Well, in a country where everyone is encouraged to be fake and pretends to be outwardly saintly in accordance to eastern traditions but is in fact rusting and decaying, the apparent national debate about one of the most notorious criminals being ‘immortalised’ in a movie becomes a worthy front-page topic. All unconcerned parties begin writing in earnest to newspapers to lend their support or question the need for such a movie.
Honestly, a lot of rubbish movies also we don’t need. And a lot of rubbish movies make money for its producers. But the point is, a movie, is in fact for entertainment and those who choose to part with hard earned money to be entertained as such, cannot be faulted. Simple economic concept this demand and supply. Nevertheless, the outrage is understandable in a country where there is belief the thinking of some of its population is “monkey see, monkey do”. 20 year old watch 18PL films also censored, so why can’t 16 year old watch 18PL film since they dont get to see anything anyway?
The advent of the television was the real beginning of mass media, providing quick information to the public. The boom of the entertainment industry pertained to it a different function. It was to entertain. Fast forward to the 21st century, with globalisation and the seamless sharing of information, we could try our best to police the sharing of information and fail, wasting time and money. It is no longer the major medium of instruction; most people have become too smart to take instructions from an idiot box.
I’ve watched Scarface, and many others too, learned from Tony Montana about the art of swearing and getting the ‘job’ done; what is the concern about Botak Chin?
Perhaps it’s the time and setting of the movie. The 70s was a volatile time. God knows what happened then. Only our parents and grandparents would know. What was he thinking? What were his ideologies? What did he see at that present day society? Will the social context of that period mirror what it is still today? Why bother taking initiatives out of our way in glorifying the police, when the truth is, scum exists there too?
The only peril i’ll think of is about the lives he has put in danger, or harmed and those suffering from his ill will even today. But it’s for entertainment’s sake, and a lesson in history. Mind you, i’m interested in how he lived his life, rather than the methodology he used in pursuing what he craved. Truth and honesty is the lesson here, so please don’t go about crystalising the virtues of our police. Stop lying to us. Stop sticking to lousy premises about how things should be done.
Show us the truth please. I’m here to support GOOD Malaysian films. Why watch Jack the Ripper when we can have Botak Chin?
