Wiro Sableng 2018
Indonesian cinema is poised for a major shot in the arm on Friday when local fantasy action film “Wiro Sableng” takes over close to a third of the country’s movie screens. If the heaving crowds at Monday night’s premiere are any indicator, the film has strong prospects.
Film Wiro Sableng 2018 Wiro, Wiro Sableng, gurunya gendeng, muridnya sableng. Hayo, siapa yang tak asing dengan kalimat tersebut? Ya, itu adalah salah satu lirik dari film laga serial Wiro Sableng yang pernah ditayangkan di televisi swasta di tahun 50-an sampai 90-an dengan Ken-Ken sebagai pemeran utamanya.
That is important as “Wiro Sableng” (aka “Crazy Wiro”) is one of the costliest films in the massive but cinematically under-developed country – local media have reported a production budget of $2 million. It is also the first Indonesian movie backed by Fox International Productions, the international production division of 20th Century Fox, which has invested in local-language movies in Europe, Latin America and the more mature parts of Asia.
Combining local mythology, Indonesia’s Silat form of martial arts, and a couple of fart jokes, the film tells the story of a young man who doesn’t take himself too seriously (Wiro, played by Vino Bastian) who comes of age while on a quest to reclaim the throne for the rightful king, and exorcising some of his own demons. Along the way Crazy Wiro picks up some unusual friends, falls for a gorgeous princess, and learns to control his own superpowers.
Where the cinematic effort gains strength is both from its heritage, and from its slick packaging and presentation. The result has something of the feel of “Baahubali” the smash hit fantasy actioner that emerged onto a global stage in 2015 from South India, not the internationally-known Bollywood.
The script for “Wiro Sableng” was co-written by Tumpal Tamubolon, Seno Gumira Ajidarma and Sheila Timothy (“The Forbidden Door,” “Tabula Rasa”,) a filmmaker and former advertising executive who doubles up as producer through her Lifelike Pictures. The story’s roots are in the “212 Warrior” series of martial arts fantasy novels, written by Bastian Tito (Vino Bastian’s father) over a period of 39 years. With 185-books in the series and an earlier TV adaptation, the “212” franchise and the “Wiro Sableng” movie start with the benefit of a major fan base.
For decades the film industry in Indonesia was on a so-called negative list, which prohibited foreign investment. That was lifted in 2016-17, but to date the handful of significant foreign direct investment plays have been in the exhibition sector, not production or distribution.
Kurt Rieder, Fox’s executive VP, theatrical distribution in Asia, says Indonesia has the scale (box office has grown at an estimated 28% per year for the past four years to hit $345 million in 2017) and development potential that makes it of great interest to the Hollywood studios. Despite the film being Fox’s first in South East Asia, there was no need to make things complicated.
Rieder says the studio offered minimal script notes and largely kept out of the way of a solidly Indonesian team. Preparations, pre-visualization and rehearsals lasted for six months, ahead of a 74-day shoot on locations in West Java and in studios in Jakarta. Local firm, Caravan Studio and Chris Lie provided key costume and weapons design, while the large volume of VFX shots was farmed out to 10 local effects companies.
The final picture was completed in 4K, exceeding Fox’s contractual requirement that it be delivered in 2K.
“With a producer as professional as Sheila (Timothy) our job was not to get in her way,” said Rieder. He also called Timothy a “marketing genius” who spent nine months on the promotional campaign and “hugely overdelivered compared with the p&a budget.”
That campaign was in high gear at the XXI Epicentrum complex in Jakarta, where silat and contemporary dance routines jostled with half a dozen media partners and 20-plus consumer goods sponsors, headed by the Panther energy drink firm. A display of fan art posters lined one side of the red carpet. And teen girls became appropriately noisy at the appearance of Vino Bastian, a former model turned actor.
Tencent-related Games firm Garena AOV was also on hand to give a launch to its mobile-only “Wiro Sableng” game. While Michael J. Werner, former head of Fortissimo, and Fox’s exec producer on “Wiro Sableng,” is now tasked with selling the film overseas. The game has already got an international release, that is set to include China.
“With so much material, this film was of course something of an origins story,” said Timothy earlier this week. “Any anyone who stayed through the end credits can see the teaser introducing a new character, perhaps a new nemesis for Wiro.”
Great cinematographic, but need improvements in character buildingThis Wiro Sableng film is very extraordinary in terms of artistic, camera system, lighting, and the natural beauty presented. However, the scenario is a lot of holes and deficiencies in terms of building character to be recognized by laypeople who do not know the characters in the novel Wiro Sableng.
Don't expect too much to introduce the character of Wiro Sableng's stories to the international world, many Indonesian teenagers alone do not fully understand the characters displayed in this Wiro Sableng film. The uniqueness of Wiro Sableng's combat skills and Wiro's inner sanctum identity search should be explored in depth.
Wiro Sableng movie Director is supposed to learn from the movie director 'Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon' movie which was able to make the lay audience understand the deep character and the complicated storyline without having to read the book's own story. Another example is the SWORDSMAN film in the 1990s played by Jet Li. Although ordinary audiences never read the original novel, the audience understood the names of the characters and the greatness of the characters through the Swordsman story.
Many lay audience who have never read Wiro Sableng's story are confused with many characters that appear because of 'being forced' to appear in a very limited /short of time, without explanation of the background of the characters and the background history/review of the greatness of each character's combat skills.
