Gubra

Gubra (anxiety) is a film that by its own and setting its own standard among it predecessor, "Rabun" and "Sepet". If you think that Yasmin Ahmad latest offering is as light as Sepet, please leave those thought behind the door. Unlike Sepet, Gubra tells 2 different stories. First story in this movie tell us the story of Orked's family seven years after Jason and the second, tell us about muezzin and his tiny village community. Two different stories and yet it has universal theme; love, hurt and forgiveness.

In Orked's tale, she has gotten over Jason and married to older man, Arif, who love her to deep down of his heart. Orked's family affair rocked down when Pak Atan was ill and has to be hospitalized. At the hospital, Orked met with Alan, Jason's elder brother. Orked and Alan immediately formed unlikely friendship as Alan became Orked path to Jason's past. They shared all the old time memories. One question raised when Alan mentioning that Jason's phone was ringing when he was lying motionless on the road. In Sepet, we remembered that someone answered the phone. But who? Anyway, you can see in Orked's eyes that she still has not gotten Jason, at least no to her heart. Things took more serious for Orked as her loving husband seeing someone else. In muezzin story took different angle. Pak Bilal lead his community which consist of two prostitutes, Kiah, who constantly abused by her regular client, and Temah, whose son in entering Primary One and she suffering from incurable illness. For the rest on how the story goes, grab your seat at the cinema.

Yasmin Ahmad gathered the bulk of Sepet cast with addition to Adlin Aman Ramlie and Alan Yun. We get to know each character even more in this movie as it explore each character relationship with each other.

While the movie started lightly off, half way it deteriorates into a web of human emotion that one can't imaginable. This movie will make you laugh and the same time will make you cry when you realized that afterall we all are different from each other.

p/s: Do not leave the theatre until the credit have rolled. Catch the surprise ending!

The Cast: Sharifah Amani, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Ida Nerina, Harith Iskandar, Adibah Noor, Ng Choo Seng, Alan Yun

Director: Yasmin Ahmad

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Red Kebaya

I was browsing and as usual looking for material to blog in pink@movies. I decided to look for any local movies that going to be released this year. To my surprised, I found 'The Red Kebaya'. I never heard any news about this movie before. So i dig out.

What is 'The Red Kebaya' all about?

Latiff, a famous but lonely photographer who was orphaned as a small child, sets out on an expedition to photograph abandoned houses around Malaysia. On his journey he is haunted by images and sounds that remind him of his traumatic childhood.
At one particular house on the island of Penang he is transported back through time to witness the shocking events that took place in the house over 50 years ago.Through his experience, Latiff understands the tragic circumstances that led to him being orphaned and also finds an old friend.

Production Note

Brain child of the producers Andre Berly and Ramli Hassan, The Red Kebaya ideas started in the plane from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur in 2005. The primary synopsis about lonely man who is searching for his past and love story also need to be included in plot is born. They took the idea to British writer/director Oliver Knott, recently moved to Malaysia from London. Knott agrees to write and direct the movie. Knott identified the movie's theme: love, loss and betrayal; a lifelong search for long lost friendship, an extraordinary journey told in unusual way and one's man decision to go with what his heart told him and not his head.

The biggest problem in making this movie is to find 'John Reynolds', the lead Englishman. The casting went from Malaysia to Singapore but 'John Reynolds' is nowhere to be found here in SE Asia. However, Knott has one person in mind and that is Bob Mercer, an English actor who based in London.

The movie shot in various location in Penang, Genting Tea Estate and Kuala Lumpur under the helm of Raja Mukhris as Director of Photography and of cos Oliver Knott as Director. This movie is in Malay and English.

The Cast

Ramli Hassan, Vanida Imran, Bob Mercer, Samantha Schubert with Zahim Albakri, Shabera Shaik, Paula Malai Ali, Elaine Daly, Fauziah Nawi, Patrick Teoh and introducing Mohd Afif.

Release date: 2006 (date yet to be confirmed)

Director: Oliver Knott

Official Website and movie trailer: http://www.theredkebaya.com

The Simpsons Movie

Finally, The Simpsons, longest animated prime time tv series about dysfunctional family come to silver screen. Details on this movie has yet to be reveal by Fox. However, on Friday (In US la), prior of screening animated film Ice Age 2:The Meltdown in theatre, a teaser trailer of 'The Simpsons Movie' debuted. The trailer also announce the relased date of the movie which is on July 27th, 2007. I can't wait as I'm a big fan of the series!

Check it out here:

Mission Impossible III

Tom Cruise's movie franschise Mission Impossible has come to third installment. Yes peepz, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is back on silver screen this summer (that is May in Malaysia). Release date yet to be confirmed although the trailer has been played in our local cinema capturing all eyes of action movie-goers making this movie is must-watch on thier list after Superman, Spiderman 3 and X-Men 3.

Helm by JJ Abrams (of Alias and Lost TV Series) on director seat and written by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and JJ Abrams, this third installment promises a mega explosive stunt and action which will glued you to your seat judging by Abrams unique blend of action and drama. Tom Cruise reprised his role as Ethan Hunt along side with Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Laurence Fishburne, Billy Crudup, Michelle Monaghan, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers Keri Russel and Maggie Q. This movie was shot in Shanghai, Europe and also United States and currently on post-production.

Something which make this movie different and refresh would be the theme from the movie. Grammy-Award winner, Kanye West will interpret the theme 'Mission Impossible III' bringing his inventive, masterful and dynamic style to the iconic songs. Perhaps we can hear Shirley Bassey addictive voice as a sample of the iconic songs, who knows! We just have to wait and see what West have to offer to us rather than conventional 'Mission Impossible' theme.

I happened to found the 'Mission Impossible III' on set picture. And I would like to share it with you guys.

Shoot! Go! Go! Go!

Tom Cruise with JJ Abrams

Explosive Stunt!

Yeah! He's not young anymore.

WTF?


Breathtaking stunt eh?

@ Shanghai movie set

Whoa!

And not to forget the trailer: