War on Terror: KL Anarki (2023)

I dare say that most of the urban action thrillers on screen, the modern ones saw it’s birth in John McTiernan’s Die Hard (1989). Ever since then, there has been copies, variations, and inspired films like the recent Gerard Butler Fallen flicks.

That’s the root for this Malaysian action thriller, a well made venture that’s by the book and only beset by inconsistent onscreen performances, at least during the first act.

But by the second act, War on Terror: KL Anarki got me intrigued with the characters and their trials and tribulations, however trivial it may be.

Most appreciative are the action sequences which are pretty well shot. Sure, it’s not up to par with Hollywood outings but was credible enough especially the climax in Bukit Bintang.

There are some back stories and lead character’s personal woes that could have dragged the film, but it was necessary and did not bog down the proceeding. Other characters fill in well and dis not cry for attention, character study is not necessarily for a film of this genre, it would be awesome only it's well done and the actors are world class pedigree. The filmakera knew the limitations and worked around it.

Speaking of limitations, the pyrotechnics are quiet impressive as the shootouts are clearly picturised without the crazy editing that Hollywood itself is guilty of, where you don’t know what the hell is going on and where. The set pieces are carefully staged and let us get involved without us getting lost amidst the whizz-bang.

As mentioned the performances are inconsistent but at least not as poor as the weekly Drama Minggu Ini outings. The actors thrown themselves into the role but with by the number dialogues that at times makes the performances stiff. The baddies are caricatures and thankfully we don’t spend too much time with them.

It's a good entertaining number and worth the ticket price, and let me say this again: I’m impressed.