The Mamü Vies

The Batman [2022]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 04:00:00 +0000

Director: Matt Reeves
Writer(s): Matt Reeves, Peter Craig
Genre: Superhero/Crime/Action/Thriller
Rating: General

About

Set in the early days of Batman's vigilantism, the Caped Crusader roams the streets at night, spreading fear and inflicting pain on the evil that has taken everything away from him. When Gotham's key political figures are methodically taken out by a serial killer, Batman's investigations will force him to confront the city's dark past - and perhaps also his own - before he could even hope to save its future.

The definitive Batman movie for me...

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

KL Special Force [2018]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Fri, 16 Mar 2018 03:00:00 +0000

Director: Syafiq Yusof
Writer: Syafiq Yusof
Genre: Action/Thriller
Rating: General

About

Badass Cop's attempt to foil a bank robbery goes south when the robbers come out guns blazing, and all the good guys get turned into Swiss cheese. Badass Cop is spared, however, under the condition that he becomes an informant for the gang. Then the story becomes confused over what it wants to be and I wish I was dead too.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Abang Long Fadil 2 [2017]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 03:00:00 +0000

Director: Syafiq Yusof
Writer: Syafiq Yusof
Starring: Zizan Razak, Syamsul Yusof, AC Mizal, A. Galak, Wak Doyok, Tania Hudson, Shuib Sepahtu, Achey Bocey, Mas Khan
Genre: Action/Comedy
Rating: General
Verdict: "Syafiq Yusof's best work to date..."

About

Fadil now roam the streets alone. He tries to leave his gangster life behind, but at the same time at loss on how to start anew. After an acting gig that goes awry, he tries his hand at being a gigolo instead, but that leads to a series of misunderstandings that results in him being hunted by the police and gangsters alike.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

6 Reasons Why Our TV Sucks

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sat, 10 Sep 2016 03:00:00 +0000

Been a long while, hasn't it? And to the two people out there who read this blog, I'm afraid this isn't a comeback or a sign of one. Why? I'm not sure if I've said it before, but prior to my "indefinite hiatus", I've been blogging for about... what, four years? Sometimes there's something new to talk about. But for the most part it's just the same ol' crap, because the industry keeps doing the, well, same ol' crap.

Good news is, in my absence, I've been quite the busy-bee and I've learned a few things along the way. So at least the things I say from now on comes from having been experienced them, rather than observations and "guesstimates".

And so having said all that, what does that mean for the topic at hand? Why do our TV suck?

I'm afraid this time around it doesn't matter which side of the screen you're on: it's exactly what you think. I'll save the saucier stuff for later.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Love, Supermoon [2015]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 15:30:00 +0000

Director: Wan Hasliza Wan Zainuddin
Writer: Wan Hasliza Wan Zainuddin
Starring: Nadiya Nisaa', Farid Kamil, Rita Rudaini, Anne Ngasri, Zain Hamid, Azhar Sulaiman, Razak Ahmad
Genre: Romance/Comedy/Coming-of-Age
Rating: General
Verdict: "I love you too, Supermoon!"

About

When Razak (Farid Kamil) and Triz (Nadiya Nisaa') meet, they have no other intention than to accompany their best friends who are dating. Who could have known that they would end up circling each other, always linked via close friends throughout their college days until that fabled day when they all reach emotional maturity.

What to Expect
1. People*
2. A treat for those with sharper eyes and ears
3. Likable cast, memorable performances
4. Superb art direction

What NOT to Expect
1. Conventional, sitcom-my humour*
2. Convoluted plot

Should easily be in your list of 2015's best films - And not just local

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Talking in Circles?

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 07:00:00 +0000

Yeap, I'm using that question mark right there in a tongue-in-cheek manner, mirroring how lazy tabloid journalist morons use 'em to create sensational headlines while at the same time covering their asses from potential backlash. Alright, screw that. Let's give it another shot.

Talking in Circles

Much better.

