Before and after watching the Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa film

 

The logo

Before

          To be honest, when first time I heard about Merong Mahawangsa, I'm not really sure who he is although his name sounds quite familiar to me. Before watching it, I thought that this film might be just the same with others Malay film which their trailer and rumors are superb but after watching it, there are not that great. In order to complete my final tasks of blogging for technical communication subject, I've then made a decision to watch it besides the gossip and rumors that attract my attention why a Pan-Asian actor got the starring role (Stephen Rahman Hughes) for Malay history film?.

The pirate nation of Geruda wish to be the greatest empire in Southeast Asia

The pages of Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa

 Kesum and Embok that lit Merong grudge towards Geruda

After

          My overall comment for this film is, the best Malay film I've ever watch. There is no need to make a comparisons between our local film with outsider such as Pirates Carribean or The Lords of Rings as obviously there are winner and so much things need to be improved in this Merong film. It is not an easy task to make an epic historical film but then, this film give a different views on its storyline and Malays quality film as the computer generated imagery, CGI effects and all those thing are good and match with the cost of RM8million!. Fuhh..KRU studios are really rich..haha.

Enough with all compliments, as any single things in this world has the pro and contras, so do this film.

1. Although the CGI effect was good, but some parts in this film especially in war seems not real as the scattered blood was clearly seen edited by using computer. I believe if the cost was added to another 6 to 7 million, this mistake might be covered. But Yusry(the film director) no need to worries as this lack did not deface the excitement on this film.
2. Is a bit weird when the dialogues between princess Meng Li Hua(Chinese Princess) and her hand maiden, Ying Ying was in English. Why not they just use Mandarin for their communication and give the english translation?. Basically, we are tend to speak our language rather than other language when we are in the group of same race. 
3. As we know, Stephen Rahman Hughes not a malay and can't speak malay very well. Due to this reason, when he speaks malay in this film, some of it sound a bit funny as the slang of english and malay language was there. It seems that Merong  as a malay warrior in this film, more fluent speaking in english rather than malay!..haha

The main poster of The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines (Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa)

 The Rom Prince in searching of sailor which can help him arrived safely in Malay Peninsula

 The original handwritng manuscript of Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa 

that been keep safely in Kedah Museum 

 

            In conclusion, this film was good. The lackness and mistake can be improved and honestly I think that this film was a pioneer to produce more good movies in future in Malaysia.  

The Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa trailer

 

Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa soundtrack-Sedetik Lebih by Anuar Zain