Lau Chun Wai

Kung Fu Cyborg (Cantonese)

Coming Soon Movie

Imagine That (English)

Eddie Murphy stars as a successful financial executive, Evan who has more time for his BlackBerry than his seven-year-old daughter, Olivia (Yara Shahidi). When he has a confidence crisis and his career starts going down the drain, he soon finds the solution to all his problems in his daughter's imaginary world.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Comedy / Fantasy
General Release Date: 27 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 47 Minutes,
Distributor: United International Pictures
Cast: Eddie Murphy, Thomas Haden Church, Yara Shahidi
Director: Karey Kirkpatrick

UP (English)

syinopsis

A 78-year-old man named Carl Fredricksen spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life to its fullest. Due to his age, he thinks life has passed him by. One day, an 8-year old wilderness explorer named Russell, changes his outlook on life and the pair goes on adventures, encountering wild terrains, unexpected villains and jungle creatures.

Classification: U
Genre: Adventure / Animation
General Release Date: 20 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 46 Minutes,
Distributor: Buena Vista
Cast: Christopher Plummer, Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai
Director: Bob Peterson, Pete Docter

What can one expect from this animation? Are words alone enough? The latest outing from co-director Pete Docter (of "Wall-E" and "Monsters Inc." fame) and Bob Peterson offers great entertainment value for all - it's not just a cute and funny but even manages to have some soul to it!

Characters-wise, the story provides a balance between the good and the bad. With cute and witty characters (namely Russell, Carl, Kevin and Dug) the film is likely to tickle your funny bone with its natural delivery. The dark ones like Muntz and Alpha play their roles well. Even the young Carl and Ellie who only appear in the first 15 minutes are remarkable and hilarious. However the standout character goes to Russell for his cute and jovial self. It's spot on and definitely amusing.

The heart of this movie lies in the story and its brilliant screenplay (also by said duo), one that is even and smooth all the way to the end. It's not just the gags and laughter but the meaningful drama that underpins it. The same cannot be said of typical animated features that go for fast-paced fun and games. Imagine the experience of watching Sean Penn's "I Am Sam", Mel Gibson's "Forever Young" or thousands of other dramas in animation form. It's touching and entertaining at the same time. This is what "Up" has got to offer.

With no slapstick or cheesy lines, you'll feel so connected to the adventure so this makes it the perfect family movie to get everyone in on. We can put it down as a value-for-money combo of action, drama, adventure and comedy that deserves all the praise it can get. Perhaps it's not even too much to name it as Disney/Pixar's best to date!

District 9 (English)

Set in South Africa, this movie is rumoured to be a "Cloverfield"-type sci-fi about an extraterrestrial race that is forced to live in slum-like conditions on Earth and suddenly finds a friend in a government agent who is exposed to their biotechnology. Alien spacecrafts are seen hovering over many locations, interrupting daily human lives and raising concerns from the residents of the area. This film is also said to be a sort of social commentary, diverging from what you would usually expect from films featuring aliens.

Classification: 18SG
Genre: Action / Science Fiction
General Release Date: 13 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 51 Minutes,
Distributor: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Cast: Kenneth Nkosi, Robert Hobbs, Sharlto Copley, William Allen Young
Director: Neill Blomkamp

Forget "Cloverfield". Catfood-chomping aliens, inter-species prostitutes, gangland riots and a hard-hitting, nail-biting (literally) lead performance from a guy who isn't even a professional actor - that's what makes Peter Jackson's "District 9" the thinking man's action movie of the decade.

Who would've thought that when the game-to-movie "Halo" project fell through, the "Lord Of The Rings" strongman producer could get a white African man's short film project turned into something so rewarding? You would've read by now that director Neill Blomkamp's days in apartheid South Africa are what inspired this novel sci-fi idea. It's precisely the sort of R-rated docudrama with exceptional CGI that makes you feel guilty for endorsing "Transformers".

