The Malay Chronicles – Bloodlines

Malaysia

Eagle Entertainment

R4

DVD and Blu-Ray

The story is supposedly based very loosely on a Malaysian heroic tale, involving the adventures of Merong Mahawangsa around the first century A.D. He is a rogue, a heroic fighter and a bit of a womaniser. At this time the Romans were looking at securing the southern coastal trade routes to China. A young “prince” of Rome, Marcus Carpenius, is to marry one of the Chinese Emperor’s favourite daughters to cement the trade relationship. The wedding will take place on an island that is regarded as neutral ground and will be the formal meeting point of the two cultures.

The Roman fleet is wrecked near Goa in a storm. It would be an insult to the Chinese Emperor to be late for his own wedding, so Marcus hires Merong and his ship to take them to the island. The seas are infested with Geruda pirates led by the unkillable Kemawas. They attack the party, kidnap the Princess and leave Marcus and Merong for dead. Kemawas then demands a massive ransom from the Chinese or he will take the Princess for his own. Marcus knows a replacement Roman fleet will arrive shortly but with time running out they must act now. Merong has an ace – he may be the long-lost heir to the kingship of the Malays. He unites some of the villages and leads a raiding party to save the Princess.

Can they kill Kemawas, though, since he is protected by his magic amulet? Will the Roman troops arrive in time to help them? Why has the Chinese Emperor not paid the ransom?

The film is full of blood and slaughter, with action scenes piled on each other one after the other. The CGI effects are perfectly done and not over the top. With such a mixture of times and cultures the film could so easily have fallen flat, but the interaction of the cultures is well crafted and quite credible. There is not a boring moment in the film. It is well acted, wonderfully filmed and a credit to the production crew headed by Director Yusri Kru. We so rarely see films from south east Asia, but if there are more as good as this one, bring them on !

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