Anyway, I'm writing this as a some-sort-of-response to the statement released by the new FINAS chairperson; his take about why Malaysian films are selling like turdcakes:

Puncanya adalah skrip yang merapu-rapu.
It's all because the scripts are nonsensical.

- Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib
FINAS Chairperson

When you hear a statement like that from someone that high above in the organisation, it's worth asking if he's aware how things actually work in the industry. Even if he doesn't, it's no discredit to him and I won't say anything disparaging about it - a pilot's aim is to get the plane to the destination, but he/she can't always be expected to know how the baggage handlers are doing.

But, I will say this. Statements like that do reflect his understanding of the scene. For starters, it's not common practice for screenwriters to develop spec scripts and sell them to studios. Ten to fifteen years ago, I used to think that's how it works, but no. Writers are often hired hands and have little-to-no control over the content (unless they make it big and can afford to serve as producer and director as well).

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

What People Are Saying About DOG POUND

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 03:00:00 +0000

Nota [2015]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 03:00:00 +0000

Director: Yasu Tanaka
Writer: Yasu Tanaka
Starring: Maya Karin, Hans Isaac, Ramli Hasan, Rin Izumi
Genre: Psychological thriller
Rating: General
Verdict: "Like watching sentient playing pieces on a board game, intimate and sprawling..."

About

Though still at the prime of their lives, Erin (Maya Karin) and Kamal (Hans Isaac) have failed all attempts to conceive, and it gets harder for them to cope with the fact with every passing year. Fearing that their days are finally numbered, Erin hopes to rekindle their relationship and manages to coax Kamal into going on a trip to Bako National Park, where Kamal proposed to her ten years ago. Will she succeed, or is it too late?

What to Expect
1. Atmospheric
2. A focused and scaled-down film
3. Gorgeous cinematography
4. The feel of Japanese cinema
5. Also feels somewhat dragged out
6. Shoehorned LPF-mandated ending

What NOT to Expect
1. A convoluted plot
2. Insecurity

If there's nothing better to see...

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Terbaik is Yet to Come

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Optimism.

That was what I felt when I stepped out of the theater. Terbaik Dari Langit had ended, and the talks had begun. I chuckled to myself, thinking that perhaps this is the second installment in their "feel-good movie about depressed people" trilogy (the first being KIL [2013]). Not that there's a need for it to be. To, you know, lend the film credibility or somethin'.

There was an air of celebration about the whole thing, as there should be. For the first time in a really long time, the audience could finally talk about the film and the film alone; we didn't have to talk about things that film-makers should already know but take for granted, i.e. technicalities, presentation worthy of cinema, and so on.

In other words, things that'd make you go, "Itu pun nak kena cakap keee?!"

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Apa Benda yang Islamik-nya?

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 03:00:00 +0000

*Artikel ni pernah diterbitkan dalam Bahasa Inggeris

Sebagai seorang Muslim jugak, mungkin ada antara korang ingat aku suka dengan trend filem dengan drama TV yang katanya Islamik sangat tu. Walaupun tak follow sangat, tapi familiar jugak dengan filem macam 99 Kali Rindu; filem-filem seram yang kononnya ada elemen Islamik; dan lagi satu, drama bersiri Tanah Kubur.

Urut dahi aku dibuatnya bila tengok semua tu. Lepas tu bila cuba cari apa yang Islamik sangat dengan 99 Kali Rindu ni semua, terus migraine. Sikit punya panjang aku fikir, last-last sampai jalan mati. Senang cakap, aku tak nampak apa yang Islamiknya, dan dalam artikel ni aku akan cuba bahas 5 sebab kenapa. Nak buat 99 sebab, tak larat.

Mungkin korang ada pandangan dari sudut lain yang aku tak nampak sekarang ni. Habis baca nanti, jemput share pandangan kat bawah nanti.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

DOG POUND: Behind the Bruises

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Three years, five drafts and four editors later, my debut novel Dog Pound is finally available for purchase!