In the heavily-marketed "District 9", we are taken to an alternate Earth where real-life immigration issues deceptively underpin a story about prawn-like aliens that are stranded on our planet with nowhere to go. Unlike other alien movies like "ID4", they aren't exactly hostile but behave more like frustrated refugees who make their own wasteland settlement and suffer from sanitation problems. The movie is narrated through a shaky "Blair Witch Project" account of Wikus Van De Merwe, a gawky government aide who turns from law-abiding family man to one-armed national traitor when he is exposed to alien fluid that changes his DNA.

While the issue of second-class citizenship appeals to a more academic crowd, don't be fooled into thinking this is a dry social commentary meant for stiff fortysomethings. When lead actor Sharlto Copley steps into a robot suit to pursue justice, we are taken 30 years back to when Sigourney Weaver did the same and kicked alien ass in the celebrated landmark movie "Alien". The feeling is even greater considering that we are rooting for a hero who isn't exactly a likeable fellow!

"District 9" is a sentimental sci-fi about how ordinary men (or aliens, for that matter) end up doing extraordinary things when pushed to the edge, exposing the global hypocrisy of having set right and wrong in legal or moral terms. There are "CJ7" father-son moments in this movie, together with the character struggle of a pasty-faced pencil-pusher who just wants to see his wife again. If this doesn't force you to reconsider how we treat foreigners, then let's all pray for Peter Jackson and a "District 10"

Aliens In The Attic (English)

Synopsis

A group of teenagers end up in a vacation house in Maine, and realise that they must defend against the threat of aliens making their way from the upper floor to the ground floor.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Comedy / Science Fiction
General Release Date: 13 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 26 Minutes,
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Cast: Ashley Tisdale, Robert Hoffman
Director: John Schultz

The cheesy, kids-to-the-rescue plot in "Aliens In The Attic" (formerly "They Came From Upstairs", which sounds like a horror movie if anything) is strangely by far one of the funnier and entertaining comedies for audiences this season, especially the kids. Based on the number of laugh-out-loud moments in this movie, it isn't a surprise if everyone leaves the cinema halls giggling. It must be the fun factor!

The humour in this family-oriented movie is delivered in such a way that at times the jokes are too 'cold' to be understood by younger kids. If it wasn't for the slapstick or the comical expressions by the characters in the show, you might even get blank looks among younger viewers. The knee-high aliens are the worst of all. It feels as though these little and very ugly-looking aliens, who are about to conquer the world, are a bunch of rejects from similar movies such as "The Spiderwick Chronicles". Thank goodness for their funny tiny voices, they made this just passable for child viewing.

Effects-wise, it is rather commendable especially when it involves a lot of CGI scenes. Unlike some of the animated scenes between a puppeteer and a real human being in some movies, it is as if the cast in "Aliens In The Attic" are acting with real aliens from outer space. The eye contact between aliens and the kids gives us a good measure of just how realistic everything can be.

Overall, "Aliens In The Attic" boasts decent performances, especially from the younger portion of the cast. Be on the look out for talented Dakota Fanning look-alike 9-year-old Ashley Boettcher, who already has a few experiences acting in front of the camera and is poised for bigger things.

Cinema Online, 12 August 2009

On His Majesty's Secret Service (Cantonese)

synopsis

For generations, the secret service has always been responsible for protecting the emperor, where 12 agents are assigned to bodyguard duty. Among the current group, Zero Zero Dog (Louis Koo) is considered to be the weakest as he shows no interest in the martial arts and spends his time studying technology and coming up with scientific inventions. When Dog uncovers an evil plot to kill the emperor by the chief eunuch, Cao Yan Chui (Fan Siu Wong), he decides to eliminate the enemy himself.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Comedy
General Release Date: 06 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 40 Minutes,
Distributor: Golden Screen Cinemas
Cast: Barbie Hsu, Louis Koo

With what part of a man's body should he use to feed his baby son when the toddler wakes up hungry and crying in the middle of the night? You'll be devastatingly tickled by the answer. This isn't "Seeding Of A Ghost" or "Picture Of A Nymph" but there shouldn't be a single Hong Kong cinema fan that isn't going to have a good time watching this new Wong Jing comedy!

