Sebuah reviu filem: Segalanya di hujung jari dalam 'Dubai My Love'. Begitu mudah filem ini.

[Ulasan ini adalah untuk Movie Addict Malaysia

yang tak diterbitkan pada tahun 2017]

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu
Pengarah: Aidilfitri Mohd. Yunos
Penulis: Fairul Nizam Ablah, Aidilfitri Mohd. Yunos
Genre: Drama, romantik · Rilis: 26 Oktober 2017

Pelakon: Erwin Dawson, Putri Najuwa,
Hanna Aqeela, Ben Ali

Studio: Tsar Asia

Filem Dubai My Love / DML berkisar tentang Amar (Erwin Dawson) yang membawa diri ke Dubai bersama teman wanitanya (Putri Najuwa) setelah ditinggalkan bakal isteri di hari perkahwinan. Namun, kehadiran seorang gadis misteri (Hanna Aqeela) mula menggugat hubungan antara Amar dan teman wanitanya, kerana gadis itu memegang rahsia hidup yang sering membelenggu Amar.

Ulasan ini TAK ADA SPOILER, jadi selamat untuk anda baca.

A film review: 'Sindiket' is an 80's/90's action film that was plunged into 2017!

[Originally posted for Movie Addict Malaysia] 

Origin: Malaysia, Indonesia · Language: Malay, Indonesian
Director & writer: Bade Hj. Azmi
Release: 6 April 2017 · Genres: Crime, action, drama

Casts: Sharnaaz Ahmad, Daphne Iking,
Liyana Jasmay, Sharifah Amani

Studio: Loyal Studios
Distributor: Empire Film Solutions

This is a SPOILER-FREE review, despite the fact that it's not my kind of movie.

So I saw Bade Hj. Azmi's name slapped on this project. Word on the street is he's a good filmmaker solely by reputation, as I never actually follow his works. Despite his more recent fare called Kanang Anak Langkau was released after this film chronologically,  he actually shot this film first. Other than Kanang and this abomination he called a "film", his other works that I've watched were called Gangster if I got it right and maybe parts of KL Menjerit and its prequel.

A film review: 'J-Revolusi' is a very cocky police picture about... something.

[Originally posted for Movie Addict Malaysia]

Origin: Malaysia · Languages: Malay, English
Director: Zulkarnain Azhar · Writer: Alfie Palermo
Genre: Action · Release: March 2, 2017

Casts: Zul Ariffin, Izara Aisyah, Farid Kamil,
Azad Jasmin, Nur Fazura

More info: IMDb

You can't deny it; we always strive to be something, be it for better or worse. And the year is 2017. Grand Brilliance is trying to show us its brilliance by producing a competition to another film of its kind (read: Polis Evo) called J-Revolusi, a police-themed action film that I didn't seem to anticipate. However, unlike its title, this flick is not quite the revolution our local action film actually deserved, but it's a rather futile attempt for even trying... to try their hardest.

Oh yeah. It's a SPOILER-FREE review.

A truthful film review: 'Adiwiraku' is not quite the hero we deserve.

Origin: Malaysia · Language: Malay, English
Director: Eric Ong
Writers: Jason Chong, Eric Ong
Genre: Drama · Release: March 9, 2017

Casts: Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Xavier Fong,
Ahmad Adnin Zidane, Nur Idina Tasnim,
Rizal Fahmi, Balqis Sani, Wan Azlyn Maasyah
Farra Safwan, Khairi Mohd Kamal, Ajwad Mohd Sobri,
Faez Reezme, Alif Abubakar

Studios: SOL Pictures, Filmmecca Studio
Distributor: Empire Film Solution

So, long story short, I already reviewed this film on the surface on my Facebook page, which can be read HERE (the plot summary is also mentioned here, in case you want an outline of what the movie is all about) and is actually the first preview I saw before the oh-so-dreadful silver screen debut by Fauzi Nawawi, a long time actor and writer/director for TV movies called Pak Pong in the same week. I don't claim to be a movie expert, but let's get a tad dirty to the film everyone is very excited to see because its decently-edited trailer which was cut as if it's a heart-wrenching melodramatic tale of a struggling teacher dealing with seemingly difficult band of pupils to get them in shape for an upcoming choral speaking competition. This is only my own personal opinion, so don't take my word for it entirely.

Throw in some emotional shots and dramatic music, plus scenes which references superheroes, and of course the school setting of the film, in addition to it being based on an actual story, and you get a trailer that would woo the easily-impressed who are usually not the kind to wanna watch local films. A very delicious bait, I'd say, since I was also initially sold by it.

A bit of a warning before going through: this review MIGHT CONTAIN MINOR SPOILERS. If you don't mind, then you may proceed.