I'd love to share some behind the scenes stuff, but just in case you're only curious as to what the book is about, kindly read the synopsis below:

Azroy, a rising star in the underground boxing circuit, fights the battle of his life when his opponent dies in the ring under mysterious circumstances. Caught in a web of deceit, he begins to live on the run while he attempts to uncover what's really going on, But can he really win this fight, now that his opponent is the law?

Find out!

All right now, the good stuff. I should warn you that this is gonna be a long ride.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Lagenda Budak Setan 3 [2014]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 03:00:00 +0000

"Director": Sharad Sharan
"Writer": Ahadiat Akashah & Jujur Prananto
Starring: Farid Kamil, Maya Karin, Bront Palarae, Ayu Raudhah, Iqram Dinzly, Lisa Surihani
Genre: Unintentional Comedy
Rating: General
Verdict: "Well, legendary..."

Synopsis

It starts out as a horror flick where Lisa Surihani sleepwalks her way through her scene, perhaps to foreshadow the fact that it's just dream sequence. Farid Kamil, who reprises his role as Ahadiat Akashah's Mary Sue character, wakes up from this terrible dream, but not before waking up yet again. His dream-within-a-dream turns out to be an even bigger foreshadowing as his reality is actually a much bigger nightmare; by the end of the film, Faridiat Akamilshah would have crossed paths with a coconut lady in labour, a CSI Mary Poppins character, an ex-lover with a psychotic husband, and an ex-psycho who's in love with his wife.

What to Expect
1. A proper ending to this legendary series
2. Trust Fund Babies
3. Notable phoned-in performance by Lisa Surihani
4. An actual budak setan
5. Confusing timeline
6. Claustrophobic camerawork
7. Mental illness galore!

What NOT to Expect
1. Logic
2. Common sense
3. Humour
4. Romance
5. Logic
6. Common sense

Your opinion about it will be influenced by how many friends you bring with you

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Mamak Cupcake [2014]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Director: Woo Ming Jin
Writer: M. Zulkifli
Starring: Shaheizy Sam, Siti Saleha, Faizal Ismail (FBI), Maria Farida, Natasha Hudson, Acappan
Genre: Comedy
Rating: General
Verdict: "All icing, low on sugar, and burnt on the underside..."

Synopsis

As heir to the family business, MJ (Shaheizy Sam) finds it hard to strike that balance between appeasing his widowed father, and nursing his secret wish of seeing his cupcakes enjoyed by many. But when he catches news of a national cupcake bake-off taking place real soon, he decides to enter because why the hell not.

What to Expect
1. An aptly colourful presentation
2. Inadequate world-building
3. Paper-thin characters
4. Uninspired script
5. Awkward editing

What NOT to Expect
1. Wit
2. Much comedy

Well-intentioned, but super dull.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Game of Thrones - 1995 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Wed, 09 Jul 2014 03:00:00 +0000

This sure brings back memories of myself as a boy, sitting in front of the TV waiting for the likes of Spellbinder and Conan the Adventurer to start, and just forget about all the trivial things I had to do back then.

Ah, the '90s.

Transformers: Will It Ever End?

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sat, 28 Jun 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Say what you want about Transformers - I don't like 'em - but they are huge money-making machines.

See what I did there? But truly, the first three Transformers movies have a combined gross of $2.6+ billion, against a budget of $700+ million plus. Numbers-wise, it's all very impressive, and perhaps the question is already answered: will the series ever end? Probably not. Not any time soon, at least. Especially now that they've brought Dinobots into the picture.

Transformers. Made up of sharp things. Weapon is a sharp thing. Now rides something sharp too.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

5 Reasons Why These “Islamic” Movies/Shows Are Anything But

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 01:00:00 +0000

Being a Muslim myself, you’d think I’d be engaged more than usual whenever I watch these so-called “Islamic” movies/TV shows. Well, in a way, that’s true. I do feel more engaged than usual, but thus far it’s all for the wrong reasons; or rather, reasons not intended by the film.

