Gundala

This Movie has a pretty good storyline, plot, and conflict. It has a grim and dark vibe to it. They made a good job on telling the Main Character childhood life with a really good cinematic, but they're lacking on introducing other characters more (except the Main Villain), and also it feels like there are some plot hole though here and there, like some part of it was skipped and not explained.

The conflict feels real here because they put "real life" conflict of how poor people are treated unjustly, hardship of street life, how money rules everything, and etc, where political is the main focus of it. We can also clearly see what was the motivation of the Main Villain, what makes him become what he is and what drives him to do so.

The pace are slow but well built, except at the third act that the pace are kinda a bit messy and feels rushed. The CGI are mediocre at best with one or two bad ones at some scenes (because of limited budget) but still enjoyable because this is not a typical CGI focused superhero movie. The Fight was kinda sluggish (it's understandable since the director is not experienced in action movies), but maybe it was intentional to make it that way because of the Main Character growth progress.

Overall it's a good movie nonetheless with some small notes here and there, a great opening movie for Bumilangit Cinematic Universe.

The latest Joko Anwar movie GUNDALA is set to be the first Bumi Langit cinematic universe. the story is grim and dark, what I love about this movie is the opening scene that tells a lot about the character straight to the point and it's beautiful.

I feel like the pacing of this movie is kinda slow. I mean the guy doesn't even become his alter ego until over an HOUR into the movie. Also his power is kinda lame in the movie. He can absorb thunder and shoot it back, it also heals him, and makes him indestructible. but it is almost like if he shoots a single bolt he can't use those powers until he is struck by lightning again. This dude's main way of beating baddies is martial arts. Now I love a good martial arts film and this was enjoyable BUT I wanted to see a superhero throwing thunderbolts not punches. This dude is just basically daredevil that can throw a bolt every once in a while.

Plus you think a hero who NEEDS thunder to use powers would fight crime during thunderstorms

When i heard Joko Anwar name, I can't let go of his figure from horror and thriller, which is genre that his known for. Quite surprised when i heard Gundala will directed by him, but at the same time, i feel optimistic this movie at least have quality control about cinematography and decent storyline. Some of characteristic that Joko Anwar offer in every movie that directed by him. Trailer was good, and hype kinda high because they wanted Gundala to become opening of the original Indonesian superheros cinematic universe.

So, about the movie. Like i was expected, Joko Anwar pour his directing style to Gundala, make it little bit darker even for standard of DC heroes movie universe in the this decade of course after The Dark Knight or Nolan era. It kinda feel like i'm watching thriller or horror movie in some part of scene. From first part of until middle part of movie the storyline was solid, but after from there to the end, the plot are kinda messy and transition between each scene feel in rush to reach the ending. Some of scene have cringey moment of superheroes movie too.

The main issue that brought here feel like too many political critisism that they wanted push upfront all at once and make we almost lose focused about Gundala and shifting into Ridwan Bahri versus Pengkor. The final fight feel little bit stiff and too much jumping for one enemy to next enemy and some small but important side character feel like they just in there for some moment and next time, everyone just forget they ever exist, we not really know what happens with them eventually, and talking about CGI, i don't expect to much from start and yeah, its kinda mediocre when some of Indonesia movie that released at the same year have better CGI quality consider this movie are one of ambitious project that ever happen in Indonesia movie history.

Sancaka and Wulan are lacking of chemistry make us almost forget that they supposedly be our hero and heroine. Even little Sancaka with Awang have better chemistry, and personally i think Awang have one of good and smooth choreography fighting scene even if just happen for short time. So far the cinematography good, music scoring good, and some fighting scene are cool, but it being messy at half part till the end with incosistent quality of storyline movement. With all the hype that hanging around Bumi Langit Universe, i hope at least they will learn to maintain good storyline, improve acting quality, and considered how wisely use CGI placement to support the script for next Project/movie. So we will see this superheroes genre movie more in the Indonesia movie market at the future.

This movie is so cool, i love all the plot twists, i love the heroes that are very 'human', i love the villains that are also very 'human', i love how they show how ugly politics & politicians are in Indonesia, i love how the movie keep me on suspense. AWESOME!!!