Review: Save that $10, I'd rather have a Starbucks.
So guess what? This Chinese New Year Ah Boys to Men 3, or Ah Boys to Frogmen will premiere in cinemas!
I remember when the first part of the trilogy came out in 2012 I basically whined my mother into watching the movie with me, and I enjoyed every bit of it :) The aerial shots of Pulau Tekong and Ninja company (and my beloved Pegasus company just next to it- here's a shoutout to you Pegasus 03/11 if you're reading!) brought back many fond memories. Us falling in and getting ready to collect our kits in front of the cookhouse, walking away in a file while our parents gradually disappeared into the distance... anyway I was so impressed by Ah Boys 1 that I pestered one of my best friends, Lingyan, to watch the second one with me.
The last movie we had caught together was Les Miserables, and I remember how we were still gushing about the great Les Mis soundtrack before entering the cinema for Ah Boys 2. Cos you know, we were kinda expecting the same genius in terms of storytelling for Ah Boys 2.
I left the cinema feeling extremely... confused. And it was basically the whole reason why I personally will not waste another $10 on a military themed movie written by Jack Neo.
I'm writing based on what I had watched in 2013. I'd like to think I have a pretty good memory, but please bear with me should I get facts wrong.
REC Ken Chow experienced a 180-deg character change when his father suffered a stroke/car accident upon hearing the news of his self-inflicted heat stroke, and re-enters Basic Military Training (BMT) with a new outlook on military life. His buddy REC Lobang expresses disgust at Ken's changed attitude when the latter says he wishes to quit smoking to improve his 2.4 timing. Story makes sense up to this point, but when the angle changed to focus on Ip Man's cheating girlfriend and his revenge, I feel like I was riding in a taxi and the taxi suddenly changed course and drove off a cliff.
REC Ip Man discovered his girlfriend was cheating on him. True enough, this happens to many guys when they enter the army. But how Jack Neo chose to deal with this was so unreal it was like watching the movie get hijacked by aliens halfway. The whole section filmed a disgusting video of REC Ip Man kissing ass (literally) using brought-in an iPad (how the hell did the person manage to smuggle one into Tekong in the first place?) which later got flushed down a toilet during an inspection by the Sergeants. Never mind that they didn't get caught, they were instead caught for hiding cigarettes in the toilet ceiling panel and were punished. When the wayang king of the platoon Aloysius Jin Sia Lan was angry for being dragged into this mess (AND RIGHTFULLY SO might I add, this is one truly screwed up section), a fight broke out.
At this point you will feel like you're being sucked into an alternate universe, on an alternate Tekong where all the recruits are out of their minds and the commanders kind school teachers outsourced from a kindergarten. The section plans an "ops" on the cheating girlfriend and the new boyfriend by ambushing them in a carpark- the scenes of the gang defecating into plastic bags to later throw at the cheating girlfriend were disturbing to the core.
Then guess what- the gang ran and had to hurl walls, climb ropes along the way while running from the new boyfriend's friends who were chasing them! OMG LOL! The scenes are intertwined with scenes of the Standard Obstable Course (SOC)- supposedly trying to depict how SOC training is applied in real life. Wa, that's so cool, I totally didn't know I can throw shit at people and SOC training would help me evade justice later on! SAF already gets so many accusations that we don't do anything because we don't go to war and don't face any threats (which are completely untrue), we totally needed the affirmation that our skills are only good for shit (pun not intended) like this.
The new boyfriend's friends catch up with the gang while they are about to book in, and a fight breaks out in the hawker centre (again). The Officer Commanding (OC) of the company, instead of asking the question any real-life OC would, "Are you guys on drugs?????", went into the debating the definition of a "fighter". "Do you people think you all are fighters?" he asks. Fighters, LOL! He then gave them a Suspension-of-Leave- yes getting extras is so sad when you did something full out against the law and very detrimental to the SAF's image.
And it was field camp, and Lobang (I hated him so bad at this point already because he's like the shit-stirring psycho of the section) continues to bully Wayang... and then camaraderie and shit, they POP and Lobang goes to OCS (Officer Cadet School) for his "unorthodox leadership skills".