A film review: 'Hacksaw Ridge'

Origin: United States, Australia · Language: English
Director: Mel Gibson
Writers: Andrew Knight, Robert Schenkkan
Genres: War, biography, drama
Release: November 4, 2016

Casts: Andrew Garfield, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving,
Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington,
Luke Bracey

More info: IMDb

A film of this calibre does not deserve my usually lame wordplays on the title of its review. Two words: Mel Gibson. I'm glad I've waited this long for its big screen release at our shores; my patience was rewarded very handsomely!

I didn't really follow about any of his notorious outings or his acting career, but everyone knows that he's damn good when he's calling the shots behind the camera. I was psyched as everyone else out there when those two names are uttered and is out to helm yet another film involving guts spewing in the air in very large numbers. However, it has an epic twist on its own (which includes pretty boy Andrew Garfield in a rather demanding lead role).

In regards to his muse in filmmaking, everyone knows for a fact that Gibson's really into violent imagery in most of his films and have its protagonist doing morally questionable things by being violent in order to uphold what is right for them. A grand exception can be applied to this one though; it's a true story about a combat medic during the Battle of Okinawa who chooses to participate in the war... without firing even a single bullet. Wait, what? A pacifist WAR film? Really?

Read on through this NON-SPOILER review, even though it's already been talked about to death by now and it's already past the bullshit Oscars 2017 season.

Sebuah reviu filem: Rasa macam kena penye-'Pak Pong' ada.

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu
Pengarah & penulis: Fauzi Nawawi
Genre: Fantasi · Rilis: 23 Februari 2017

Pelakon: Hairul Azreen, Bard, Siti Saleha,
Marsha Milan, Fauzi Nawawi, Kaza, Eizlan Yusuf,
Syawal (AF), Rahim (R2), Izreen Azminda,
Zulkifli Ismail

Studio: 9 Country Creativity

Oh, tajuk entriku kali ini.

Dalam minggu sebelum minggu terakhir Februari ni, dah dua filem aku pra-tonton (ehsan Movie Addict) dan kedua-duanya merupakan debut sutradaranya. Filem pertama ialah Adiwiraku iaitu arahan dan tulisan bersama Eric Ong yang ditayangkan pada 9 Mac dan filem yang aku nak ulas sekarang ni, Pak Pong pulak arahan, tulisan, serta lakonan Fauzi Nawawi yang keluar pada 23 Februari. Walaupun aku tengok Adiwiraku dulu pada 20 Februari dan ada sedikit reviu pada dasarnya, Pak Pong yang keluar dulu. Maka ulasan penuh nilah yang korang akan baca dulu. Sumpah aku tak tergerak hati nak tengok pun filem ni; yang ada cuma rasa nak tergelak ja tengok poster dan trelernya. Mujurlah tiket dapat percuma! Yah-hoi!

Macam mana aku nak mula, ek? Baiklah. Katanya filem ni 6 tahun dalam pembikinan (penulisan skrip dalam setahun, pembikinan termasuk pra-produksi, produksi dan pasca-produksi dalam 5 tahun). Sebelum ni, depa ada rilis footage yang telah memberikan penonton feel yang ada dalam filem ni. Para pembikin seperti nak kata depa nak jadikan Avatar arahan James Cameron sebagai inspirasi dunia fantasinya, manakala Lord of the Rings pulak sebagai konsep bagi babak perlawanannya dan rangka bagi sekuel-sekuel yang nak dirancang (KAH!). Satu tu pun takde feel yang dipetik tu. Sebenarnya nampak mengarah kepada Game of Thrones dalam pengaruh dadah (maksud aku dari segi kecelaruannya yang terlalu mudah tapi bapak trigger-happy pengarahnya bila dok shooting filem ni). 6 tahun, ya? Hm. Oh ya, reviu ni TAKDE SPOILER. Kalau dah bosan sangat, meh baca apa aku fikir pasal Pak Pong ni.

A film review: Don't you DARE 'Split' while watching this movie!

Origin: United States · Language: English

Writer & director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Psychological horror · Release: January 20, 2017

Casts: James McAvoy, Anya Taylor-Joy,
Betty Buckley, Jessica Sula

Haley Lu Richardson

More info: IMDb

I'm not really a follower of this director who was previously known as Mr. The-Director-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named. All I do know is the fact that he pretty much have a bad rep since The Last Airbender, an ill-received and poorly-made adaptation of Nickelodeon's awesome Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series. Then, he made a soft return to making good movies through the safe-ish route that is The Visit, a found footage horror thriller that have shots of self-depreciation jokes and dark humour with decent performances by its two upcoming young actors (which I have reviewed here). Enter 2017, where he has made a legitimately triumphant return!

