CRAZY INDONESIA

[William S. Wilson]

I watched THE BLIND WARRIOR last night on Fred's recommendation and agree 100% with his assessment.

Another wacky Indonesian flick from the director of THE DEVIL'S SWORD. The first hour is pretty normal, but then the last half hour just pours on the insane. I say pours because there is tons of blood flowing thanks to spearings, beheadings, slashings, and exploding bodies. I swear, something like 50 or so of Panna's henchmen are killed. What is really funny is that the filmmakers have basically remade BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA from the previous year. That end confrontation - a small group bands together to stop a wedding, complete with an identical huge statue - is just like Carpenter's film. Hilarious!

My favorite thing about the film is when the villagers do the cliche bit and ask Barta to stay and help. He basically says, "No, I've got things to do" and splits. Then they are all slaughtered! Even in the end, he only disposes of the big guy. Everyone else has to do the ground work. Classic!

[Jack J]

Originally Posted by Fred Adelman

I just got done watching BLIND WARRIOR (1985), directed by Ratno Timoer and all I can say is "Holy crap!"

Three decapitations. A man cut in half at the waist. Another guy split open at the crotch. Multiple impalements. Virgin "sacrifices" (actually, just a horny evil ruler getting his rocks off!). Too many impalements, throat slashings and other bloody bits to mention. A guy with crazy chest hair. Blowguns. Tiny styrofoam balls. Hilarious dialogue like, "It's a shame you're blind. If you were able to see, then you would die of horror!" And a trip to the "Hole In Hell" (decaying women zombies!). What a wild, gory film!

I've seen Timoer's THE DEVIL SWORD and REVENGE OF NINJA. Are any of his other films available in English? Man, he's my second favorite Indonesian director, right behind Arizal.

BLIND WARRIOR is one Indo flick I still haven't watched (fortunately there's so many of 'em there's always new ones to track down, and from your and William's description, Fred, it now on my 'Find now!!!' list.
Where was the version you watched released?
So you wanna know what else Ratno Timoer's done that you can get in English, aye? Well, there are two that you MUST get hold of: JUNGLE HEAT (not to be confused with a Hong Kong flick of the same title [however, watch the HK movie as well as it's both gory and entertaining]). I have this on VHS outta Greece and there are boots off this Eng. dubbed print. Also get THE SNAKE QUEEN which, like the other one, came out on Greek VHS. Both star Barry Prima. Timoer also directed a war movie called THE BLAZING BATTLE but it's mostly for Info film fanatics, but I'm just mentioning it since it did have Eng. dubbed VHS releases.


Jack

[Fred Adelman]

Originally Posted by Jack J

BLIND WARRIOR is one Indo flick I still haven't watched (fortunately there's so many of 'em there's always new ones to track down, and from your and William's description, Fred, it now on my 'Find now!!!' list.
Where was the version you watched released?
So you wanna know what else Ratno Timoer's done that you can get in English, aye? Well, there are two that you MUST get hold of: JUNGLE HEAT (not to be confused with a Hong Kong flick of the same title [however, watch the HK movie as well as it's both gory and entertaining]). I have this on VHS outta Greece and there are boots off this Eng. dubbed print. Also get THE SNAKE QUEEN which, like the other one, came out on Greek VHS. Both star Barry Prima. Timoer also directed a war movie called THE BLAZING BATTLE but it's mostly for Info film fanatics, but I'm just mentioning it since it did have Eng. dubbed VHS releases.


Jack

Jack:

Thanks for the info! I will definitely search those out.

To answer your question about THE BLIND WARRIOR: It was released on British DVD (PAL Region 2) by an outfit called Terror Vision. I'm not too sure whether it's legit or not, but it's a fullscreen release and very sharp and colorful.

I now have a review of the film on my website: http://www.critcononline.com/

[William S. Wilson]

Originally Posted by Jack J

Well, there are two that you MUST get hold of: JUNGLE HEAT (not to be confused with a Hong Kong flick of the same title [however, watch the HK movie as well as it's both gory and entertaining]).

Haha, no joke, I copied the Hong Kong JUNGLE HEAT with Sam Jones for Fred two days ago!

[Jack J]

Originally Posted by William S. Wilson

Haha, no joke, I copied the Hong Kong JUNGLE HEAT with Sam Jones for Fred two days ago!

Cool! There's actually two versions of this, the org. HK version and the English dubbed version. Both have alternative footage but unfortunately the HK version isn't available anywhere. My own version is an old uncut Danish VHS (of the dubbed version). There's a German DVD but someone (at this forum) said it's cut.

Fred: Thanks. I'll try and find that English DVD.


Jack

[Fred Adelman]

I just got done viewing Arizal's amazing LETHAL HUNTER (aka: AMERICAN HUNTER) and I never laughed so hard during an action film. This film is a non-stop action bonanza and some of the dialogue is priceless. My favorite piece of dialogue comes when Mike Abbott (as bad guy Gordon) is making out with his whore girlfriend by the pool:

Whore: "Last night I dreamed a snake bit me!"

Gordon: "Was is black or brown? If it was brown, it was me!"

Toss in chases of every kind (car, truck, motorcycle, helicopter), explosions galore, gunfights, kung fu fights, dog attacks and an unbelievable scene where the hero, Jake (the amazingly life-like Christopher Mitchum), falls three stories off the side of a building, crashing through scaffolding at every floor, and he just get ups and continues the chase like nothing happens! The head bad guy, Adam (Bill "Superfoot" Wallace), walks around with a pet monkey at one point (Gordon says to him, "You love that monkey more than you do women!"). Peter "THE INTRUDER" O'Brian appears as black marketeer "Tom Selick"! This is my second favorite Indonesian action film, right behind Arizal's FINAL SCORE (1986).

Arizal should be nominated for knighthood. I'm not kidding!

(A big THANK YOU! to William Wilson for supplying me with this.)

[William S. Wilson]

Haha, I'm glad you loved it like I knew you would Fred! Of course, if you thank me then I have to give a big thanks to Lefteris who originally hooked me up with that classic.

I love the opening where a guy drives a jeep off of one building into another one and then just gets out like it was nothing. The biggest laugh of the film is that we never, ever find out what is on this precious microfilm everyone is getting killed over. And, yes, Tom Selick. Peter is quite versatile. Classic!

[Jack J]

Another one for my must get list!!!

Jack

[Jack J]

Originally Posted by Guenter M.

Here's a review I wrote for my now dysfunct Weird Asia website. Enjoy.

Günter, mate, are you being absent because you're working hard on getting your site back? I sincerely hope so, I keep wanting to check stuff that I know you use to have on that site! Make it your priority to get Weird Asia back, pretty please with sugar on top.


Jack

[Jack J]

Rapi Film's site has been down for a while but I just discovered that it's up and running again and...


My god!!! There's a NEW Indonesian SUNDEL BOLONG film!!!


As I'm sure you all know SUNDEL BOLONG aka Ghost With Hole was a 1981 movie by Sisworo Gautama that starred Suzzanna and Barry Prima.

I have no idea whether this is a remake or another take on the (in Indonesia well-known) legend.





The film description at their site:
http://www.rapifilms.com/main_movies.php?id=40
(and yes, it's in Greek)



Jack

[Jean-Claude Michel]

Quote: " watched an Indo/German co-production tonight called NO TIME TO DIE (aka Danger - Keine Zeit zum Sterben) from 1984 (according to imdb it was even made for tv).

It wasn't as wild or crazy as we've become accustomed to with most Indo movies but it was all right and it did have a few interesting features: It starred both Barry Prima and Chris Mitchum. There were actors that are regulars on German tv. Advent Bangun was there somewhere too.

It was directed by someone called Helmut Ashley, however, what is more interesting (at least to fans of Indo flicks) is that it was co-directed by E.G. Bakker who is otherwise only known for directing the Indo war movie DAREDEVIL COMMANDOS (also starring Prima and Bangun). "


This is rather strange. This Helmut Ashley movie of 1984 is known in Indonesia as "Menentang Maut", but according to JB Kristanto's KATALOG FILM INDONESIA 1926-1995, it wasn't co-directed by Eddy G. Bakker but by somebody named Hasmanan.

According to the same Indonesian source, Eddy G. Bakker made six movies as a director (but remember, the book was published in 1995 so he could have made some additional titles):

- Kinanti - 1984 - PT Inem Film
- Tergoda Rayuan - 1984 - PT Kanda Indah Film
- Komando Samber Nyawa - 1985 - PT Rapi Film
- Balada Cewek Jagoan - 1986 - PT Ganesha Film
- Peluru dan Wanita - 1987 - co-directed by Charles Kaufman - PT Parkit Film
- Menerjang Sarang Naga - 1989 - PT Citra Umbus Dinamika (Indonésia) + Ismanusa Film (Malaisia)

Note: concerning "Menentang Maut", I have read the cast & credits reproduced in the mentioned source and didn't notice any mention of Eddy G. Bakker (he could have worked on the movie in another capacity than co-director, after all).

[Jack J]

double post

[Jack J]

Originally Posted by Jean-Claude Michel

This is rather strange. This Helmut Ashley movie of 1984 is known in Indonesia as "Menentang Maut", but according to JB Kristanto's KATALOG FILM INDONESIA 1926-1995, it wasn't co-directed by Eddy G. Bakker but by somebody named Hasmanan.

According to the same Indonesian source, Eddy G. Bakker made six movies as a director (but remember, the book was published in 1995 so he could have made some additional titles):

- Kinanti - 1984 - PT Inem Film
- Tergoda Rayuan - 1984 - PT Kanda Indah Film
- Komando Samber Nyawa - 1985 - PT Rapi Film
- Balada Cewek Jagoan - 1986 - PT Ganesha Film
- Peluru dan Wanita - 1987 - co-directed by Charles Kaufman - PT Parkit Film
- Menerjang Sarang Naga - 1989 - PT Citra Umbus Dinamika (Indonésia) + Ismanusa Film (Malaisia)

Note: concerning "Menentang Maut", I have read the cast & credits reproduced in the mentioned source and didn't notice any mention of Eddy G. Bakker (he could have worked on the movie in another capacity than co-director, after all).

I just re-checked my Japanese VHS and it does clearly mention E.G. Bakker as the co-director.

It says:

Co-directors:
Has Manan
E. G. Bakker

So I guess your book just left out Bakker. The reason I didn't mention Manan in my first post is that I was making a reference to DAREDEVIL COMMANDOS (aka Komando Samber Nyawa).

Thanks for the list of Bakker films. As I mentioned I was only aware of DAREDEVIL COMMANDOS and NO TIME TO DIE.


Jack

[Jack J]

I just looked up Bakker on the useful 'Complete Index To World Film' data base and came up with the same films as you mentioned plus one more: a film entitled JAKARTA aka PELURU DAN WANITA aka TRIANGLE INVASION - directed by CHARLES KAUFMAN!!

Have a look for yourself:

http://www.citwf.com/person480919.htm


Jack

[Jean-Claude Michel]

Euh... this Charles Kaufman / Eddy G. Bakker title WAS in my list, Jack !!!
About the German/Indonesian copro, if I understand well, no less than three directors were working on this: Bakker, Ashley, and Hasmanan (it's Hasmanan, not "Has Manan", he was a very prolific director, being credited with no less than 36 movies in the Indonesian book).