WTF??????
Can you imagine someone who instigates his sectionmates to add additional load into Wayang's fieldpack to bully him, worse- refusing to own up when caught, bringing an iPad, a restricted item into camp (was it him? I cannot remember), leading his sectionmates to break the law again and again - get handpicked as an officer for his "unorthodox leadership skills"? He be lucky he's not even in jail.
I'm not sure at the end of the day if we're supposed to take this as a representation of the experience of all Singaporean sons, because if we're not, then...what is it? And yet, this is so far off reality, so far off how normal, mentally balanced 18 year old boys behave in the army.
First off, the characters. I've read several other Ah Boys To Men reviews and some sources claimed the movie uses caricatures. Some reviewers were unhappy that women also play an equal role in defence and yet they are only portrayed as one token female platoon, mothers who are bad examples to their sons, and cheating girlfriends.
I have no issue with the unequal representation of women in this movie because it is the story of the average national servicemen after all; they are the focus here. What I have a problem with is the bizarre way the characters are written in this story. You already know why I hate Lobang- he should be in jail, not staying in Tekong being a bad influence to all the other recruits. Does Ip Man even serve a purpose? Apart from being the catalyst to the whole section throwing faeces at the cheating girlfriend, he doesn't seem to have any personality or character development. He left BMT as weird and childish as he was when he entered. Ken Chow's character development happened at the end of Part 1. It could have been a good story arc but poof, it disappeared into thin air to give stage time to stupid Lobang in Part 2.
The only guy I'd say had any real character development was Wayang. He started out competitive and arrogant until he learned things the hard way by realising no one liked him. He gradually learns EQ and wins Lobang's friendship with a self-sacrificial act (not worth it dude, I'd rather be friends with Ken).
The whole crux of Ah Boys to Men is to showcase how teenage boys mature and grow into sensible adults after their two years of National Service. It's the title of the movie! What's the point if no proper character development happens in your protagonist and your characters are not even 3-dimensional human beings your male viewers can relate to? And the producers just taught us you could be a bully, criminal, have no integrity, be a bad influence and still become an officer. SMH I really have nothing to say to that.
Secondly, did anyone realise brotherhood and camaraderie forged during BMT was hardly touched on in this movie? Did anyone realise what the real issue was that drove the plot along? Yes, cheating girlfriends were the highlight of this entire show. Ken changed because of his cheating girlfriend, half of ABTM 2 revolved around Ip Man's cheating girlfriend. Producers, you realllly need to stop giving cheating girlfriends so much credit in shaping the life of the average NSF. Plenty of NSFs either have no girlfriends, or stay with their girlfriends throughout their two years, or get attached during NS even. Is this really the most important thing you focus on in a military-themed movie?
With all the wasted reel-time on the shit-throwing they could have spent it showing how the recruits stuck together in the wind and rain, braving the blisters on their feet during route marches, becoming friends despite their different backgrounds. Instead, it was only given a 2 minute cameo before the POP scene, and nothing more after that.
And on the topic of bullying. I'm glad the producers highlighted it because I shall not paint a rosy, politically-correct picture here: it happens. It is bound to happen when you throw a bunch of people together from different backgrounds and some are not as adjustable to new environments. Yet, once again the producers gave up on a good story arc when they could have explored how the bullies realised they weren't mature either, and how Wayang and the section bullies eventually sorted out their differences healthily and became friends.
And so yes, Ah Boys to Men 1 was great, part 2 could have been great but fell flat on its face so spectacularly that I don't trust Jack Neo to make another good movie out of the Singaporean military experience ever again. But then again I'm not the one raking in millions from box office sales so I guess I can suck on that, haha :) Not that I can make a better movie than he can, with my "unorthodox" blogging skills and all!
I must disclaim that I'm not convincing anyone to not watch Part 3 at all. This is after all a new story with a new plot, and Jack Neo has made incredible movies in the past. (Homerun, I Not Stupid, anyone?) Still, do give this movie a chance if you have the time and money to spare. :)
I'm not saying this movie isn't promising, but...