I am very proud that Indonesian films can cooperate with international film distributors. Screenwriters and directors should be able to display more in-depth information about the uniqueness of the character with the perspective of a new audience who have never heard of the story of Wiro Sableng.
Most viewers who are able to be fascinated by this film are people who already understand the story of Wiro Sableng. But for lay audiences and teenagers who have never known the novel character Wiro Sableng will be confused with the appearance of characters which are explained in the novel but there is no explanation in the film so that the unique characters in the novel only appear very shallow and as if only a supplementary figures.
I hope a lot from this Wiro Sableng's Film producer. Hopefully, if the sequel will be made, it can involve international class actors such as Iko Uwais or Joe Taslim. The movie director needs to learn a lot from the movie director: TSUI HARK in terms of storytelling techniques; or learn from William Kong; Hsu Li-kong; Ang Lee when they make 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon' movie.
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The story is simple and fun with some gag skits included. But it would be hard to you if you haven't known/searched about Wiro Sableng, especially foreign viewers, to follow the developments of the characters.
Another disappointment because of some act like flying, punches, fights, are too overact and stiff to watch, and there's 1 of 2 tools that described as important thing, but Wiro Sableng didn't use it at all until the movie end.
But you can say this movie is a real improvement for Indonesian Film industry, the CGI was good (but there are some scenes that ridiculous like 'burning fire or sword punctures' (if you see the movie you'll realize those scenes)), the actor and actress was good, the gag that included in the movie were good. If they will make sequel of this movie (pretty sure they will), I hope there'll some improvement in action scenes and the development from each character.
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After all I recommend you watch this movie beacuse entertaining, great visuals cinematic and also great performance from all of the cast, great job!
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This movie is trying too hard to be a Hollywood-like movie. The scoring is quite good, but it's annoyingly exaggerating. Most of the times I need to read the English subtitles instead of listening to the dialogue because of the loud score.
Well, it has quite interesting characters, but the dialogue is so poor that I cringed too much while watching it. The joke is fine, but it's overused.
There's nothing special about the plot. I yawned most of the times in the cinema.
Maybe the only good thing about this movie is the choreography they gave in the action scenes. Yayan Ruhian is quiet cool too. And that's all.
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Plot :Almost every Indonesian movie has lack of storyline. On the other hand, Wiro Sableng has a not so bad plot. You don't have to think heavily in order to follow the story. It was very light. You still can catch up after you perforced went to the rest room or check your messages (Please don't do this. It's totally annoying. I don't like either to sit next to people who's checking on their phone during the movie). There were some acts which I've found way too exaggeratted. Especially the laughing. Whether came up from the script or the casts were just improvising, it all just too much. Jokes were okay but some weren't well-executed. I tried to laugh at them but I just couldn't. Sorry !
Casts :Casts is one of the most important things to attract people to see the movie. Vino Bastian, perfect !! Lukman Sardi,, ooh the best...probably my favorite. Whereas, there are some characters who aren't really fit with casts. Or maybe acting is just not their strong suit. Again, this is just my opinion.
Cinematography :As far as I'm concern, the genre is an action movie which is why the shot should be integrated with coreography so we can enjoy every single move espcecially on fighting scenes. As for me, I didn't quite succeeded. The angles were not harmonize with coreography so seems less artistic. Probably I just forgot to use my glasses. Never mind !
Scenes :In this aspect, I would like to brought up the fighting. There are like a long-endlessly fighting scenes. I thought it was gonna take the whole movie but then I realized, this is an action movie, don't expect two love birds dancing and sucking each other's faces forever (in a romantic way tho').
Missing piece :Everytime I heard Wiro Sableng, things come up in my mind are : Jurus kunyuk melempar buah, Pukulan Matahari combined with 212 Mighty Dragon Axe (Kapak Naga Sakti 212). Jurus kunyuk melempar buah, I didn't see it at all. Pukulan matahari few scenes but that's it. They didn't emphasize it with giant thunder as the ultimate weapon to defeat his enemy. Maybe they're just saving the expense because my friend, it'll cost a fortune to create such an effect on CGI. The Axe, hmmm,, not bad... I honestly have no idea what to say but that was okay.
Score :Remarkable. This is my favorite. Maybe worth an Indonesia Movie Awards. Rushes my adrenaline during those borring fighting scenes that made me almost fell asleep. Good job !!
- My conclussion -
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my childhood was comebackvery interesting for the next sequel...
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I really recommend this movie especially if you are Indonesian because of the art, the fight probably a little history of Pajajaran Kingdom.
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Very entertaining and magnificent for local story settings. The development of a story that adapts history is well packaged, there is a drastic increase in CGI compared to previous Indonesian action films. There are only 1 to 2 oddities of visual effects from dozens of others. very cool, must watch!
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But HOLLY MOLY. The truth is (from my perspective), I couldn't enjoy this movie since the beginning. I must say the story was very very very bad. Too many 'untold' characters, just like the Justice League.
The VFXs were great (so proud), BUT the way they deliver the story ruined it all.
Sorry Lifelike films. You guys are great, but not for this one.
But I'm still waiting for the next sequel! Learn the failures from this film and return with some unpredictable badass Hollywood class stories :)!
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some effects may not be perfect, but this is already very good
it's just that this film has several weaknesses, including:too many characters but not deepened,jokes that are sometimes not hit,I hope the sequel can be made even better
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