kevin_blaze

Kafir (Satanic) was one of those Indonesian movies that definitely couldn't resurrect Indonesian Cinema. For the last couple of years, Indonesia is trying to make a good horror movie in a new style and that's why they were introducing new-comer directors and actors. But Kafir wasn't that type of movie. I couldn't believe why such producers create this cheap trash, while Indonesia itself is trying to lift up its cinema.

Starring the pretty well-known actress Meriam Belina and actor Sujiwo Tejo (Telegram), Kafir was a mystery movie that revolves around the style of horror movies in the 70-80s. Just think of Kafir as being one of Suzanna's movies. Yet, Suzanna might still be more watchable than Kafir. Despite its bad elements, Kafir has a pretty interesting storyline about a voodoo shaman who has done heaps of forbidden activity. He used different kind of satanic ways to increase his power and to strengthen himself. He swore that if he died, his body will not be accepted by the Earth. Sooner, he died and his oath got prevailed.

Beside the interesting storyline, the way the director tells the story is quite sluggish. With some confusing flashbacks and a storytelling that doesn't seems to tell a story with a conflict and resolution, in some way, the movie did managed well to keep the audience stay tuned. Some of the cheap special effects did quite make it, but it would've been better to use a better CGI effect. When you look at the whole thing, the movie seems to be pointless, even though it managed well in the box-office and 500 000 Indonesian moviegoers had seen it.

On the acting, Meriam Belina and Sujiwo Tejo did a great job. Sujiwo played well and convincing as a shaman while Meriam Belina did a fine job as the wife of a shaman.

The bad thing about the movie was the editing. This movie needs to be re-edited because it was horribly put together and definitely it would've been better to have a Dolby Digital Sound Mixing. The sound effects were good but unfortunately some of them were not in the right place and position.

Kafir was simply an ordinary mythical mystery movie. It certainly needs more improvement to do and with more budget, this movie could look much better. Overall, I still think that it's a bad movie because it doesn't delivers much to the audience. The movie was expected to premiere in Singapore, but I don't think it will do good!

Kafir (Satanic) was one of those Indonesian movies that definitely couldn't resurrect Indonesian Cinema. For the last couple of years, Indonesia is trying to make a good horror movie in a new style and that's why they were introducing new-comer directors and actors. But Kafir wasn't that type of movie.

Starring the well-known actress Meriam Belina and actor Sujiwo Tejo (Telegram), Kafir was a mystery movie that have the style like horror movies in the 70-80s. The story was pretty interesting about a voodoo shaman who had done heaps of forbidden activity. He used different kind of ways to increase his power and to strengthen himself. He swore that if he died, his body will not be accepted by the Earth. Sooner, he died and his oath got prevailed.

In some way, the movie did managed well to keep the audience stay tuned. Some of the cheap special effects did a great job because they were pretty natural and gave a good picture on what black magic look like. However, when you look the whole thing, the movie seems to be pointless. It did managed well in the box office and 500 000 movie-goers had seen it in Indonesia.

On the acting, Meriam Belina and Sujiwo Tejo did a great job. Sujiwo played well and convincing as a shaman while Meriam Belina did a fine job as the wife of a shaman.

The bad thing about the movie was the editing. This movie needs to be re-edited because it was horribly put together and definitely it would've been better to have a Dolby Digital Sound Mixing. The sound effects were good but unfortunately some of them were not in the right place and position.

Kafir was simply a fair mythical mystery movie. It certainly needs more improvement to do and with more budget, this movie could look much better. Those of you who are on Singapore can watch this on the 6th of March 2003.

Aku Ingin Menciummu Sekali Saja a.k.a I Just Want to Kiss You For Once was a good drama as Pasir Berbisik was. Starring Lulu Tobing and directed by Garin Nugroho, this movie had some positive and meaningful potential. Garin as one of the famous Indonesian director was quite different in some way in this movie. This movie was dedicated to commemorate the death of Theis (Irian's famous politician).

The story is kind of more than one. The story is about the feeling of love that were hidden in the heart. It's about jealousy! It was also about the life of the Irian Jaya people. A woman arrived in Irian Jaya to visit a close friend/relatives who died and got buried in the hill of Irian Jaya. She stayed there and lived in a traditional unit for a couple of days. While staying, a boy got crushed into her but he felt difficult to intepret his feeling to her.

The movie had lots of interesting aspects and elements especially about culture and religion. It succeeded to give a picture on how life in Irian Jaya is going and also their traditional culture. It also picture the Christianity in Irian Jaya.

I was a bit disappointed with the needed-more ending. I gave this movie 6/10. Lulu Tobing did a great job and she did focus on her character. I would also like to see more of Garin Nugrogo's future project.