I first came across this film when I was watching its trailer in theatres. James McAvoy of Wanted and X-Men film series fame is the lead and he went batshit crazy in it. After some more exposure on this film via the good old web, I was informed that the film also features Anya Taylor-Joy, also an upcoming rising star, who rose to prominence thanks to the indie horror flick The Witch which I also have yet to see, and people really liked her in that film. I was coloured impress by Split's trailer. I guess I should give it a chance to see if it really spooked me without anticipating the "twist" that Shyamalan is known for before The Last Airbender. Oh it has that, indeed, but I did NOT see it coming, ESPECIALLY THE ENDING!

Since this film is hard to review without giving away much of the events, this review is going to be SPOILER-FILLED. Consider yourself warned!

Catatan tentang Temasya Wayang@Budiman dan reviu 'Return to Nostalgia' / '#AntologiROTI'.

[English version]

Risalah acara Temasya Wayang@Budiman

Risalah ehsan laman Facebook PKAF

Sabtu, 21 Januari 2017 ialah satu hari yang gila. Aku rasa dah banyak kali jugak aku petik nama Pusat Kajian dan Apresiasi Filem / PKAF dalam blog aku ni. Kenapa? Sebab aku penyokong tegar depa ni. Depa ni punya hasrat memang murni; nak ketengahkan dan membincangkan serta menghargai karya-karya hebat seantero dunia dan lebih fokusnya sinema Asia yang atas sebab tertentu tak masuk dalam radar penonton filem Malaysia dalam skala kecil. Diorang ni dah lama wujud sebenarnya, sejak 2012 lagi. Tapi, diorang baru mula menonjolkan diri secara perlahan menerusi sesi tayangan filem diorang yang pertama iaitu Wayang@Budiman pada tahun 2015 dan kini telah mula melebarkan sayap depa di luar Alam Budiman serta menganjurkan pelbagai aktiviti berkaitan sinema secara kecil-kecilan mahupun besar-besaran. Siapa sangka, usaha murni depa ni dah masuk pun masuk tahun ke-2. Demi menghargai khalayak yang berterusan menyokong dan juga hangpa yang baru berjinak nak mai ke slot tayangan sebegini di samping meraikan sinema itu sendiri, depa adakan satu Temasya untuk meraikan perkara tersebut.

Ruang yang agak sempit di rumah kedai dekat Alam Budiman tu serta jaraknya yang agak hulu tu tak menghalang para pencinta sinema lokal, Asia dan antarabangsa untuk datang berdiskusi pasal filem. Acara ni bukan acara biasa-biasa. Orang-orang yang dijemput untuk slot pertama Temasya tu bukan calang-calang orang; semuanya player industri filem Malaysia yang ada kalibernya tersendiri. Lepas tu, ada pulak dokumentari pasai usaha seorang pembikin filem mencari antara filem terawal Malaysia yang dikatakan telah hilang. Kemudian, tiba-tiba dapat tetamu tak diundang yang mengejutkan! Pada malam hari, kemuncaknya pulak ialah tayangan filpen (baca: filem pendek) yang dihasilkan oleh para khalayak yang sering datang ke sesi Wayang@Budiman hampir setiap malam bertemakan roti yang kita selalu jumpa kat kedai mamak yang dinamakan #AntologiROTI (dua filpen dalam antologi ni aku tolong buat sarikata; ada jugak kerja terjemahan aku yang lain kat sini 😆). Mari selami perasaan aku pasal acara ni (amboi!).

Sebuah reviu filem: Sumpah aku terlepas pandang identifier komedi suspens 'Bo-Peng'!

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu
Pengarah & penulis: Helmi Yusof
Genre: Komedi, thriller, jenayah · Rilis: 22 Disember 2016

Pelakon: Johan As'ari, Nabil Ahmad, Zulin Aziz,
Soffi Jikan, Fauzi Nawawi, Wanna Ali, Juzzthin,
Elie Suryati

Studio & pengedar: Pencil Pictures & Records

Selamat datang, 2017! Aku harap streak filem-filem berkualiti tahun 2016 akan berterusan ke tahun ni! Mari aku mulakan reviu aku dengan... filem tahun lepas yang dah lama ada dalam otak aku tapi tepu amat nak tulis! Filem yang aku tak kisah langsung tapi secara tak sengaja seronok ditonton! Akhirnya kerajinan muncul walaupun 2016 dah habis! Bahahaha! 😂😂😂

Aku sebenarnya cari nahas bila menggatal nak menangkan tiket untuk pratonton filem ni 6 Disember tahun lepas anjuran Movie Addict. Aku tak jangka apa-apa pun. Tunggu pun tidak. Memang tup-tup, aku ternampak poster filem ni serta tajuknya yang agak under-whelming, aku terus hakimi filem ni. Aku ingat ala-ala komedi Prof Razak atau MiG yang pointless. Aku salah.

