Movie Review: Magika (KRU – Malaysia)

Magika (Musical)
Rating: ♠♠♠♠♠
Based on Mythology & Malay Legend
Directed by Edry Abdul Halim (KRU)
Starring: Mawi AF5, Diana Danielle, Fimie, Saiful Apek & Senario original, Ziana Zain, Maya Karin, M. Nasir, Raja Azura, Ning Baizura, Sharifah Amani, Sharifah Aleya, Norman Hakim, KRU, Nabil, Adbah Noor, Aznil Nawawi

From KRU Studios

Ayu and Malik, two sibblings is going through their darkest moments of life when their beloved mother just passed away. Malik feels so depressed believing he was the main cause of his mother’s death. During one of the evenings after a fight with his sister, Malik left to take a stroll in the forest. On and on he went until he realised he was lost and the next very moment, he appeared in another dimension called Magika.

Not only had he gotten himself lost, he was captured by a Nenek Kebayan and her follower, Awang Kenit. He is now subjected to be used as an experiment by the Nenek Kebayan to produce Essence of Youth made of human child’s tears. Upon hearing Malik’s cries for help, Ayu rushed to help her brother and she too is sucked in the Magika mystical land.

Ayu had to endure various types of challenges and obstacles in finding and to save her brother in her journey in the Magika world. And so begins the encounters of both the siblings with famous Malay heroes and myths like Badang, Dragon of Tasik Chini, Nenek Kebayan, Puteri Bunian, Pak Pandir, Hang Tuah and the Warriors of Melaka, Puteri Gunung Ledang, Bawang Putih and a lot more characters. The irony of it, all these characters actually sing in their conversation with each other!

Will Ayu be able to rescue Malik and leave the mystical land of Magika? What happens to Badang, Nenek Kebayan and other characters in Magika? Will Malik be able to overcome his dilemma over his mother’s death? Come and watch Magika the movie which is destined to be a phenomenal in the local filming industry while already setting a record to be the first local musical movie and it will be reaching our cinemas in 2010.

I have hold off from watching this movie for a bit while because I do not wish to get dragged in all the hype it is causing. Of course, I got rather curious after hearing it was getting awards after awards even before it reached the mass audience.  Yes.. It is kind of taking example from the movie “The 10th Kingdom”, but hey, I don’t really care about that, at least they are trying to revive and keep the old legends and mythology alive throughout the years. I actually know people who picked up books regarding characters within this movie, just to know their origins. Edry has done quite a masterpiece to this movie. awesome soundtrack and a completely great script in interweaving the literature together into this movie.



Storywise: This movie actually begins with the taboo of playing during sunset,… or you might be kidnapped by “ghosts”.. not exactly ghosts, probably suited if I called them some sort of fairies and some other Paranormal beings. It started fast but what actually keep me watching is to answer the mysteries of “Who is the mother?” and “Why is Malik a brat?” other than it is a great watch.

I’m pretty much emo when I was watching this. I was cursing the hell out of Malik, for being a jackass unappreciative little brat, regardless being a tearful kid.  That’s my summed up for that Malik character. He however made it up later in the movie.

I like to share a few memorable scenes with you guys and these actually popped up to me:

There’s this moment in the movie with Ayu encounter with the Orang Minyak:
Orang Minyak: Kecik ni? *points somewhere in the groin area*
Ayu: uh huh kecik tu. Nampak?
Orang Minyak: Dulu Kecik, sekarang dah Besar
Ayu: Besar? *with this cute innocent clueless look*

I’m not criticizing, but only people who knows the story would understand what exactly is the interaction about. Suppose to be very um.. dirty *laughs*

Does this one makes you want to look for a book regarding it?
Badang (Mawi AF5): Menurut cerita, Naga Seri Gumum ni…tak apalah

I love the cgi with Maya Karin (there are 10ths of her) and the Dragon transforming M. Nasir. That was actually one of the smoothest transformation I have ever watched. That itself is a bravo!



Beautiful colors, beautiful scenery, catchy songs that hooked you from the start. I actually know them by heart after just one watch *tongue in cheek*.

I also like to dub this as the “superstars movie”. All the big names in the entertainment industry are in this movie and it kinda tickles me, they actually hired M. Nasir as the Keeper of Lake Chini. To all of my out of South East Asia friends and readers. N. Nasir is one of the top most big respectable names in the entertainment industry in this part of the world.

Then, there’s Ziana Zain. Her part in this movie will overshadow her past movie parts. *lol* I mean it! That Nenek Kebayan character overshadows everythign else she had done prior to that. :P 

Ning Baizura did an awesome number as an old Puteri Gunung Ledang. 

By casting the Sharifah sisters, Edry has shown the daughters of Cikgu Fatimah could actually sing and not just being her daughters other than just actors..



There’s no big parts in this movie, just small parts that are efficiently done. I don’t fancy much musicals but this has manage to be one of my favorite movie. Not bad, for Edry’s  movie debut. I’m actually looking forward in watching his next movie.

Some of the Mythology & Legendary characters included:
• Pak Pandir & Mak Andeh
• Puteri Bunian
• Nenek Kebayan
• Mahsuri (I’m sorry I can’t get rid of that Ping Pong from my head lol, as well as her flopping in the back drop)
• Hang Tuah & Friends
• Badang
• Puteri Gunung Ledang
•  Orang Minyak
• Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah
• Pak Belalang
• Dragon of Lake Chini