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Reviews
First Take, Final Cut (2003)
Not Bad
"First Take Final Cut" is a Malaysian Cantonese/Mandarin comedy that spoofs film-making, and pokes fun at the media, film critics, and art house film. It also parodies Malaysian life in a very funny way. "First Take Final Cut" is about Chai, a pirated VCD/DVD seller who wants to be a movie director to get girls and lots of money. In the mean time, there is a local film event, where one of its projects has been abandoned by its director. Chai gets the job by luck. With zero experience and a 3-page script, a comedy of errors ensues.
"First Take Final Cut" is a refreshing look at local movies, let alone internationally as well. The movie was actually finished in the middle of 2003, but is only set to be released in cinemas now. Director Ng Tian Hann is still a relative unknown, but his work was last seen in the third segment ("Nodding Scoop") of "Visits: Hungry Ghosts Anthology". The lead of "First Take Final Cut" was also the lead in "Nodding Scoop" as well. This man is Ong Kok Liang.
Ong Kok Liang plays his role as a youth with no future as though it was his second nature. It was as though he wasn't acting at all. Haha, that's not a bad thing though. His character in the movie is genuinely funny and one can relate to him easily. The other cast members, Lavin Seow, Kiew Suet Kim, and Yee Chee Wei excelled in portraying their roles. Yee Chee Wei, who plays the 'Director of Photography' (DOP) was actually also one of the crew members on the set! The overall acting in this movie shows that the actors were very comfortable with the director himself.
Lavin Seow and Kiew Suet Kim play the two leads in Chai's film, both of which who are total opposites of each other. Lavin plays a former TV star with 'diva-like' demands, and Kiew Suet Kim plays a bitchy amateur actress who thinks too much of herself. Both actresses did their parts well.
The pace of the movie differs from scene to scene, where sometimes it is evenly paced, and sometimes it gets a little slow at certain parts. But that's just me nitpicking. It doesn't affect the storyline but in fact, enhances the 'art' of it. Filmed in 'miniDV' format, the quality of the picture is different than the usual movies that you watch in the cinema. The first difference is that it is not in the usual 'widescreen' format, but it is 'full screen'.
"First Take Final Cut" will not be everyone's cup of tea. A university/college student may appreciate what's being offered here if compared to a retired businessman.
"First Take, Final Cut" won the Bronze award in the 8th Malaysian Video Awards (MVA) 2003 in the Best Asean Features category and was also invited to a few international film festivals.
I am impatiently waiting to see more of these kind of local films on the big screen as I believe they deserve it, more than let's say certain Malay movies with big budgets, and no substance.
Do watch "First Take Final Cut" for good acting and great directing, and last but not least because (as corny as it sounds) MALAYSIA BOLEH! Also, watch out for the fighting fish that pops out every now and then throughout the movie.
Salon (2005)
Refreshing
"Salon" is the next Malaysian movie that falls in the same category as "Gol & Gincu". Non-Malay directors directed both movies, and both have cross-cultural appeal. Directed by Woo Ming Jin, this will be his first feature-length theatrical release. His previous movie, "Monday Morning Glory" received encouraging reviews. Previously, he has made several short films that have won awards and music videos.
The cast in this movie are relatively new to the big screen. Raja Farah currently stars in "Impian Illyana" (shown on NTV7), Pierre Andre was recently seen in "Gol & Gincu", and Chelsia Ng and Jojo Struys were in "Kopitam" together. Having new talent on screen doesn't make it bad; in fact, this new approach made "Salon" a refreshing watch.
Luna (Raja Farah) and Ezra's (Pierre Andre) characters may not be a couple in the movie, but their chemistry is really explosive. Producers, please pair them up in a future movie! Personally, I think that the 17-year-old Raja Farah is a good actress. However, her role as a twenty-something entrepreneur soon-to-be wife is a little unsuitable. Not when she's 17 anyway. But overall, I can see her doing many movies in time to come.
