It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

The film set in 1947 (2 year after Indonesian declare it's independence) when the Dutch Imperial lauch it's first military aggression to fail the republican goal to maintain it's independence. Where there's a small band of Republican Army tried to secure The Indonesian independence through bloody armed conflict between Republican Army with Dutch Imperial.I would say that if you expect some large scale battle type of film, this is definitely not for you. But if you are interested in somekind of historical war film, go check this out. But since this is more like action driven movie (and few dramas of course), you can still watch some decent action here and there.

As a dutch citizen and war veteran I have a different look at this movie. I do not approve of this situation end colonization in general. That is an issue of generations past, but do have an aversal to this ill display of dutch conscripts in general. Most of these boys were shipped here just after been enslaved by the third Reich and just wanted business as usual. The dutch had these isles for three hundred years and considered these isles as dutch soil. Dutch conscripts just acted in honor to there background. There obviously are bad apples on the Dutch side, but there where bad apples on both sides. Since 60 years have past. nuances would be made clearer and both viewpoints should have been made more clear. In general a good movie in my view, but in staid of South African barely Dutch speaking actors. Dutch natives should be used.Best regards, Arjan

The fact that this film is the first in a long time to even attempt to commemorate our nation's history in a fun and interesting way should be justification enough to see it. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of special effects and even more so by the acting talents of Amir (Lukman Sardi), Tomas (Donny Alamsyah) and Dayan (Rifnu Waksana).As a first time director, and despite some minor flaws, Yadi Sugandi did a great job of visually telling the story how this group of soldiers from all over Indonesia put aside their differences to fight the Dutch. The film might not have had the grand battle scenes of films like Saving Private Ryan (of which the special effects supervisor Adam Howarth worked on) but it did well with smaller scenes, tighter action and a much smaller budget - around Rp 60 milyar I think I heard.Overall, I enjoyed the film and think it's a good start for Indonesia to move past the typical crappy pocong and sappy cinta films we usually see in the theaters. And, as a trilogy, I hope there will be much more to come in terms of the action and drama. Has anyone heard what will happen next???

Merah Putih was set in 1947, the producer's homage to especially his relatives, a 21-year old lieutenant and a 16-year old cadet, who died defending the republic during the time. This film boasts of a crew that also comprises of experts who have been involved in blockbusters like The Dark Knight and Blackhawk Down.Amir (played by perhaps the greatest Indonesian actor of the new generation, Lukman Sardi) was a teacher who at first refused to join the battles. But after one of his student died in the hands of the Japanese, now he decided to be up in arms against the returning Dutch forces. He joined Sekolah Perwira – a school for officers – and met an array of characters there.There was also Surono (Zumi Zola) who had to leave his older sister, the only family he got left in this world, behind. He joined the school with his best friend during his university years, blueblooded, stuck-up Marius (Darius Sinathrya, who surprisingly pulled a convincing performance, although some say his Persian looks aren't too in line with his character as a Javanese nobleman, or priyayi). They both came late to their first day at school, having spent the night bingeing.The school didn't only take in highly educated people – it also received a farmhand ("We keep chicken, not pigs, Marius") named Tomas (Donny Alamsyah). Being a Christian and a Manadonese ("Dutch dogs!" claimed Marius in disgust), Tomas became the target of bullying by the Javanese proud priyayi boy. Somehow Marius found Tomas a better object to ridicule than the Hindu Balinese, Dayan, a very polite and calm knife-wielder. (I heard the audience whispered, "How polite!" every time Dayan gave a greeting with his palms closed in one another, fingers extended touching.) The frictions of the characters – and how they try to settle them down – are one of the most interesting points of the film, especially when they found themselves beaten black and blue, surrounded by the Dutch forces, with the hesitant, newly-made Lieutenant Amir as their sole leader! I must give credits to all the actors and actresses here for showing us a top-class performance. Some viewers who watched the film with me even handclapped because they felt so excited! (And somebody shouted 'Amen' when Marius wondered on screen whether they could escape the Dutch – it was just one of the moments why watching films on theatres is so interesting!) For Indonesians, the film would feel so… cool. To see our heroes smashing the Dutch soldiers to pieces with so few men and arms really drew the outloud comments of 'Cooooool' from the audience. But this film lacked the humanity shown even by revolution-era writers like Nugroho Notosusanto or Idrus – the capability of showing that the enemies were human too.But well, the story's still long – MP is the first part of a trilogy – and perhaps there will be more details about the Dutch characters later. In MP, they're shown as nothing but evil pigs trying to snatch the land from the Indonesians again. But then again perhaps that's what nationalist films should be… Remember Braveheart and The Patriot? And, oh, please, I don't believe anyone's clothes can be that squeaky clean when they've spent a day and a night in the woods. At least the butt of their trousers will show some signs, no?