More Local Movies On The Way

And you'd think after 13 feature length narrative movies and documentaries the last few weeks during SIFF, there would be a drought? No way Jose, and this is just a flavour of things to come!

On May 1, we'll see John Radel and Max Manniix's Dance of the Dragon, produced by ex-television actor Robin Leong, and starring Fann Wong in a story which has kung fu and ballroom dancing. It looks gorgeous, but seriously, it's about time we move away from calling every frickin Asian movie Dragon-this and Dragon-that. Stiff competition for this one given that Iron Man premieres just a day before.

I had thought Eric Khoo's latest movie My Magic would debut at this year's SIFF, but of course not, since its sights is now set on making a Cannes Premiere! We've waited long enough for his follow up to Be With Me, so pretty please, when can we watch this, Eric?

Speaking of festivals, Wee Li-lin's Gone Shopping is part of the official selection at the Udine Far East Film Fest this April (this week in fact), though this is not the version that got played in the cinemas here last year, but a brand new Director's Cut. Now, would we get to see that version here, perhaps at Sinema Old School, or through a DVD release?

August will be an extremely busy month, since now that the National Day Week seem to fan that patriotic spirit within and everyone wants to go local. No less than 3 movies will be making their debut, with Kallang Roar the Movie by Chen Ding An flying way below the radar from Jack Neo's Money No Enough Too, and potential box office rival 1028 (Working Title) by Royston Tan.

Tan and Neo will be revisiting old material, with the sequel to Money No Enough (watch for the original making its 10th Anniversary return to the big screen in the next few weeks), and the prequel to 881 under Tan's new production company 10twentyeight. Kallang Roar should prove interesting for older football fans as you'll probably have a field day watching lookalikes having a ball of a time at the open-close-open-close-open National Stadium, which has become the subject of at least a few local shorts and documentaries, one of which I am aware should make its debut once the Grand Dame closes its door, for good!!

September would be interesting, and this is my personal highly anticipated local movie so far. From the studio that brought us the beautifully shot Becoming Royston, comes a movie called The Days, directed by Boi Kwong.



Looks like we'll have our own version of Young and Dangerous! Richard Low and Yeo Yann Yann play supporting roles to essentially an unknown cast, but eye-candy enough nonetheless to put bums on seats.

And speaking of eye candy, ex-Miss Malaysia Andrea Fonseka makes her feature film debut in Michael Wang's The Carrot Cake Conversations, due out probably in October. Check out the posters, and the teaser!




Teaser


Really interesting times ahead for local movies! Keep the flag flying, and most importantly, show your support by watching them, instead of throwing potshots based on wild guesses and conjectures. See you at the (local) movies!