As Good As It Gets

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

I saw "Kala: Dead Time" at the Vancouver International Film Festival this weekend, and was really conflicted on how to give it a single rating. How do you average an 8 with a 3? The first 75% or so of the film was really great: eerie, atmospheric, mysterious, and downright scary at moments. I was having so much fun I could easily forgive some of the poor effects because the storytelling was still so great (in the same way that the very obvious cutover to a cow's eye in Dali/Bunuel's "Un Chien Andalou" doesn't prevent it from being one of the most horrifying scenes in film history).The interesting characters stumbling about in such an understated film noir environment trying to make sense of the deaths of so many people, and the startling ghost scenes. . . . Terrific film-making.And then . . . well . . . all I can speculate is that the filmmakers either got bored, or just felt they had painted themselves into a corner. Or maybe (oh God) they thought that they were doing a good thing by trying to tie the story up into a neat little bundle.My senses started to prickle a little when the senior police officer begins reading the "prophecy" out of the book in the library. "Hmm, I get the impression they're telling me too much," I thought. Little did I know.Only a few minutes later, the film was racing headlong at this spiralling mutation into some kind of messianic superhero kung-fu *something* sort of mess, with Vertigo-style revelations of one of the character's secret second life, running around wielding an impossibly ridiculous Japanese manga looking sword, with some senseless gore scenes that far far far exceeded the production's special effects capabilities, just making them look comical at best. . . . And don't even get me started on the "Queen of Justice" revelation. I felt like someone had just poured a bottle of cheap ketchup all over a steak I was rather enjoying up until then.Why? I can only ask.The film is still young, and there's a distant possibility the director will opt to recut the movie to end bleakly with everyone's death on the road to the secret destination. Still a little flawed, but at least the mood and tension of the film as a whole would be preserved, and future filmgoers would be allowed to walk out of the theatre still prickling with goosebumps, rather than laughing in derision.If and when this movie comes out on DVD eventually, I'd recommend that friends watch it up to the bus scene, and then pause the film for a good long hour or so to really soak in what this film could have been. Then, if the curiosity about the ending gets the best of you, sure, go ahead and see the ending, but don't blame me if it ruins everything for you, too.

The story is about an odd murders in the "never never land" city. A narcoleptic reporter stuck in the middle of it, and a super cop try to solve it.When I've heard about Kala, I was looking forward to seeing it. No high hope, no nothing, so I will enjoy the movie as it is. It was good, but not that good. It's something new for indonesia movie, but I see lots of Korean n Japan movies like this. It was good execution, good character, good Cinematographic, good color, I still recommend people to watch it.Technical problem?...well it's still OK..I think it's only a budgeting issue. Plot holes is more of my concern.As for "noir" like people said..well, it felt like noir at the beginning but horror in the middle and ... in the end.Overall, this is still a must see Indonesian movie. It's a breath of fresh air for Indonesian movie that full on teenage romantic comedy and horror..

At first i was expecting something 'out of the box' from Kala, when i previewed the website and especially from rumors i heard from people who went to the theater to witness the birth of the new Indonesian movie genre, a neo noir kinda movie. well.....This movie directed by Joko Anwar was actually went 'out of the world'. To be honest it wasn't totally awful, i like the art direction, i love the idea of the story, i really appreciate the gud of those people who brought this noir idea into silver screen, salute guys... but when it comes to plotting and story telling, oops.......sorry it wasn't good enough. The haunted ghost scenes with logical explanation attempt at the end, just doesn't work out man!. The grading quality is so poor also. Though i understand that technically it's quiet difficult to shoot the night scenes with wide angle (it's clearly seen the day light reflection on talents face as well as from the see-trough cloth wore by Fahrani). but if Joko Anwar paying more attention on details especially during the post production, i'm sure this movie would be even better. one more thing....the Kungfu lady was just too much...

When I first heard about the movie being made, I don't believe any Indonesian filmmakers will be able to do it. Once upon a time, in a city where Apocalypse is drawing near (quite similar with Jakarta situation at present), five men was burned to death near a market. The story then leads us to the investigation by local Detective, Eros, and a narcoleptic reporter, Janus, who will soon realize that they're involved in big government conspiracy and some mystical Javanese myths about the rise of Queen of Justice. Wow! It's like JFK meets The Mummy.Joko Anwar took the risk and made it. The result : HE DID IT! Simple as that! The city looks genuine and well-polished, the camera work is astounding (Noir style), the characters are strong and believable, and the story...OH MY GOD! How he combined several genres into a movie is an absolute perfection. I cannot stop watching! And Joko gives an unusual twist at the ending, a genre twist! There are indeed several drawbacks, but all is technical because of the budget. But still, it is a magnificent movie.Joko Anwar worked very hard to create a new standard for Indonesian Movie and he accomplished that. Now, I only pity him because in his next movie, he has to work even harder. Otherwise, I'll be very disappointed.