Release Date: 13th January 2011 Language: Malay Running time: 80 Mins Genre: Horror Director: Syamsul Yusof Cast: Syamsul Yusof, Nur Huda, Fauziah Nawi, Salina Saibi, Sabrina Ali Local Distributor: Skop Production
Khurafat" begins with Johan (Syamsul Yusof), a young man working as an assistant in a government hospital. He is a married man who has a wife named Aishah (Liyana Jasmay). The newlyweds are leading a peaceful life when suddenly they find themselves besieged by a weird creature. The presence of a mysterious old woman, together with the sudden emergence of Johan's ex-girlfriend Anna (Sabrina Ali) add to the mystery. Anna is always disturbing Johan even though she knows Johan is now with Aishah.
Verdict: Disappointment. I expected better. MUCH BETTER!
*Warning of harsh Review ahead due to disappointment*
Yes, I have finally watched Khurafat! I actually hold off from watching this due to the trailer of people scared shitless watching this for a long time. Not to forget the news of them going hysterical watching it. I’m a horror fan but I need to suck it my guts before sitting down with this one.
All the hype, all the suspense, all the suppose scare the shit out of you, to me that is a whole “WHAT A BUNCH OF CROAK” reviews! Yes! I am frowning! I AM FROWNING at whoever that had mention this is a bad ass freaking scary movie, and all the hysteria of people watching this movie is just a waste of my time that I can’t get it back ever… EVER!
I spent like 1/2 way throughout the movie, blinking… thinking when the movie is about to start. Where’s the scare? Where’s the part where I am suppose to react like the ones shown in their trailer that involved early viewers of the movie? I felt dupe. I have watched better ghost movies from Indonesia and they have BAD special effects! But their story lines are far scarier than this one!
***Spoiler***
Ok sure, I admit, the twist was good. I really thought the EX did it but that was about it. Gloomy scenes was naturally haunting, and that’s about it. The movie isn’t that good to actually keep me up all night after watching it. More of a blah! I love Fauziah Nawi, and I love watching whatever she’s in, but I feel so sorry she was stuck in this one. Nice effort but Syamsul need to get his next horror movie a lot of creative juice running before getting making a new horror movie. The trailer was far scarier than the movie itself.
Meh! Sorry… I can’t even give it a 'Spade Rating’.. Sorry…
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
If you like Beauty and the Beast, and you would like to see a modern interpretation of it. You would probably love this. I know I am impress and I can’t wait to watch it.
Title: Lagenda Budak Setan Genre: Romance, Social Adapted from: Lagenda Budak Setan; by Ahadiat Akashah Language: Malay/English (Malaysia) Starring: Farid Kamil, Lisa Surihani, Que Haidar, Nurfaizura
First of all, truth be known, I have never read the book this movie is adapted from before I watch this movie. I don’t even know it has been adapted from a book to be honest. To be more honest, I didn’t think of wanting to even watch this movie in the first place. I heard all the hype, the tears, the whining, the emo the movie pull out from its audience. Like a moth to a flame, I have decided to sit and watch it.
This feature the life of two people, namely Kasha and Ayu. Kasha is known to be the campus bully and Ayu is the fresh newbie student that just transferred in from another school. After a bad prank involving a lizard in a coke can, and a rescue act, Ayu and Kasha was drawn to each other like magnets. Ayu managed to motivated Kasha to turn into a new leaf. Kasha and Ayu became the campus couple not long after, but one day Kasha, had to go do his thesis somewhere far that last for a year or so. With a heavy heart they part and the inevitable happens as Ayu’s ex, Azmi; came into the picture, bearing the bad news that her mother has a heart attack, and Ayu has to come back, to take care of her sick mother. Seriously, Azmi just added the vomit factor when he called Ayu’s mother, “Ibu” (mother). Much to Ayu’s dismay, her mother requested Ayu to marry Azmi (her ex). Ayu isn’t happy anymore. Things turn into worse as Azmi’s jealous streak strikes as he abuses her mentally and physically. Those scenes are horrible and very emotional to watch. Until now, I don’t think I want to watch Que Haidar for a bit while until that scene goes away in my head. It is just horrible! >.< Especially what he force Ayu to do what she did. Ayu then drove furiously and crash onto the incoming traffic.
