Title : Mimpi Moon
Year : 2000
Director : Shuhaimi Baba
Screenplay : Shuhaimi Baba
Cast : Rashidi Ishak, Kavita Kaur, Ning Baizura, Jalaluddin Hassan, Afdlin Shauki, Asha Gill, etc.

Reviewer : Zainal Alam Kadir

'Moon' casts a dreamy spell

It does make you want to watch it till the very end. You do get a lump in the throat at times, but most importantly, it makes you laugh (quite a bit) at certain points.

Such emotions sum up Mimpi Moon, a new film by Shuhaimi Baba. However, it does not leave a lasting impression.

After three films -- Selubung, Ringgit Kasorrga and Layar Lara, Mimpi Moon is the most lightweight of all Shuhaimi's works. Which is not a bad thing except that like the rest of her movies, it lacks focus.

There are just too many different issues in Mimpi Moon. Which one is the main plot? Halfway through, one isn't too sure...

Now, is it about the magic of Gamat (the opening scene seems to indicate that) and its medicinal properties; the relationship between Moon (Rashidi Ishak) and Veena (Kavita Kaur) – which seems to be the main thing in the middle part of the film; or is it about anti-terrorism (this one seems to be "splattered" all over the place)?

This is not to say that Mimpi Moon is not entertaining. But really, all the "bullets" seem to blast the whole target board without any of them hitting bulls-eye.

In fact, at the press preview, when one reporter asked her colleague if she could borrow the film's hand-out bearing the synopsis, the latter's answer was quite apt: " You want the main plot or the sub-plots?" he asked.

Although the title might suggest that it's all about Moon, the whole film is not. So, the next thing to look out for is the acting, which seems to be the saving grace. The chemistry between the cast members is strong. The camaraderie seems to work convincingly.

The pleasant surprise comes from both Kavitha and Rashidi who manage to keep us "involved" with their banter and clever dialogue.

Meanwhile, the changes in her character of Veena weren't defined. She was supposed to be a shy girl before she turns into this "ice queen."

For the others, you can say that most of the characters seem to have been tailor-made for them.

Ning Baizura is her usual warm and happy self; Afdlin Shauqi as kooky as he is on any other occasion; Ida Nerina as over-dramatic as only she can be; and Jalaluddin Hassan as "deep" as he always is in any of his drama/TV movies.

Asha Gill, as Dr Anna, on the other hand, looks younger than her daughter Veena despite the grey hair.

There are also cameo appearances by familiar faces like Jit Murad, Melissa Saila and Sarimah Ibrahim.

One felt more could have been done with regards to the development of the characters.

For instance, Rashidi, despite being very believable as Moon, the charming kampung boy and everyone's sweetheart, is not as "intense" as one might hope he would be.

Some aspects of the story don't quite gel. Like when Moon decides to "cut his losses" (he is an award-winning sound engineer in KL) and return to his kampung, Batu Suara, in Langkawi.

Logically, a son who is close to the father would go straight back to his family, but no, he has to ride his bike all over town first and lepak at the local Kau Tim Cafe with his best friend Cambodian orphan Sok Van (Afdlin) before meeting his sister Nona (Ning) and father, Dr Mansoor (Jalaluddin) the next day.

Veena, on the other hand, was about to get married to Mark (her boyfriend from London) but on seeing Moon again, decides to dump the former.

Funnily enough, Mark is quite unperturbed by this. Now this must be one "extremely sporting boyfriend", if he can just let go of the person who has shared years of her life with him just like that.

What? Not even a pip?

There are more examples, but these things do happen in real life too, one presumes.

Perhaps if Shuhaimi concentrates more on the "tug-of-war" between Moon and Veena and develop the roller-coaster state of their emotions a little more (with a dose of humour, if possible) Mimpi Moon could have been a better ride.

Source : New Straits Times 31/3/2000