Just a Thought

It seems that 2012 is going to be a great year for Indonesian film industry! Yay for that! Why is that so? Because Indonesian film industry is having good releases this year. There are still some ghost films and a sex-related films though but it's decreasing. I'm so psyched by all these Indonesian great films starting with Negeri Lima Menara until The Raid. But, don't you think Indonesian films are now a bit sadistic and violent? Let's take a look at these three upcoming releases.

The Raid
Being stupidly re-titled The Raid: Redemption in USA and re-scored by Mike Shinoda and Joe Trapanese doesn't make this film less awesome. The good thing from being so hyped in USA is that The Raid actually is one of the most awaited releases of 2012 and has a great trailer! However judging from the trailers it is VERY violent. I really want to see this film but I'm having second thoughts about its violence. They say it's ultra violent and it has non-stop violent action. The rating from MPAA says that it is rated R for strong brutal bloody violence throughout.

Modus Anomali
Newest film by Joko Anwar, it's already getting buzz from SXSW earlier. (Full house screening at SXSW!) It is already dubbed the Indonesian Cabin in the Woods from one of the critics. However it is also violent and (strangely) spoken in English. Maybe the language bit was to attract lazy Americans, who knows. Joko Anwar himself is known for his surrealistic films like Kala and also Pintu Terlarang. It's no surprise he made this kind of film though. Still, the violence makes me think twice to watch this film.

Dead Mine
This film is being produced by HBO Asia and stars an international cast including four of them from Indonesia. They are Ario Bayu (from the spin-off Catatan Si Boy), Bang Tigor, Mike Lewis and Joe Taslim, who co-stars in The Raid. The film is a genre mash-up of action and horror which kinda reminds us of the nightmarishly creepy and horrifying The Descent. Okay, that is kinda violent and gore-ish right? Again, second thoughts prior to seeing this film.


This post is just a thought from me. I have no idea whatsoever to question my fellow Indonesians' creativity in making films, knowing that I'm so far from that ability. But the violence in Indonesian films makes me a bit reluctant to watch them although I know I really want to watch them.

F*ck it, I'm seeing The Raid this weekend though. After The Hunger Games, of course (sorry, I'm a big fan of the books)

UPDATE: watched The Raid and posted the review. Watched Modus Anomali in original DVD and loved it, the twist arrived quite late but it was a damn good one. My brother watched Dead Mine and said while it's not that spectacular it has some memorable scares and visuals.

*if I'm wrong with any of my info about these films, please feel free to correct me. (lol like someone's reading this)