I remember when the first part of the trilogy came out in 2012 I basically whined my mother into watching the movie with me, and I enjoyed every bit of it :) The aerial shots of Pulau Tekong and Ninja company (and my beloved Pegasus company just next to it- here's a shoutout to you Pegasus 03/11 if you're reading!) brought back many fond memories. Us falling in and getting ready to collect our kits in front of the cookhouse, walking away in a file while our parents gradually disappeared into the distance... anyway I was so impressed by Ah Boys 1 that I pestered one of my best friends, Lingyan, to watch the second one with me.
The last movie we had caught together was Les Miserables, and I remember how we were still gushing about the great Les Mis soundtrack before entering the cinema for Ah Boys 2. Cos you know, we were kinda expecting the same genius in terms of storytelling for Ah Boys 2.
I left the cinema feeling extremely... confused. And it was basically the whole reason why I personally will not waste another $10 on a military themed movie written by Jack Neo.
I'm writing based on what I had watched in 2013. I'd like to think I have a pretty good memory, but please bear with me should I get facts wrong.
REC Ken Chow experienced a 180-deg character change when his father suffered a stroke/car accident upon hearing the news of his self-inflicted heat stroke, and re-enters Basic Military Training (BMT) with a new outlook on military life. His buddy REC Lobang expresses disgust at Ken's changed attitude when the latter says he wishes to quit smoking to improve his 2.4 timing. Story makes sense up to this point, but when the angle changed to focus on Ip Man's cheating girlfriend and his revenge, I feel like I was riding in a taxi and the taxi suddenly changed course and drove off a cliff.
Picture credit: Sg New Wave
REC Ip Man discovered his girlfriend was cheating on him. True enough, this happens to many guys when they enter the army. But how Jack Neo chose to deal with this was so unreal it was like watching the movie get hijacked by aliens halfway. The whole section filmed a disgusting video of REC Ip Man kissing ass (literally) using brought-in an iPad (how the hell did the person manage to smuggle one into Tekong in the first place?) which later got flushed down a toilet during an inspection by the Sergeants. Never mind that they didn't get caught, they were instead caught for hiding cigarettes in the toilet ceiling panel and were punished. When the wayang king of the platoon Aloysius Jin Sia Lan was angry for being dragged into this mess (AND RIGHTFULLY SO might I add, this is one truly screwed up section), a fight broke out.
At this point you will feel like you're being sucked into an alternate universe, on an alternate Tekong where all the recruits are out of their minds and the commanders kind school teachers outsourced from a kindergarten. The section plans an "ops" on the cheating girlfriend and the new boyfriend by ambushing them in a carpark- the scenes of the gang defecating into plastic bags to later throw at the cheating girlfriend were disturbing to the core.
Then guess what- the gang ran and had to hurl walls, climb ropes along the way while running from the new boyfriend's friends who were chasing them! OMG LOL! The scenes are intertwined with scenes of the Standard Obstable Course (SOC)- supposedly trying to depict how SOC training is applied in real life. Wa, that's so cool, I totally didn't know I can throw shit at people and SOC training would help me evade justice later on! SAF already gets so many accusations that we don't do anything because we don't go to war and don't face any threats (which are completely untrue), we totally needed the affirmation that our skills are only good for shit (pun not intended) like this.
"Remember your SOC training the next time you shoplift and need to get away from the police!"
The new boyfriend's friends catch up with the gang while they are about to book in, and a fight breaks out in the hawker centre (again). The Officer Commanding (OC) of the company, instead of asking the question any real-life OC would, "Are you guys on drugs?????", went into the debating the definition of a "fighter". "Do you people think you all are fighters?" he asks. Fighters, LOL! He then gave them a Suspension-of-Leave- yes getting extras is so sad when you did something full out against the law and very detrimental to the SAF's image.
"Do you think you guys are fighters? Just kidding, I think you guys need psychiatric help."
Pic credit: abtmham.blogspot.com
And it was field camp, and Lobang (I hated him so bad at this point already because he's like the shit-stirring psycho of the section) continues to bully Wayang... and then camaraderie and shit, they POP and Lobang goes to OCS (Officer Cadet School) for his "unorthodox leadership skills".