Now, I will fully admit that I haven’t seen all of them, from as far back as Nur Kasih to 7 Petala Cinta. But I have seen the likes of 99 Kali Rindu, horror movies with supposedly Islamic undertones, and I’m very much familiar with the hit television series Tanah Kubur. All of these have a few things in common, and I find it disturbing that these are the things that pass as “Islamic” in our society.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

CEO [2014]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Fri, 30 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000

Director: Razaisyam Rashid
Writer: Nazri M. Annuar
Starring: Remy Ishak, Beto Kusyairi, Anas Ridzuan, Cristina Suzanne, Deanna Yusoff, Jalaluddin Hassan
Genre: Comedy
Rating: General
Verdict: "Provides the kind of laughs that has been absent in local cinema for the past couple of years..."

Synopsis

Two guys, two different worlds, nothing in common. High up in a lavish office in a skyscraper, there's Adam (Remy Ishak) who's the CEO of his own architecture firm. Meanwhile, down on the street is Sufian Abas, ~~book publisher~~ accomplished slacker with a pizza delivery gig on the side. The two have no reason to cross paths, but when Adam is framed for corporate fraud, he winds up on the street and, in a twist of fate, Sufian takes his place. Only then they have one thing in common: neither of them know what's going on or what's at play here.

What to Expect
1. Laugh-out-loud comedy
2. Witty banter
3. Memorable characters
4. Also, great performances from everyone
5. Odd camerawork at times
6. Score's a tad overwhelming

What NOT to Expect
1. Cerekarama
2. (Much of) corporate espionage and political intrigue
3. Senario antics
4. I'm-your-father plot twist

Despite some technical oddities, CEO is easily one of this year's best

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Bad Lip Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sun, 11 May 2014 04:30:00 +0000

I laughed a little more than I should. These are very well-produced, and they have a bunch of 'em at their YouTube channel. Check it out. I just picked on Twilight because I could never get over how terrible they are, and I find it super amusing that you can poke fun at it this way too.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

The Bitter Red Pill to Swallow

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Malaysians. Can't even watch a goddamn movie without making it a racial thing.

The good news is that as of April 30th, 2014, this post is no longer relevant. But for the few days when the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) added a new column in their box-office page, it was the most eye-searing thing I saw all week. See if you can spot it.

No doubt sparked by the unexpected success of The Journey, audience and film-makers alike have been wondering what made it tick. I briefly touched on it some time ago, but those with the transcendental awareness of Buddha; in addition to having sharper eyes and ears than mine; quickly noted that The Journey is a Chinese-language movie made by a director who is of Chinese descent.

And they believe those are the reasons for its success. And because we're a shining example of tolerance and moderation, it makes sense to zero in on race upon the slightest "provocation"; or to react uncomfortably when "they" are doing well.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Apokalips X [2014]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Director: Mamat Khalid
Writer: Mamat Khalid
Starring: Farid Kamil, Jehan Miskin, Iqram Dizly, Adam AF, Peter Davis, Pekin Ibrahim, Zoe Tan, Vasanth, Miera Leyana
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: General
Verdict: "In typical Mamat Khalid fashion, it felt like he made things up as he went along..."

Synopsis

So the world ends. Might have been a movie about people in this post-apocalyptic part of the world struggling for control. I'm not so sure. But, urmm... Farid Kamil was cool in it. So were Jehan Miskin and Zoe Tan.

What to Expect
1. Unsuccessful attempt at an ensemble cast
2. Some really cool ideas
3. A world that looks lived-in
4. But inadequate worldbuilding
5. Some memorable performances
6. Contrived romantic subplot
7. Bizarre uses of jump cuts

What NOT to Expect
1. Coherent narrative
2. A clear sense of plot and pace
3. Rhythm, rhyme or reason to anything

I've forgotten most of it by now

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Why Do You Make Movies? (or Film Criticism 101 For Film-makers)

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 03:00:00 +0000

I don't know how it's like everywhere else because I can only speak from experience, but over here, a film fan apparently deserves to be slammed by film-makers for not liking a movie. Of course, this doesn't extend to every Malaysian film-maker out there, but there are quite a few who seem to think that way, and they can be pretty vocal about it too.

