Film review

Yao jie huang hou (Bugis Street) (1995)

Film review

DVD Cover

Apparently uncensored of its male frontal nudity when it was released in Singapore (said Yonfan on the DVD commentary), ‘Bugis Street’ is an under-appreciated film that is now banned. It is possible that this film caused Singapore censorship to become strict in the 90’s. Nonetheless, it is one of the most beautifully shot-in-Singapore films I have ever seen. Yonfan clearly has compassion for the real-life transsexual characters in this somewhat episodic yet charming film about a young girl coming of age in what used to be one of Singapore’s seediest districts. Though mostly campy and flamboyant, ‘Bugis Street’ has an emotional core that is truthful and real.

Rating: 7/10

Public Enemies (2009)

Film review

A sort of bio-pic on John Dillinger, the latest Michael Mann film does not develop and help us empathise with any of the characters emotionally. As a crime thriller between one of America’s most notorious criminals (Johnny Depp) and a worthy adversary, the FBI, personified by Christian Bale, the film also fails to deliver on the cat and mouse chase, under-utilising the lead actors. Marion Cotillard is just there to be pretty. Unfortunately, the film is rarely fun to watch save for a few scenes and the climax. Also, despite the period setting, the hand-held camera aesthetic fails to capture the romanticism and beauty of the period and its characters, opting for a more visceral look that is more jarring than exciting.

Rating: 5/10

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Film review

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood PrinceHarry Potter is a brilliantly invented fantasy series. It has a believable world that is fascinating and detailed. However, what happens after the world is well-explored and introduced? How then do you sustain a narrative drive over the number of story parts? The first few movies were doing okay but as the movies go on, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ultimately fails in this aspect.

Six movies in, and this is essentially the second-last movie, J. K. Rowling has made it a concern that we should watch the love-life developments of the characters. Does she want to write a high school romance or a battle of good and evil? If she wants to do character development, she should be tying it with the overarching narrative drive and not side-track to a whole other aspect of her characters’ lives.

Another big problem is that Harry lacks any real psychological need. He is arrogant but it doesn’t seem to affect his abilities. Is he still vengeful? Probably but this movie does not remind us of that. He does not seem to have any more reason for us to feel for him. He is already the hero he is meant to be. Come on, do you seriously expect him to fail in defeating Voldemort?

As a narrative, this Harry Potter episode is entirely unnecessary. It is basically an overlong setup for the final movie/epic battle. If you extract the major plot points of the story, all you have are the beginnings of a potentially exciting movie; what with the Death Eaters evil plan, and the revelation of the Horcruxes, items which contain parts of Voldemort’s soul, making him virtually indestructible. The Half-Blood Prince is a red-herring when he is finally revealed. In a smart move, the movie doesn’t focus too much on him.

The movie is arbitrary. There is so little story, missing out on many important points which make a compelling narrative. It was written and made no more for the reason to make millions of dollars to bridge to the final two (there are two more? Oh my god, stop already) films.

Rating: 4/10

Here (2009)

Film review

Here (2009) One SheetWith slowly-paced shots, the opening of “Here” sets the tone of the rest of the movie. A man, He Zhiyuan, suddenly snaps and strangles his wife. Then, he gets sent to Island Hospital where they specialize in a form of therapy called ‘videocure’. With multiple post-modern pokes at filmmaking, the film is a pseudo-documentary that slowly wears out its welcome because we are treated to more and more patients and less and less story points.

Excelling in the areas of mood, visuals and sounds of the medium, “Here” has many threads of subject matter. Hints of a social satire and humour about the craft of filmmaking were not developed and taken advantaged of. Characters are more like symbols or representations of something the movie is trying to say.

Despite scant hints of a love interest in fellow patient, Beatrice, “Here” is like its main character: elliptical and at times frustratingly emotionless. The film, however, fares slightly better than Zhiyuan’s speech impediment. “Here” has many things to say but why does it have to whisper?

Rating: 5/10

Rak haeng Siam (Love of Siam) (2007)

Film review

Love of Siam“Love of Siam” is a brave film. It is often advised that a story should be about one thing, one major story thread. Clocking in at 160 mins, this Thai melodrama has two. Firstly, it is about the relationship between two boys, Mew and Tong, childhood best friends, as they come of age. The second thread is about how Tong’s family deals with the disappearance of Tong’s elder sister in the forests of Chiang Mai and the appearance of another girl who looks like the sister.

“Love of Siam” has enough story for a TV drama series, and is condensed into a long feature film. Having two major threads in a story makes the film seem unfocused. Is it a coming of age love story, or is it a disappearance mystery with a filmic doppelganger? To add, it has several more sub-stories.

The film would have been stronger if it focused on the coming of age love story between the boys. They are more interesting characters and their relationship seems to be the bigger dramatic question of the film: will they end up together? Despite its length, “Love of Siam” was not tedious to watch. The actors, who are very easy on the eyes, help make the lengthy film easier to sit through.

(MINOR SPOILER) Unfortunately, the film’s conclusion is quite unsatisfactory, and the second reason why the film is brave: It ends on a poignant note. Does it make it more realistic? Probably. But why does it have to put the two boys through all that pain and not end more happily?

Rating: 7/10