WTF??????
Can you imagine someone who instigates his sectionmates to add additional load into Wayang's fieldpack to bully him, worse- refusing to own up when caught, bringing an iPad, a restricted item into camp (was it him? I cannot remember), leading his sectionmates to break the law again and again - get handpicked as an officer for his "unorthodox leadership skills"? He be lucky he's not even in jail.
I'm not sure at the end of the day if we're supposed to take this as a representation of the experience of all Singaporean sons, because if we're not, then...what is it? And yet, this is so far off reality, so far off how normal, mentally balanced 18 year old boys behave in the army.
First off, the characters. I've read several other Ah Boys To Men reviews and some sources claimed the movie uses caricatures. Some reviewers were unhappy that women also play an equal role in defence and yet they are only portrayed as one token female platoon, mothers who are bad examples to their sons, and cheating girlfriends.
I have no issue with the unequal representation of women in this movie because it is the story of the average national servicemen after all; they are the focus here. What I have a problem with is the bizarre way the characters are written in this story. You already know why I hate Lobang- he should be in jail, not staying in Tekong being a bad influence to all the other recruits. Does Ip Man even serve a purpose? Apart from being the catalyst to the whole section throwing faeces at the cheating girlfriend, he doesn't seem to have any personality or character development. He left BMT as weird and childish as he was when he entered. Ken Chow's character development happened at the end of Part 1. It could have been a good story arc but poof, it disappeared into thin air to give stage time to stupid Lobang in Part 2.
The only guy I'd say had any real character development was Wayang. He started out competitive and arrogant until he learned things the hard way by realising no one liked him. He gradually learns EQ and wins Lobang's friendship with a self-sacrificial act (not worth it dude, I'd rather be friends with Ken).
The whole crux of Ah Boys to Men is to showcase how teenage boys mature and grow into sensible adults after their two years of National Service. It's the title of the movie! What's the point if no proper character development happens in your protagonist and your characters are not even 3-dimensional human beings your male viewers can relate to? And the producers just taught us you could be a bully, criminal, have no integrity, be a bad influence and still become an officer. SMH I really have nothing to say to that.
Secondly, did anyone realise brotherhood and camaraderie forged during BMT was hardly touched on in this movie? Did anyone realise what the real issue was that drove the plot along? Yes, cheating girlfriends were the highlight of this entire show. Ken changed because of his cheating girlfriend, half of ABTM 2 revolved around Ip Man's cheating girlfriend. Producers, you realllly need to stop giving cheating girlfriends so much credit in shaping the life of the average NSF. Plenty of NSFs either have no girlfriends, or stay with their girlfriends throughout their two years, or get attached during NS even. Is this really the most important thing you focus on in a military-themed movie?
With all the wasted reel-time on the shit-throwing they could have spent it showing how the recruits stuck together in the wind and rain, braving the blisters on their feet during route marches, becoming friends despite their different backgrounds. Instead, it was only given a 2 minute cameo before the POP scene, and nothing more after that.
And on the topic of bullying. I'm glad the producers highlighted it because I shall not paint a rosy, politically-correct picture here: it happens. It is bound to happen when you throw a bunch of people together from different backgrounds and some are not as adjustable to new environments. Yet, once again the producers gave up on a good story arc when they could have explored how the bullies realised they weren't mature either, and how Wayang and the section bullies eventually sorted out their differences healthily and became friends.
And so yes, Ah Boys to Men 1 was great, part 2 could have been great but fell flat on its face so spectacularly that I don't trust Jack Neo to make another good movie out of the Singaporean military experience ever again. But then again I'm not the one raking in millions from box office sales so I guess I can suck on that, haha :) Not that I can make a better movie than he can, with my "unorthodox" blogging skills and all!
I must disclaim that I'm not convincing anyone to not watch Part 3 at all. This is after all a new story with a new plot, and Jack Neo has made incredible movies in the past. (Homerun, I Not Stupid, anyone?) Still, do give this movie a chance if you have the time and money to spare. :)
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