But I'm not here to point fingers. I'm just speaking generally. And also, I'd like to ask, "Why do you make movies?"

#1 For money?

If you do, no one can (or should) fault you for this. But if you do it for money and money alone, I gotta say there are easier (and less risky) ways to get rich. Showbiz is tough, often times due to bullshit reasons that I might have talked about a couple of times in the past, and I'm not a huge fan of repeating myself.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Take Me To Dinner [2014]

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Wed, 19 Mar 2014 03:00:00 +0000

Director: Gavin Yap
Writer: Gavin Yap
Starring: Patrick Teoh, Susan Lankester, Thor Kah Hoong, Ben Tan, U-En Ng, Michael Chen, Jia-Wei Loo, Chew Kin Wah
Genre: Drama
Rating: General
Verdict: "Will entertain regular patrons of KLPac, but the rest of us might find the incessant monologues taxing to sit through..."

Synopsis

Edward (Patrick Teoh) is an aging contract killer who decides that he has had enough of this life, and would like to leave the business for good. He strikes a friendship with a woman named Jennifer (Susan Lankester), with whom he tries to make a meaningful connection in the days leading up to his retirement dinner, where he will be retiring more than just his career.

What to Expect
1. Practically a play
2. Solid performance from Teoh and Lankester
3. A clever script, but-
4. Tons of monologues
5. Anglophile supporting characters

What NOT to Expect
1. Jason Bourne

If there's nothing better to see that day

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

5 Coolest Movie Trailers (In Recent Memory)

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 03:00:00 +0000

You know, whenever we talk about movie trailers, there's always the question of whether or not we are overblowing their importance, especially here in Malaysia; where posters and trailers are - more often than not - just there to fulfill some sort of a requirement, as opposed to what they are: powerful marketing equipment.

You'd think that this only applies to films that are funded through questionable means. But half the time, even movies made with earnestness end up looking like nobody gives a crap about the end product. The former can't be helped since the people behind them are in it for the wrong reasons, but people in the latter are actually interested in show business and in the industry, so it pains me to see how they squander their resources sometimes.

It's not exactly a mystery to me how it keeps happening. I've made hypotheses in the past, and to sum it up here: we just don't have that many things to play with. Until changes or improvements are made within LPF and Finas; and the way our creative workforce gets treated; don't expect things to get better any time soon. If that sounds very bleak of me, I'll have you know that I believe change is coming.

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Journey to the Top

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 03:00:00 +0000

By now, you most likely would have heard that Chiu Keng Guan's The Journey has earned the top spot as the most profitable local film in Malaysian history, and I could just imagine studio execs scratching their heads in unison and wondering out loud, "How?!"

In many ways, the film went against many - if not all - of the rules stated in the How to Make a Local Film playbook. For a film that cost in the neighbourhood of RM 3 to 4 million, you'd think they'd be tied down to oh-so many demands and stipulations set by the investors; maybe they still had to bow down to some, I don't know. But from an audience perspective, it didn't seem like the vision had been tampered with.

'cause if it had, the poster might have ended up looking like this;

Read all about it... CLICK HERE

Aaron Eckhart On Working With the Late Heath Ledger

noreply@blogger.com (Mamü Vies) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 03:00:00 +0000

A few weeks back marked the sixth year in the passing of the gone-too-soon Heath Ledger. Not that I keep track of these things, but as the world mourns the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman, I was reminded of him as well. Nothing to do with drugs, but everything to do with how I'm gonna miss seeing them up on the big screen.

Here's a little something I saw a while back; The Dark Knight co-star Aaron Eckhart talking about his experience working with the late Heath Ledger, and if you aren't already aware of Ledger's dedication to his craft, this will elevate it.