Sumpah aku terlepas pandang identifier "Sebuah Filem Komedi Suspen" filem ni. Mungkin memang tak ada sebab apa yang aku nampak hanyalah poster yang aku gunakan sebagai thumbnail ni dan langsung tak kisah pasal papan-papan, banner dan bunting filem ni yang berlegar-legar kat luar hall MM Cineplex masa tu. Terus aku rasa filem ni adalah jugak sedikit kepandaiannya dan kemisteriannya!

Walaupun filem ni dah lama keluar dan tak ramai pun aku rasa nak bagi peluang, aku masih TAK AKAN BAGITAU SPOILER.

Sebuah reviu filem: Kalau 'Munafik' lebih matang dan bukan seram, jadilah 'Desolasi.'

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu, Inggeris
Pengarah & penulis: Syafiq Yusof
Genre: Thriller, fiksyen sains · Rilis: 8 Disember 2016

Pelakon: Syamsul Yusof,  Bella Dally, Pekin Ibrahim,
Jalaludin Hassan

Info lanjut: IMDb

Nepotisme itu indah kalau tak ada orang buat hal. Mula-mula bapak jadi pelakon, sekarang dia produser. Lepas tu, anak-anak pulak rajin ikut jejak langkah bapak depa. Syamsul Yusof mulakan langkah sebagai pelakon, lepas tu jadi pengarah dan penulis skrip dengan Evolusi KL Drift dan seterusnya. Sekarang, tiba-tiba masa S.A.M. keluar, aku tau yang Syamsul ada adik, namanya Syafiq. Selepas beberapa filem dia bikin pasca-S.A.M., pada satu masa tu aku terbaca satu artikel pasal filem terbarunya yang kembali kepada visinya yang agak segar lepas dia bikin filem yang kita dah biasa macam filem aksi komedi (Abang Long Fadil, spin-off kepada KL Gangster) dan seram found footage (Villa Nabila, berdasarkan urban legend yang tengah hot masa filem tu diumumkan). Terimalah Desolasi, sebuah lagi filem arahan dan tulisan Syafiq yang dibintangi abangnya sendiri, Syamsul Yusof. Bertuah budak ni jadi anak Yusof Haslam. Kehkeh.

Pada 25 November 2016, aku telah dijemput mewakili Movie Addict untuk pratayang filem Desolasi bagi geng media. Memang betullah Syafiq ni. Lagi satu filem berkonsep yang lari daripada cliche filem Melayu. Walaupun masih mengekalkan konsep dalam S.A.M. yang buat satu eksplorasi pasal masalah mental protagonisnya, dalam Desolasi ni, itu dijadikan subplot je. Apa yang dia buat kali ni dari segi falsafahnya lebih dekat dengan filem Life of Pi iaitu tentang persoalan tentang hidup dan pegangan seseorang yang lost dan sentiasa mencari jawapan. Tapi, berbeza dengan Life of Pi yang lebih fantastikal, abstrak dan puitis dari segi penceritaan dan falsafah yang dibawa, Desolasi ni pulak lebih in-your-face bak kata orang putih. Life of Pi agak terbuka dan deep, tapi Desolasi ni pulak terlalu mencuba menjadi accessible dan sedikit sempit. Sungguh pun begitu, ini masih percubaan yang berani pada era di mana ramai golongan butthurt dan Ustaz/Ulama’ Media Sosial acah-acah baik mudah sentap terhadap benda yang sikit pun tak goyangkan akidah depa.

Oh ya, reviu ni confirm TAK ADA SPOILER. Jadi, bacalah dengan aman ya semua? Semoga poin-poin aku kemukakan ni akan buat korang rasa nak tengok atau tak filem Desolasi ni.

Sebuah reviu dua filem: 'Hanyut' & 'Interchange'

"Tengok aku buat apa? Tengoklah filem aku!"

Selamat, selamat, selamat! Sebenarnya aku ada reviu filem lain, iaitu Desolasi, tengah tunggu nak keluar, tapi tak boleh nak post lagi sebabnya dah ada buat perjanjian. Masalahnya, aku gian bebenau nak post reviu tu! Nasib baiklah ada tarikh 4 Disember, aku sanggup merempit ke MidValley bersama adik tercinta untuk menonton filem yang tajuknya sungguh ironi, Hanyut arahan U-Wei Haji Saari (sebabnya sini ja yang tinggal tayangan filem ni yang paling dekat area aku; tu pun MASIH jauh) dan Interchange arahan Dain Said. Dapatlah jugak lepaskan gian nak mengulas filem-filem tempatan kita yang semakin berani kedepankan idea yang berlainan.

"We're the cool clique. Dain Said ain't nuttin' ta eff wit'!"