Set in the days of lavish brothels and palace politics, the James Bond here is not a suave British spy like the movie's 1969 Ian Fleming namesake "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" but good ol' Louis Koo in a comedic role as a bumbling scientist-cum-emperor guardsman 009 (Zero Zero Dog in Cantonese) who knows more about inventing strange impractical devices than practical kickass kungfu.

For this outing, Wong Jing doesn't indulge in his usual multiple-siren lineup to drive the humour, like he did in "Beauty & The Seven Beasts" or "My Secret Admirer Is A Vampire". That's because if a movie is going to star the brash and bewitching Sandra Ng, you're best off letting her steal the screen!

This enjoyable nonsensical story about a royal coup d'etat benefits from having an old school storytelling format and some credible performances from its cast, not to mention some token fighting sequences. Even the cutesy beauty Barbie Hsu (who plays Louis Koo's disgruntled love interest) pulls her own weight beyond just smiling stupidly.

Faux lesbianism and overdone eunuch jokes aside, "On His Majesty's Secret Service" is one of the funniest Hong Kong movies so far this year. This is a real Cantonese movie so forget it if you have to read the mistranslated subtitles. If however you're in on the lingo, it's time to go update yourself with some top-shelf Canto banter.

Setem (Malay)

SYNOPSIS

In 1847, Lord Arthur Barring asks a watchmaker to invent a postal stamp. However, an Indian governor laughs because there are some mistakes on the stamp. Lord Arthur Barring got angry and decided to throw away the stamp. 160 years later, Barring's grandchild, Charles Barring IV, produces the stamp at a press conference, now worth millions of ringgit. Scheming Joe (Afdlin Shauki) and Sid (Rashidi Ishak) want to steal the stamp. However, they are not alone.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Comedy
General Release Date: 30 Jul 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 50 Minutes,
Distributor: Tayangan Unggul
Cast: Afdlin Shauki, Bront Palarae, Que Haidar, Rashidi Ishak, Vanidah Imran
Director: Kabir Bhatia

If you like comedies with Jack Black, Adam Sandler or Ben Stiller, then Kabir Bhatia's "Setem" is your cup of tea. This is an action comedy that promises a fresh, unique experience, different from the previous love story movies that the director is synonymous with.

Riding on a simple enough plot about a hunt for an expensive postal stamp, "Setem" has a story (Kabir's solo try at a maiden script) that is attractive not only to Malay audiences but others too, with its sharp dialogue and clever execution. An entertaining cast consisting of old hands Aziz Sattar, Indi Nadarajah, Afdlin Shauki and Harun Salim Bachik help its cause, not to mention rising stars like Isma Yusof dan Diana Danielle. Kudos to Kabir for getting the best out of all 23 of his stars!

The Afdlin Shauki-Rashidi Ishak combo hits the spot. Afdlin's role as Joe is easy and 'standard' so the better performance here is by Rashidi, with his simple and effective acting. Debutant Isma Yusof plays an Indon immigrant exceedingly well and doesn't look out of place despite being surrounded by big names. However, special mention goes to Sathia who made his name through TV's "Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu" - his was a colourful and humourous performance as Vellu the security guard.

On technical aspects however, Kabir holds on too strong to his advertising-type camerawork throughout the movie. This extreme neatness in angles and perspective can get rather boring because it's just like watching an advertisement on TV so why try so hard to think of beautiful show-off shots? The co-editing with Faizul Mohd Noh is commendable for its accuracy and detail when changing scenes but Kabir really ought to do something about the obsession with advertisement-like camerawork.

"Setem" enjoys a lot of advantages over the other Malay movies we have been watching of late. However, in true Tayangan Unggul tradition, the impact of this film diminishes as soon as it decided to go on for a couple more scenes when it should have stopped at a particular point. Why stretch and convolute an already excellent story? Let's have a break from this annoying overshooting, please?