A year later, Kasha came back, and all he knows Ayu went off and married another. Then another woman, Amelia,=; came into his life, who strangely reminded him of Ayu. She walks like her, talks like her, have the same tastes with her. That affects him in every way. Then he found out she is Amy with a new face. They resume their relationship, from where they left off. Another worse turn for the worse. Azmi came back and ruin everything. His jealous streak came in and ruin everything when his rampage accidentally pushed Amy into a bad concussion, that she ended up having a very terrible amnesia. She forget who she is, who she was, her family, Kasha, their love, everything. Kasha does his best restore her memory…
My view? Oh gosh, the damn abuse scenes are really graphic. I don’t recommend this to kids. It is a tear jerker for some and honestly… most other than that… to me, this is more of a light movie for me. Forgetable… Yes.. forgetable. Harsh, aren’t I? Yes bravo though to Que Haider for being a evil villain and actually become hate-able =X. The soundtrack however is wow… I could listen to it 24/7. and that is an evergreen song! Bila Cinta by Gio and Fifi with their own different individual version of that song, are soothing and reaching into any body’s soul.
Vampires has been quite a fascination for me when it comes to the Horror Genre, and it's quite obvious to me, being someone who grew up in the South East Asia, to notice the vast difference among the different types of Vampires available around the world. Definition of a Vampire, is a creature of the night, who either feeds on Blood, or some sort of essence.
Since I’m Asian, let’s play with the vampire originating from this parts of the world. In this parts of the world, among the Malays (Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore) vampires are known as the Kuntilanak, Languir, Pontianak, Matianak and Boentianak. There is also a big taboo in calling out their names over here, since, they can supposedly hear you and come when you call their names, we occasionally call them, “Ponti-baby”. Anak is translated as baby in English. I guess it's less scary that way.
So anyway… let’s deal with the origins of our vampires. It is a sad story actually, because they origin from women who died in childbirth, where they become the undead, seeking revenge and terrorizing villages. A Pontianak kills her victims by digging their sharp fingernails though their victims stomach, devouring their organs. They perform their revenge on male individuals by ripping out their sex organs with their bare hands. They tend to locate preys by sniffing out the clothes which are being left outside to dry. Langsuir is the most deadly of them all. Unlike Pontianaks, they appears as a very beautiful woman to devour their victims. She would possess and suck their blood from the inside, slowly killing their victims. She is said to be form when a woman who suffered from laboring sickness (meroyan) or what we would now called as post-natal depression, died and she turned into a Langsuir 40 days after her death.
Then, there is the Chinese Vampires, which are commonly known as Jiang Shi, or the hopping Chinese ghost. They just hop around, killing living creatures to absorb their life essence from their victims. These vampires are form when their souls failed to leave their dead bodies, due to improper death, suicide or just a want to be a trickster, or the victims of pre-mature burial. Honestly, this is kind of the most funniest vampires I have ever known (not personally of course). They have eyes but they locate victims by smelling them. You could just be in front of them and by holding your breath, they can’t see you. Their eyes would be opening all wide but they can't see you. It just doesn’t compute, but that’s how it is. *lol*
As far as I know, there are hardly any books regarding Asian vampires. Unless if you are Russell Lee, and Tamar Jalis. But even with them, they barely cover the subject as a main stream. I, as an author, tried but I ended up scared out of my wits before finishing it. *hehe* I guess that’s why in written form, it’s quite rare to find them over here. Visual stream however has covered this part of the genre over and over again.
