Title : Getaran
Year : 2001
Director : Nagaraj
Screenplay : Nagaraj
Cast : Awie, Fiza (Elite), Kumpulan Kristal, Faizal Hussein, Aida Rahim, Opie Zami, Bob Lokman, etc.

Reviewer : Reuben Kee
Rating : **

Getaran - review by Reuben Kee

There are many local movies out there that claim their movies can be watched by all Malaysians and not just among the Malay community. They feel that their movies have great mass appeal and creates storylines that can be related by everyone in this community. How sad and tragic it will be if the local filmmakers continue to think this way. As far as I am concerned, try as it might, "Getaran" just doesn't have what it takes to break the racial barrier when it comes to Malaysians watching Malaysian movies.

Awie, played by Awie (sigh!), is a cool headed, macho mechanic, who leads a simple life and has a big heart to go along with his big brawns. His selfless ways were further evident when a group of boys beg for his assistants. The boys are a music band who call themselves "Kristal", and they want Awie as their manager, realizing that if they don't do so, their music career will never take off. So, in comes Awie with his radiant and enthusiasm, reassuring the boys that with hard work and passion, their dreams will come true (cliché).

In the midst of all this, Awie finds love in the form of Mona (Fiza). Together they share a similar goal and that is to make sure that the group "Kristal" will be successful. But all of this could be put on hold, when their love and their plans for each other was challenged by another guy, Zamri (Faizal Hussein), as he seeks Mona's attention and a tragedy which will threaten to destroy everything they have dreams for...

The movie falls into the category of "been-there-done-that" anatomy, with practically nothing much to offer. Take it or leave it, this movie is made following the same formula practiced in local films such as "Sembilu", a blockbuster success. And as everyone knows, you can't really blame the audience for not wanting to root for this movie. No one pays to see a normal giraffe; they want to see a purple one. It's weird but yet relative enough that you know that it is a giraffe.

Credit, however, should be given to Awie, for trying to improve on his acting capabilities. His later scenes were amazing, though it could be plummeted to being laughable, depending on the mood when watching this movie. Fiza's performance is no better, but I think it is more of the script's fault rather than hers. Nevertheless, she was unimpressive even with the little that she had. And don't even get me started on the group "Kristal", who actually can be forgiven, being their feature film debut and all, for giving us such a crappy performance (except when they are singing).

Fans of local films should find this movie satisfying enough for your taste. Me? As much as I really want to praise this movie, but it seems to me that this movie is sticking too much on the safe side rather than diving into the unknown. Perhaps if this movie achieved its box-office goals and satisfying the local fans, maybe in their next project they will try to satisfy another batch of people... the film lovers.

Source : http://www.cinemaonline.com.my (30/8/2001)