Harry Potter And The Half-blood Prince

Synopsis

Lord Voldermort is wreaking havoc throughout Britain as Harry Potter begins his sixth year at Hogwarts. The pressure to defeat the Dark Lord grows stronger in the young wizard. Using an old Potions Book which previously belonged to the 'Half-Blood Prince', Harry is able to increase his magical knowledge and prepare for battle. However, he must first help Dumbledore discover the secret to Voldermort's quest for immortality - the location of his Horcruxes. But the quest for the Horcruxes and the resulting battle at Hogwarts produce a tragic outcome - leading Harry to believe that he must head out on his own to conquer the Dark Lord.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Adventure / Fantasy / Family / Kids
General Release Date: 16 Jul 2009
Running Time: 2 Hours 32 Minutes,
Distributor: Warner BROS. Pictures
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton
Director: David Yates

Watch this if you liked: "Harry Potter" films

To compare with the last HP movie (Order Of The Phoenix), one can say that the first thing one realises is that Emma Watson has improved a little since her ghastly performance in the last movie.

For those of you who read the books, there will be some missing parts missing (which I am sure will not hinder those who have never touched a page of it) and this might disappoint those who have read it say, twelve times. The plot remains true to the book, retaining its dark undertone. Performances from actors such as Grint, Rickman and Broadbent are thoroughly interesting, and special kudos for Michael Gambon, who succeeds in making everybody sympathise with Dumbledore (and even love him) this time around, instead of his usual mysterious non-explanatory self. There is more substance, emotion and expression in the storyline - even humour.

In terms of cinematography, the stylised shot is more than welcoming. There are a few scenes that are interesting without feeling forced. The part where Dumbledore casts fires around himself is similar to the illustration in the original book, something this reviewer appreciates very much. Then there are simple yet very editorial shots like the one with Dumbledore and Harry talking while facing a billboard showing a "Muggle" perfume ad, and a shot of Fawkes (the phoenix) flying away from a window view. Grand indeed.

However, a warning to those who do not like the fifth installment - you may not like this one either. A Harry Potter film is more than just magic and fantasy. What makes it strong and popular is J. K. Rowling's gift of storytelling, blending the magic of Enid Blyton and mystery of Arthur Conan Doyle. As such, its films must convey that gift and nobody else can do it better than David Yates. There is not much change in his direction, but truth be told, of all the directors who did a Potter film, one reckons Yates is the most true to the original storyline. In the end, that's the most important detail.

Synopsis

G.I Joe: Rise Of Cobra (English)

Set approximately ten years in the near future, a special military unit known as the "G.I. Joe" arises from the Cobra Organisation, vowing to take down any crime organisation led by a notorious arms dealer. With their team operating from the headquarters known as "The Pit," the film will include stunning locations from the Arctic, Paris, Moscow, Australia and the Sahara desert.

Classification: PG13
Genre: Action
General Release Date: 06 Aug 2009
Running Time: 1 Hour 59 Minutes,
Distributor: United International Pictures
Cast: Channing Tatum, Dennis Quaid, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marlon Wayans, Rachel Nichols
Director: Stephen Sommers

"G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra"

Do you reckon it's fair to call "G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra" the poor man's "Transformers"? They're both from the Hasbro toy line.

Just like the Michael Bay blockbuster, the toy-to-movie adaptation "G.I. Joe" boasts some high-temp and top shelf CGI, mesmerising the senses as we run through Paris and witness scenes of the Eiffel Tower collapsing due to biochemical war and scenes of the ocean bed in the North Pole.

However, this Stephen Sommers effort comes off rather soulless when considering that Michael Bay had enough story to add to action but "G.I. Joe" is mostly just senseless trashing. Some of the dialogue in the movie is ridiculously cliched, especially those between the G.I. Joe team. Worse, the lineup that backs the movie fail to leave much impact, for example Sienna Miller's Ana character is as good as a pretty puppet. Despite her star appeal and seductive persona, her acting gives you that sinking feeling, just like Destro's submarine in the story. Channing Tatum also does nothing special here but a more disappointing fact is that veterans like Dennis Quaid are made to look like fools, in this case as General Hawk. Marlon Wayans, synonymous with slapstick in the industry, may just be the only actor who comes alive, playing a joker who provides comic relief to his teammates.

Director Sommers generally fails to get the best out of the cast and this movie is inferior to his previous efforts like "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns". We wonder why it's not 90 minutes but almost two hours? However, as Hollywood action movies go, you probably could do a whole