Vampires originated from the west is kind of simple and ultimately strong characteristically, living quite a lifestyle when it comes to portraying them. They are far more feature as gothic and the nature of romanticism appear dominant and that to me.. kind of lose its horror edge. They are far more alive and social rather than how the vampires from the East ‘lives’. The most famous of them all would be Dracula, originated from Transylvania (yes I look the darn spelling up! I can’t spell that place by myself, even if my life depends on it >.<). He is the product of Bram Stoker and the character himself is also being connected to Vlad the Impaler, famously nicknamed as Vlad Vampire. The running history of how a vampire in the western civilization works is by another vampire infecting them with their vampire blood. There’s nothing really that scary about them. No creepy crawly factor at all for me. For me that is.
Some Vampire Books:
P/S: No! I am not featuring glittering vampires in this post. Period! It’s just not fair to us horror enthusiastics. I drew the line there in Vampirism!
* Name a film that you have seen more than 10 times. My Left Eye Sees Ghost starring Sammie Cheng is an absolute favorite. I could watch this movie over and over again without fail.
* Name a film that you’ve seen multiple times in the cinema. None. If I love the movie, I just go ahead and get a DVD copy of it.
* Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a film.
Just one? um.. Michael Rosenbaum.
* Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a film.Abdul Rahim Razali
* Name a film that you can and do quote from.My Name is Khan
Rizwan (Shah Rukh Khan): Will make you glow like a newly Wed Bride
Customer: I'm divorced
Rizwan: Oh *looks through out the beauty products* We have nothing for newly divorced.
* Name a film musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs. Don't have any Kuch Kuch Hota Hai perhaps but they keep annually, so I tend to know it by heart.
* Name a film that you would recommend everyone to see. My Name is Khan. This actually moved me because it's the first 911 related movie that doesn't involve any 911 Clique products outthere. Plus is regarding somebody living with a Asperger Syndrome.
* Ever walked out of a film? No, Since I am one of those I give it a chance person.
* Name a film that made you cry in the cinema. None. haha.
* How often do you go to the cinema (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)? Um.. I barely go to a cinema nowadays, cause we don't have any. I always ended up borrowing it from friends or just wait for it to show up in my movie package
* What’s the last film you saw in the cinema? Alice in Wonderland.
* What’s your favourite/preferred genre of film?
Horror preferably.
* What’s the first film you remember seeing in the cinema? Opps I don't really remember.
* What film do you wish you had never seen? Histeria -_-" Malaysian Movie.
* What is the scariest film you’ve seen? Don't remember any atm, but I know one thing, that it is the product of Indonesia.
* If you could be any character portrayed in a movie, who would it be? Ohhh so many choices!
* Last film you bought. Death Note 1 & 2
* Last film you watched. My Name in Khan
* Five films that mean a lot to you.
~ My Left Eye Sees Ghosts. Love is complicated but a journey.
~ Pontianak Sundal Harum Malam 1 & 2 - Just because.
~ Mohabbatein ~ Love never dies. :P
~ The Lovely Bones ~ My favorite book adaptation
~ The Pursuit of Happiness ~ Personal reasons
Lisa. Librarian. Member of Brunei Librarian Association. Published Writer. Reviewer. Brunei Book Blogger. Book Seller. Reading Culture Advocate. B:Read. Brunei Book Swap Association. TV Series, Movies, Anime, Gadget Junkie. Aims. Get more people to read. Promote reading by giving my own guidelines, reviews, lists. etc Books has been part of my life ever since I was a kid. Being a librarian however was just sheer luck. Movies & TV is a way to chill-axing and I occasional review what I watch. Preferences: Horror, Mystery, Adult, Young Adults, Thrillers, Children, & things in between. More...
favourites:♥ These would mark my personal favorites regardless my own rating.
1 spade:♠♠♠♠♠ ☼ could not finish 2 spade:♠♠♠♠♠ ☼ struggling through 3 spade:♠♠♠♠♠ ☼ not amazing, but not bad 4 spade:♠♠♠♠♠ ☼ well worth your time 5 spade:♠♠♠♠♠ ☼ definite shelf-keeper
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