Zombi Kampung Pisang (2007)

So far I have only reviewed foreign movies. Now now before you call me a Euro-centric elitist and a 'kacang lupakan kulit', let me tell you that I do watch Malay and Malaysian movies (I even know enough about local filmsphere to not assume that they are the same, see?). It's just that it's such a small industry with a fairly clueless notion of aestheticism. All those David Teo-produced garbage which I won't bother naming here, well-meaning but misguided FINAS-funded historical epics with scripts which seem to have been lifted right out of my 13-year old brother's school history book which would eventually tank at the box office (but they never learn, funnily enough) and you get the picture.

But now and then someone who actually knows something about film-making comes along with a novel idea and you'll actually get a Malaysian film that is worthy of your RM10 and two hours of your time. And no I'm not talking about those artsy indie film types with their 10 minute dialogue-scenes and maximum budgets of RM10,000. I'm talking about people who try to combine enjoyable movie moments such as decent gags and decently-talented good-looking actors with a plot that requires the audience to think a little and also a little bit of gall and inventiveness to challenge the conventions and the norms. It's people like Afdlin Shauki, Bade Azmi, U-Wei Saari and James Lee who provide the occasional streaker action into the lamefest that is the Malaysian movie industry.

One other such Malaysian director is Mamat Khalid and what I consider his best movie so far, one that I am going to review this time; the comedy 'Zombi Kampung Pisang' which came out in 2007. I've heard people lambasting this movie left and right, and it's such a shame because it is a good movie and I believe that people who deride this movie do so without knowing an iota of film history in general and that they take everything at surface meaning. The plot is simple, an idyllic village populated by your typical kampung residents; the loafer, the ustaz, the village beauty, the junction coffee shop operator ,is plagued by a sudden infection that causes its residents to turn into mindless, brain-eating zombies. Against the threat of this non-religious, biological conversion, the non-brain hungry population of the village have to find the source of the infection before they all turn into a village-wide brain buffet and its guest at the same time, with the inept help of a rock-kapak band members (easily the scene-stealers of the movie) and a police officer played by funnyman Lan Pet-Pet.

The performance in this movie is also enjoyable, if a bit slapstick. Well, Mamat has to sell movie tickets somehow, and what other way to sell movie tickets in Malaysia than to make slapstick jokes. The main cast; Awie, A.C Mizal and Ezlynn gave their comedic best. However, as I have stated before, the show-stealer is the clueless rock-kapak band who is helmed by the late Loloq. I didn’t know he had it in him. They are funny in almost every scene they are in.

Now if it is such a simple comedy movie, why does it deserve such an accolade from me? you might ask. So I am going to tell you one important fact. Keep this in mind and tell your children on your deathbed (or the medic as you’re bleeding to death in a car accident for those of you who will not be fortunate enough): movie-makers have always made and used zombie movies to address contemporary issues. For example when George Romero made 'Dawn of the Dead', he was trying to address the issues of segregation and prejudice that was rampant in Vietnam-era America, as exemplified by the movie's atmosphere of mistrust and his decision to make the film's lead a black dude. Even his more recent zombie-flick 'Diary of the Dead' still retains this discreet symbolism, although the issues are different altogether. What shows Mamat Khalid's knowledge of film-making is his use of 'Zombi Kampung Pisang' to highlight a contemporary issue in Malaysia. I am not going to tell you what the issue is, I consider it a spoiler for those who haven't watched it, but pay attention to two scenes from the movie; one with RELA members (why RELA and not the cops?) and another with zombies in grocery shops. For me, finding out that a Malaysian director knows how to use a movie genre that is relatively alien to the Malaysian audience to convey a contemporary issue is such a sweet discovery.

The GOOD:
1) Earnestly hilarious performance by the stars especially Lan Pet-Pet and Loloq
2) The hidden meaning behind all the comedy. Watch it to get it!

The BAD:
1) The jokes are ultimately only funny to a point. After then it becomes a bit annoying and gets in the way of the plot

So my VERDICT for this movie is: 8/10.

Here's a piece of movie TRIVIA: Mamat Khalid is actually the brother of Malaysia's most prolific cartoonist Dato' Lat. I guess artistic talent does run in the family.