Ya. Filem-filem ni memang lain macam dalam liga masing-masing. Nak buat perbandingan memang langsung tak adil, sebabnya kedua-dua filem ni ada visinya yang tersendiri. Aku cuba untuk TAK BAGI SPOILER LANGSUNG dalam reviu ni, sebab nanti korang dah tau, korang tak mau tengok.

Film reviews: A Marvel Vs. DC showdown - 'Doctor Strange' Vs. 'Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders'

"Hello, DC fans! I'll annoy the hell out of you guys!"

What's up people of the world! After getting decommissioned from writing blog posts due to unforeseen circumstances (such as my new laptop getting a technical hiccup and me getting involved with a road accident), I think it's appropriate to talk about the talk of the century. The unnecessary debacle between two mighty brands in the Nerdrealm (I'm spelling this a-la Mortal Kombat style) that is... Marvel versus DC! 

Nanananananananana Batmaaan~! Aaaaaand Robin too!

With that said, during my absence from my tool of the trade, I managed to catch two films from the respective brands which are both 2016 releases: Doctor Strange, the latest addition to the long-standing Marvel Cinematic Universe / MCU cannon and Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders, which is a loving tribute to the super-campy live-action 60's series with both Adam West and Burt Ward reprising their roles from that series as Bruce Wayne/Batman and Dick Grayson/Robin respectively, which I may have or have not watch as a kid. Batman was watched two days ago, while Doctor Strange was viewed a day after its Malaysian premiere (and yes, I'm aware that I'm way late in the reviewing game while the hype was hot for this due to the incidents that was stated earlier). And guess what? I like them both! 

Yeah, yeah. I might have voiced my disdain over DC's sorry efforts to take a jab at Marvel's success with the DC Extended Universe / DCEU AND the underwhelming The Killing Joke which does not fall under the DCEU cannon, but thankfully DC hasn't gone too far astray from delivering yet another satisfying diversion for home releases with quality animated feature! And I think Marvel has also yet again doesn't seem to dissatisfy me with their latest offering! Let's see what I have in mind about these, shall we? Oh yeah, these reviews are SPOILER-FREE too!

A film review: 'The Accountant' or When Murdock Meets Castle.

 Why cover half your butt-chinned face, Batfleck? You're just a goddamn accountant!

Origin: United States · Language: English

Director: Gavin O'Connor · Writer: Bill Dubuque

Genres: Action, thriller, drama · Release: October 14, 2016

Casts: Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, Anna Kendrick,
J.K. Simmons, Cynthia Addai-Robbinson,

Jeffry Tambor, John Lithgow

More info: IMDb

So, this movie happened. I had no anticipation whatsoever, as to me it came out of nowhere. Also, in the style of the previously reviewed Midnight Special, Warner Bros. yet again managed to shoehorn a few product placements to show us that they are highly involved with this film (other than of course the appearance of Batfleck himself as the lead, alongside the future James Gordon, which is not that apparent especially for the uninitiated); a glimpse of Action Comics (a comic book series that was responsible for introducing us to DC superheroes like Superman, for example) and using Solomon Grundy's (a zombie supervillain in the DC Comics universe) name as a plot device. Yeah. I'm catching on here.

Well, you're probably sick of me mentioning the name Movie Addict, but I have to thank them again for getting us film buffs a free preview to the film. Also, I knew about this film from that Facebook group. What's interesting though, again, I'm intrigued by the poster more so than I do the trailers. I don't touch that thing even once for The Accountant. It's definitely the film's poster alone... or maybe reviews from film critics whom I trust (I'm talking about Chris Stuckmann and Jeremy Jahns) that sold me. I mean, come on! The title is The Accountant, but Affleck is holding a sniper rifle and his face is half-obscured? How does that add up? THAT'S why I want to see it! And then there's Jon Bernthal? What are the odds? Former Daredevil AND current Punisher in the same film? And did I buy it? Not the tickets obviously. But the movie itself? It's fantastic, though it mildly affected my head for its offbeat approach to storytelling that is surprisingly well-handled!

Oh. This is a SPOILER-FREE review. So read on if you feel like catching a film not based on anything, in which this kind of film is scarce these days... that would make accountants smirk, thinking that everyone would think they are cool just because The Accountant can shoot people in the head. I'm kidding, yo!

KKKorean Kombo film reviews: 'Train to Busan,' The Wailing,' & 'The Housemaid (1960)'

Yo, my peeps. How's it going?

"Yeah. You best believe that I'll bust the hell out of yo' infected ass, rotten biatches!"

I really wanted to do this for a while, but now that I finally have a (hopefully) stable job, I am not as eager to write reviews as before... or maybe I was too eager, that I forgot I was so damn tired. Now that it's the weekend, it's time to blow off some steam! In the nearest periods of time, I managed to watch a few South Korean films on the big screen, all of which are horrific in their own ways.

"Oh yeah? Try and check out what we're seeing, and you'll feel bad about acting all badass and shit!"

The first two, you could say are both recent releases (well, not the most recent), while the latest one, which was watched last Friday during the good old Wayang@Budiman screenings, was an opening of a new slot which will showcase the best classic black-and-white films from around the globe, two of which I get why it was critically acclaimed while the last one... I don't quite get why. So why the heck not fit all three of those reviews in one post, right?  Let's get it on, as these reviews are totally SPOILER-FREE!

"Pfft. Sissies."

Sebuah reviu filem: Kita lebih perlukan 'Rembat' sebenarnya!

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu, Hokkien
Pengarah: Shamyl Othman
Penulis: Amri Rohayat, Rafidah Abdullah
Genre: Komedi · Rilis: 8 Oktober 2015

Pelakon: Shaheizy Sam, Aniu, Zizan Razak, Zara Zya,
Sherry Alhadad, Zulin Aziz, Arja Lee, Sam Chong

Studio: Red Films, Marna Films
Pengedar: Grand Brilliance

Aku pernah teringin nak tonton filem ni masa dia keluar di pawagam dulu, tapi tak boleh sebab malas gila, tak ada duit (teehee), dan tak ada kawan. Barangkali sebab biarpun Shaheizy Sam ni ada filem bagus, banyak juga filem tahi yang dia pernah berlakon (ehem... filem-filem Adnan Sempit selepas versi asal, Kasutku Kusut, dan Kongsi contohnya). Kebetulan, memang filem ni keluar dekat-dekat dengan Polis Evo, yang jugak ada Zizan Razak. Aku rasa sebab filem ni filem komedi, nampak pulak posternya ada macam-macam kat atas ni, ditambah pula dengan trailernya yang memaparkan beberapa babak lawak dalam filem ni, merupakan antara resipi-resipi yang bakal membuatkan sesuatu filem tu akan tak laku (bagi pendapat aku). Atau... sebab yang lebih extreme... sebab... rasisme? Huih, kejam!

Terima kasih kepada Pesta Filem KITA kerana tayang filem ni yang dah pun aku miliki secara tak halal yang aku rasa lebih berbaloi kalau tengok beramai-ramai bersama rakyat yang berbilang bangsa, sebab mesej 1Malaysia-nya lebih natural daripada Ola Bola yang cheesy dan overrated tu.

Kalau nak teruskan baca, boleh je. Sebab reviu ni SELAMAT DARIPADA SPOILER.

Sebuah reviu filem: 'Aliff Dalam 7 Dimensi'

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu
Pengarah: Faisal Ishak
Penulis: Anwari Ashraf Hashim, Ashraf Zain
Genre: Aksi, fantasi · Rilis: 8 September 2016

Pelakon: Izzue Islam, Alif Satar, Juliana Evans,
Man Kadir, Kaka Azraff

Info lanjut: IMDb

Seperti biasa, filem ni buat aku tertarik sebab? Poster. Tapi, bukan poster biasa; pre-teaser poster dia. Dan pada pre-teaser poster tu tajuk asal filem ni 7 Dimensi Alif.

Bila nampak teaser-nya macam ni, aku dah bayangkan visual yang sangat menarik dengan rekaan makhluk-makhluk fantasi yang juga menarik, ditambah dengan protagonis yang acah-acah langsi dan penuh misteri tapi power gila. Itulah apa yang aku nampak dan dapat pada filemnya. Aku tak berpeluang nak baca komik filem ni yang merupakan prekuel, tapi dari segi kronologi, komik tu timeline dia masa Aliff  baru je mewarisi saka tu semasa dia di asrama. Nampaknya konsep dari poster pre-teaser ni berjaya jugak diterapkan dalam filem akhir, dan apa aku boleh cakap, ini eksperimen yang baik daripada team produksi AD7D ni dan yang best, apa yang aku harapkan dari poster tu pun ada jugak pada watak utamanya dan keseluruhan penceritaannya... kecuali skema warna hijau tu, sebab filem ni lebih kebiruan. Lepas tu, Faisal Ishak, pengarah trilogi filem Juvana serta siri drama TV-nya pulak yang bertanggungjawab mengarah filem ni.

Filem ni jauh dari yang terbaik, tapi ideanya sangat segar bagi industri kita. Oh, reviu ni ada SEDIKIT SPOILER, tapi aku rasa takkan ganggu pengalaman korang yang belum tengok kot.

