tckeong Reviews

Rob N Roll (2024)

Pity, a waste of good talents

[4/10 · 15 February 2024]

Don't be fooled by the trailer; the funny moments we see in the trailer is the entirety of the movie. The story is halfway through, and the audience starts to get confused. How do these plot holes overlap? Even if we understand the plot, we can't comprehend the motivations of each character. As a result, the entire movie seems quite nonsensical. The beginning it tries to be funny, the middle part delves into detective logic, and suddenly, towards the end, it becomes so serious and sad. What are we watching? Was this film directed by three directors? It's such a pity, a bunch of A-class celebrities had to struggle in the worst movie plot, and there you go, a mediocre movie. Without these three male leads, this movie deserves 1-star out of 10.

I Did It My Way (2023)

It would never leave a lasting impression on audience

[4/10 · 12 January 2024]

After watching this movie, one could feel the immense similarity of the director's previous work "chasing the dragon". Although the story is set in a technological era, the color tone feels very nostalgic, and the characters are often shown in upper half body close-up shots. A major flaw comes from the loose and unconvincing script. For example, in one scene, the protagonist's former drug dealer partner seeks revenge on him because his family was destroyed by drugs (What was that?). This plot is too childish, conveyed in just a few seconds of footage, leaving the audience confused and asking, "What just happened?" The male actors are all veteran artists from Hong Kong, delivering standard performances that are neither outstanding nor objectionable. The female lead's role could have been better, but the audience is unable to feel her past trauma. It could be due to her emotionless acceptance of a proposed ring, or perhaps her bad girl vibe while smoking during pregnant, or maybe her nonchalant way of serving apples to guests, smiling so brightly and sunnily without a hint of the forced cheerfulness, which happened to someone who suffer mental illness. If not for the repeated trauma scenes that happened before, one would never sense any suffering in the female lead from the actress's expression. Basically, this also diminishes the audience's empathy for the male lead.

"Sorry, I am a police officer," a line that has been overused in Hong Kong cop movies since "Infernal Affairs". If the second male lead takes his identity as a police officer so seriously, why does he repeatedly save the male lead? Is it an inability to adhere to his duties, or is it a failure to withstand the test of friendship? Being pursued by the male lead's henchmen, he doesn't even get angry and scream back, is this really a normal behavior? Perhaps the director is suggesting that the second male lead also has tendencies of mental instability. I wouldn't know.

The actor playing the head of the police crime technology unit, his dubbing sounds is awkward and doesn't match his baby-faced appearance.

This movie would never leave a lasting impression on audience. Right after we're stepping out from the theater, we'd have forgotten 90% of the movie plots.

Abang Adik (2023)

I almost fell in love with this movie

[8/10 · 22 December 2023]

The story depicts the lives of the lowest strata of society in the city of Pudu KL. It seems the editors and directors went to extremes in portraying the most tragic stories to create a sense of being oppressed by life-a deaf-mute, an undocumented person, someone deprived of love, socially ostracized, and misunderstood. Despite all this, living in such an environment, the protagonist continues to offer unconditional love to those around him, caring for everyone. However, I'd like to say this story didn't convey the proper moral values. I must commend the male lead actor who played the deaf-mute. His portrayal, the numbness to express love, and inner struggles in his acting were impeccable, he did excellently well. The second person I loved was the actor portraying the one who raised the two brothers. His performance was incredibly natural. Kudos to these two actors. As for the second male lead, his overacting was a bit too much, suddenly sentimental, the next scene he was abruptly irritable. Sometimes silent and chill, while other times playfully happy and easy-going. I couldn't have a full grasp the character that he was to portray, not sure if this was intended act required by the director, or an underperformance by the actor. All in all, acting for the male lead, a solid 10/10. Overall acting, 8/10. Storyline, it's weak, there were loopholes here and there, so I'd give it a 5/10. This movie deserves a modest 8/10. I wasn't moved, just left sighing, thinking it could have been better.