Pierre Andre's portrayal as the sweet and quiet Ezra Fernandez is great. He's someone many Malaysian males can relate to; stressed out at work, loves eating at the mamak, and is longing for someone to love. Director Woo Ming Jin made the characters believable and lovable. A few corny lines can be found in the movie, but that doesn't hamper it. Happy stuff aside, "Salon" also deals with real life problems.
There are a few cameos in "Salon" from the likes of Syanie as one of Luna's clients, Khatijah Tan as an Indonesian cleaning lady, and funny-man cum director Ho Yuhang as a typical Chinaman who fought with his wife. Yuhang's cameo is absolutely hilarious and is actually one of the best scenes in the movie.
Chelsia Ng plays Emma, the secretary at Ezra's work place. She may seem happy and bubbly on the outside, but there's something hidden behind the facade of smiles. Chelsia's acting really stands out and shows that she can act outside comedy. Jojo Struys plays Zora, Luna's half-Malay, half-Caucasian wild and sexy cousin. Her comparisons on human relationships to the female anacondas mating habits are just yummy. There are not enough scenes of Jojo though. Sad.
With a new age of Malaysian cinema upon us, "Salon" is a good addition to the building library of Malaysian movies lead by a new wave of directors. With the success of "Sepet", Malaysian movies are going where no Malaysian films have gone before.
Buppha Rahtree (2003)
Hmm...
Don't be fooled by the title of this movie. "Rahtree: Flower Of The Night" has nothing whatsoever to do with trees or flowers. It is actually the name of the main character in this movie, Buppah Rahtree.
Buppah Rahtree is a smart, but troubled girl. Her past is ravaged by sexual abuse by her stepfather, and has had no friends all her life.
The movie starts out like a love story. Boy meets girl, boy likes girl, boy tricks girl
OK, that's not really a love story, but that's how the first 20 minutes go. Ake Dunrongsup is a rich man's son who stalks Buppah, following her day and night. He even buys food for her and leaves it on her doorknob. After Buppah confronts Ake about this, Ake confesses his love for her. Anyway, Ake impregnates Buppah and heads off to further his studies in the United Kingdom. Little did Ake know that Buppah got an abortion and well, committed suicide.
After not receiving Buppah's rent for nearly a month, the evil landlady comes over and forces her way into the apartment and finds her already decomposing body. I know what you're thinking, no comedy yet? Well, the comedy begins when the Thai police come onto the scene. The sergeant in charge was pretty funny in his short but effective role as a bumbling cop. Many other comedic bits follow after this.
The spectrum of characters in this movie overshadows the main plot itself. A lazy shopkeeper and his retarded assistant were the ones producing most of the lighter moments of the movie. Other colorful characters included a couple of obese hairdressing transvestites, a band of fake monks, a clique of hip hop wannabes, the evil landlady and her husband, and a cute girl who helps her father sell rice porridge in a stall nearby.
Mehods of getting rid of Buppah's spirit included visits from the band of 'fake' Buddhist monks, a (real) Buddhist monk, Christian priests, and a Cambodian super monk. All of which didn't work.
Ake comes back to Thailand after not doing very well in his studies abroad. Oblivious to the fact that Buppah is dead, he heads over to her apartment after being kicked out of his own home by his father. Buppah appears in human form to him and welcomes him to stay with her. You'll have to watch the movie to find out what happens after this.
One major problem about this movie is that it is too repetitive. The same scares and actions happen more than once. It is as if you're seeing the same things happening over and over again, but with different cast members and situations. Also, the combination of horror and comedy can sometimes make a scene anti-climactic. The movie's storyline is overall a little too clichéd and weak.
The end of the movie didn't make sense to me, as it didn't really resolve anything. Maybe I was kind of disappointed that the movie had nothing to do with trees or flowers. Haha, but that's just me.
Watch for the "Exorcist" spoof where a Christian priest and a priest in training attempt to 'exorcise' Buppah.