A film review: 'Kubo and the Two Strings'

Origin: United States · Language: English
Director: Travis Knight
Writers: Marc Haimes, Chris Butler
Genres: Action, adventure, fantasy · Release: August 19, 2016

Voice casts: Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron,
Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes,
George Takei, Rooney Mara, Brenda Vaccaro

More info: IMDb

Here are a few reasons why this film, which popped out like out of nowhere, tickled some sort of bone in me. First, it's because of this awesome teaser image.

Secondly, I found out that this was made by Laika, the same studio that had an impressive debut with the adapted work of Coraline (the only one before Kubo that I've watched) and since then, consistently-praised works for their painstakingly-detailed stopmotion masterpieces. Yes. In an era where CGI rules, this is one of the few studios that still honour the old-school and alternate way of making animated films, which I think was made super popular by Henry Selick (coincidentally the director of Coraline) and Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas... or please correct me if I'm wrong about this. Nevertheless, I can't believe what I've just experienced yesterday. It was worth more than the admission price of RM20, as I think this studio deserves more money thrown at the screen for this exquisite motion picture  (and emphasize on MOTION picture) made with sheer, literal fluidity!

This easily kicked the big giants' asses when it comes to stunning visuals and heartfelt storyline as well as screenplay, accompanied by chilling scores, immersive sound designs, stellar voice acting by big names and an up-and-comer, and then some. Too bad that this impressive animation didn't get that much love from filmgoers both locally and overseas at the moment. Thankfully, this review is here to convince you guys why it is IMPORTANT for anyone who reads this review to go and catch this film like pronto on the BIG SCREEN. And yeah, this is SPOILER-FREE.

An experience of sorts: Japanese Film Festival 2016 opening ceremony & 'After the Storm' thoughts

Hello, there! This time around, I'm giving a throwback of me saying things about what happened that I think matters to me: writing a long-ass post about it! And also, why not throw in a new banner for my blog, right? Oh yeah, those are totally characters from The Boy and the Beast, one of the films that will be screened at Japanese Film Festival Malaysia 2016, and I'm keeping it! It's not just a promotional thing! NARNIA is long gone!

Fret not though. I know this is supposed to be a blog dedicated to reviewing films (and other things). It's here because a film was indeed screened after the opening ceremony attended by PRESS members for this year's edition of Japanese Film Festival organised by Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur in association with Golden Screen Cinemas. A brief review of that film, titled After the Storm, will follow suit.

My gut-feeling as one of the few guests of honour

Which begs me to this question; how the HELL did this wild invitation appear in my inbox while I was doing my job? And why, oh why, did it have to clash with the screening for a free movie which I won tickets to thanks to Movie Addict? World is cruel.

The mysterious email in question. That person in the screenshot of this screenshot is Kiki Kilin, one of the actors for the film I watched that night, and she is KILIN' it with her role! More on that later. And sorry not sorry for the lame pun.

How the heck did he get my email? And how am I a press member now? What kind of credibility do I have? Is it because of THIS article?

My review is the third one. Not lying mah!

Yeah. One of my reviews got featured at The Daily Seni - AGAIN! This time around, it's sandwiched between THE Fadli al-Akiti (a renowned film critic and owner of TontonFilem) and New Straits Times' review excerpts, and it's for a film currently showing in local cinemas right now, Pekak. And yes, this is totally a legit article.

Whatever the case is, since I already went to a few screenings with the awesome group, I decided to give up my tickets and pass it to my siblings instead, so I can take up this invitation, to see where things would go from here. The unfortunate thing was, I was stuck in traffic when the press conference was commencing. It was then I would have the chance to maybe get closer to the aforementioned veteran actress whom I think was indeed very likeable both on-screen and off-screen judging from a video tribute played before her speech during the festival's opening ceremony and the speech itself, through the way she conveyed her message.

Here she is, straight from the red carpets draped under her feet just outside the theater hall. I was too hungry munching on the finger foods to even care about her, 'cause a brother's gotta eat. Gomenasai!

Photo by Japan Foundation, Kuala Lumpur.

While it was awkward and all, with me being just an ordinary guy being thrown into a world of press screenings (with this one being the totally official one), I guess it was a pleasant one, even if I talked to only very few of them, introducing myself like the amateur that I am (and I rue the day that I didn't get the chance to drop my non-existent contact card!). This occurrence might seem normal to some people, but for a socially awkward human like myself who just happens to write film reviews for fun, this is a huge deal. It gives people like me, the low self-esteem guy, a high purpose. Which means people still need guidance on what is or what is not a good film, and I am stamped as that kind of guy who does just that. And me getting recognised as an ACTUAL member of the press by being invited to this kind of event was kind of something. Ookay. Not much else I can say about the event. On with the film review.

