*** This review is done from an aspiring filmmaker's point of view. It won't be a normal review. So, it won't be suitable for you to read if you still haven't watch it as normal moviegoers won't even realize what I'm about to write here. I'll be focusing on how the movie could have been improved to make it a world class film.***
Isyarat Cinta is a love story of a mute guy, Iskandar falling in love with a beautiful blind lady, Dhia. A beautiful concept. Due to his condition and unable to communicate with her, he asked his brother, Ariel to be represent himself.
I'll start with the what works in the movie. Mr. Mazelan Manan's original idea of a love story between a mute man and a blind lady is beautiful. The actors did their work really well. In fact, I personally liked Adi Putra's and Liyana Jasmay's acting. Adi Putra really shows the emotion without overreacting. The feelings can be felt. Fizo Omar also did well. He could be a great actor in the future. I believe the director, Bade Hj. Azmi did his job well to make sure the actors brings their best out.
The set, wardrobe, locations are well done as well. I was admiring Liyana's and Adi Putra's costumes. The art director really did a good job. I'm not sure who was the person in charge, couldn't find the name not even by Mr.Google. We really need a proper database in Malaysia, or at least update them in IMDB, it's free. My mistake as well, I didn't wait until all the credits finish.
Now, let's see how Isyarat Cinta could have been improved.
Every single filmmaker must always remember that a film or movie is a collabrative art, an amalgamation of audio and visual element. Unfortunately, most of the emphasis were given on the visual and totally forgetting the audio element.
I'll start with the audio as that's one of the place if it was done well, the mood of the movie could have made me to cry non-stop. There were many emotional part were ruined by the music and sound.
First there were this sudden loud crashing thump sound at least 10 times which is not necessary. Some of the audience in the cinema was laughing due to the sound instead of feeling emotional. I felt dumbfounded as to does the music composer/mixer really know what type of mood they need to bring out to make the movie a great movie. Perhaps, the sound mixer tried to create an emotion like a huge boulder crashing on your heart, but it fails. Those type of suspense sound is suitable to be used only once, yes only once. An example of where such sound can be used is when a person is shocked hearing a death news of someone special. But, there were no such scene at all.
Secondly, there were one part somewhere at the first half of the movie, I was getting emotional just by a simple scene and a drop of my tears almost going to drop. The piano music were so beautiful with the scene, and suddenly a rock electric guitar music enters and ruined the mood.
Thirdly, the original soundtrack song which was played in the background at many scene not so suitable with the scenes. Maybe the lyric might be suitable, I can't give comment on the lyric as I'm not really a lyric person. I'm more of a overall music person. Why it's not suitable? Because it's a rock/alternative music. I'm not saying there are rock or alternative music not suitable for love story, I'm just saying for this particular movie. The story is more of elegant beautiful, but the ost used in the movie itself somehow didn't match well, except the ending. Somehow, the song and music brings out the emotion beautifully at the last 5 minutes.
So, the lesson learned, a music score for a movie plays a major role to brings out the emotions and feelings. Must make sure they can bring out the emotion.
Okay, that's all for music/score. In term of sound effect, I only realized one obvious one once when they were closing the car door.
In term of shots, most of them are beautifully done. One of the shot for a sad emotion was taken from a low angle. A higher angle would have enhance the emotion. A low angle shot is better suited to give the person power and confidence not for sad, vulnerable moments.
!!! SPOILER ALERT !!! SPOILER ALERT !!! SPOILER ALERT !!! SPOILER ALERT !!!
!!! DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO WATCH THE MOVIE!!!
The last part I would like to touch is the overall story. Even thou the original idea belongs to Mr. Mazelan Manan, but the screenplay is written by Bade Hj. Azmi, the director himself. In my opinion, the movie would have been done better without using flashback method. The story could have been told from the moment Iskandar met Dhia to build the emotion and sympathy towards Iskandar. It would have enable viewers to know the character and grow with him as the story progress. I believe director/writer, Bade Hj. Azmi wanted to make it a suspense as to why and who is the first guy appears is not mute, but personally it didn't really brings out the powerful emotion which could have flooded the cinema.
There were no scene shown of why Dhia choose to marry Iskandar when her true feeling is towards Ariel. It would have added a greater impact to the story, if it's shown that she feel oblige to Iskandar as he is the one saved her from accident and also for payed her hospital bill to restore her sight.
There was an unnecessary flashback scene of some unknown guy from Dhia's past shown just before she was about the get into accident. It doesn't explain anything at all. Was he her ex-boyfriend? And what's the relevance to the overall story.
Another scene which is not answered is the guitar. There were several scenes. It starts with Dhia touching a guitar when she was blind. Then, she would look at that guitar again after she gain sight and finally says goodbye to the guitar when she's about to get married. Why is the guitar so important to her? Was some important scene were cut out?
The ending was cut short. It was actually a very emotional scene as Iskandar sacrifices his love for the sake of his brother. The expression shown by Iskandar where his loves for his brother more than anything is priceless. I was feeling, 'wow' he's such a great man and 'poof', the story ended. If they could have played with the emotion as how most Indian movies will do, it would have been one of the most unforgetable end scene I would ever had.
Another scene is the rain scene. Another review sites were calling it as old style, but I find it still suitable. The only problem is, it was used twice. The 1st time when Dhia was heart broken, it was beautifully done. But, when it was used again for Ariel's scene, somehow it didn't seem to work well, even thou the rain was heavier.
So, that's my overall analysis of the movie. Isyarat Cinta had a lot of opportunity to become a great international movie. It is a good effort and let's hope a great Malaysian movie would be made one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment