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The Malay Chronicles: Bloodlines (DVD)
Year: 2011
Rating: MA
Director: Yusry Abdul Halim
Cast: Stephen Rahman Hudges, Jing Lu, Gavin Rees Stenhouse
Release Date: July 29, 2011
Distributor: Eagle Entertainment
The Film: 3.0
FILMINK rates DVDs and Blu-rays out of 5“...works as a rollicking adventure film.”
Set in 120 AD, and loosely based on a 16th century historical document, The Malay Chronicles narrates the epic adventure of Merong Mahawangsa (Stephen Rahman Hudges). With the impending marriage between Roman Prince Marcus (Gavin Rees Stenhouse) and Chinese Princess Meng (Jing Lu) set to solidify an East and West alliance, Moreng is given the task to escort the Prince to his nuptials. However, things go awry en route as a pirate nation kidnaps the Princess and holds her ransom. Needless to say, a battle ensues, and Merong rises up as the hero who must rescue the Princess and unite the two civilisations.
Though riddled with clichés and a hardly taxing plot, The Malay Chronicles works as a rollicking adventure film. It excels in the action sequences, with well-choreographed fight sequences and impressive CGI for a low-budget flick, and keeps the viewer riveted. It's a fun, thrilling ride from start to finish and this makes up for the fact that the story doesn't really have much to say.