Sa-buah ulasan filem: 'Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang'

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu, Jerman
Pengarah & penulis: Mamat Khalid
Genre: Film noir, komedi, fantasi · Rilis: 10 Januari 2008

Pelakon: Rosyam Nor, Umie Aida, Farid Kamil,
Avaa Vanja, Bront Palarae, Kuswadinata, Soffi Jikan

Info lanjut: IMDb

Beberapa tahun lepas cubaan pertama nak ulas filem ni dan bulan kemudian selepas apresiasi filem ni di Content Pitching Centre, Platinum Sentral bersama-sama sutradara Mamat Khalid (siri Kampung Pisang dan spin-off filem-filem ni iaitu siri Hantu Kak Limah dan Usop Wilcha Menghonjang Makhluk Muzium) dan pelakonnya Avaa Vanja dan Rosyam Nor, barulah tiba-tiba rasa nak ulas eksperimen menarik bagi industri filem kita ni: sebuah filem komedi gelap dan alam ghaib yang dirangka dalam... gaya film noir, setelah lama bersarang dalam draf blog aku. Ya, film noir. Penerangan yang mudah bagi genre ni ialah filem detektif kuat merokok yang kelam dan ada perempuan suka menyemak dan hitam-putih warnanya, tapi perisanya memang perisa tempatan; yelah, kata karya Mamat Khalid!

Nak tau tak apa yang menarik? Aku pernah tonton satu filem Indonesia dulu, tajuknya Kala arahan Joko Anwar. Yang pelik tu nama dia nak dekat dengan Mamat Khalid punya Kala. Lepas tu dua-dua ambik pendekatan noir dan supernatural. Keluar pun waktu dekat-dekat dalam tahun yang sama! Cumanya, bagi aku, elemen supernatural dalam Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang ni biarpun melampau-lampau merapunya, aku rasa perlaksanaannya lebih kena digayakan di sini berbanding dalam filem Kala; sebab dia tau konsep tu mengarut, jadi dia betul-betul tak ambil serius tentang dirinya! Kalau korang perasan, deskripsi bawah poster tu kata filem ni ada Bahasa Jerman! APA?!

Oh. Aku rasa reviu ni ADA SPOILER. Kalau tak kisah, bacalah terus! Dan maafkan aku kalau pandangan ni cetek je rasanya; sebab pendekatan yang digunakan agak rawak bagi aku dan aku kurang fasih pasal rujukan-rujukan yang Mamat Khalid utarakan dalam filem ni... dan sebab aku tak terus ulas filem ni selepas tontonan semula tu.

Sebuah reviu filem: Korang jangan buat 'Pekak' ye! Debik kang!

Asal: Malaysia · Bahasa: Melayu
Pengarah & penulis: Mohd Khairul Azri Md Noor
Genre: Drama · Rilis: 1 September 2016

Pelakon: Zahiril Adzim, Sharifah Amani, Zaidi Omar,
Sharifah Sakinah, Amerul Affendi, Iedil Putra, Joe Flizzow

Info lanjut: IMDb

Jujur cakap, aku tak tau dari mana aku dengar pasal filem ni. Pendek kata, aku pekakkan telinga aku pasal kewujudannya. Tapi, tetiba ramai pula yang melobi aku untuk tonton filem ni sebagaimana Joe Flizzow melobi dirinya selama ni untuk menjadi seorang ahli 'kartel' sepanjang karier solonya. Sekali, ambik kau dia jadi pengedar dadah dalam filem ni! Kartello, hello! Okay, mukadimah yang merapu, tapi ada sebabnya kenapa aku sentuh pasal ni. Jauh sikit dalam reviu ni aku habaq na?

Nak ditakdirkan, aku dua kali dijemput untuk tonton filem ni sebelum dikeluarkan untuk orang ramai 1 September depan (yang juga hari pertama aku makan gaji tetap bulan-bulan!); kali pertama sebagai sesi soal jawab bersama dua orang pelakon dan pengarahnya dan kali kedua pula sebagai tayangan perdana atau nama poyonya 'Malam Gala.' Yang kedua aku dapat pergi, dan semua pelakon dan para tunjang belakang filem ni datang mai (kecuali Zaidi Omar). Aku bersyukur sebab dapat berkenalan dengan pencinta filem ni sampai dapat mingle secara kasual dengan para pemain industri like nobody's business. Sungguh. Sepertimana aku juga jatuh cinta pada filem yang fokusnya sepelik terbitan Tengku Iesta sebelum ni pasal orang nak bunuh diri: filem Pekak  ni pasal orang pekak yang terpaksa menjual dadah. Lolwut?

Baiklah. Memandangkan filem ni masih lagi tengah chill sebelum bertemu penonton, aku cuba kasi ulasan TANPA SPOILER, di mana tujuan ulasan ni semata-mata untuk suruh korang pergi sokong satu lagi filem berkualiti bikinan anak watan kita. Ayuh! Iqra'!