- Kepong gangs may take offence at this movie
I PRESUME there are gangs in Kepong, a mainly Chinese-populated 
suburb of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but I’m not sure whether the band of brothers in Kepong Gangster accurately portrays life in a typical gang and whether the relationship between them is realistic.
The movie could have helped the actors with better camera angles, better lighting, better sound and music, better editing, better transitions and not regurgitate themes and plots from Western movies.
Director Teng Bee should have guided the actors with their expressions and body language. Viewers will feel that the dialogue and movement of the actors and actresses are sometimes unnatural and stilted.
For example, Ah Zhong (Henley Hii) barely looks surprised or shocked when his buddy cuts off a finger of a baddie. But in another scene with Billy (Billy Ng), who’s showing the symptoms of drug withdrawal, his acting goes over the top.
Kepong Gangster follows five friends in a secondary school who decide they want to make crime their career. They are Ah Hai (Melvin Sia), Ah Zhong (Henley Hii), Billy (Billy Ng) , Teo Chew Boy (Hero Tai) and Bing (Rayz Lim).
Right of the bat and the movie gets this scene wrong. Have you ever seen five guys lying on the grass in their white and green school uniforms, gazing softly at the sky and mulling over their futures?
They ask Gai Tong Gor (Jovi Theng) whether they can join his group. So begins the first silly fight. Another big confrontation between two gangs is also not worth mentioning.
Viewers will see that the fighting isn’t well choreographed and the sounds of metal pipes coming into contact with human flesh are exaggerated.
The teens’ friendship is strong at the beginning but their greed and desire for power will knock them off their perches.
Ah Hai, for example, lusts for his boss’ Taiwanese druglord girlfriend (Linda Liao). He schemes to take over his network, and his desire for power will lead to his downfall and the deterioration of ties between the Famous 5.
Tracy Cheong appears as Tong Tong and model Agnes Lim as Cindy, a singer who’s also a mole. You gotta love these multitasking female infiltrators.
Cheong’s performance hits the right note, whether it’s sadness, empathy or joy being with her boyfriend. Her Tong Tong is endearing and true.
1 out of 5
The boys should have got ready for the revamp of Form 6.
