Saturday 5 September 2020

MULAN Charges Fearlessly to the Big Screen

Written by Pony Princess.

After being besieged by never ending delays, the live action MULAN is finally making its way to the big screen. 


 


That is for countries without access to the Disney+ streaming platform. On the 4th September, Malaysians are fortunate to be able to watch Mulan in cinemas. For other parts of the world with Disney+, Mulan will be available to subscribers for an additional charge of USD30 / RM124. But if subscribers are willing to wait, the movie will be available for free on the streaming platform on 4th December this year... whew! As complicated as that sounds, the production of Mulan itself has been a battlefield with obstacles ranging from production to its shifting release date amidst political drama and to top it off the current Covid-19 pandemic.

 
Mulan the animation released in 1998.

Who is Disney's Mulan?
It is a well-known fact that the Disney Princesses are gems to the Disney universe. They represented strength, courage, determination and other qualities for a little girl's ideal role model. However this was not the case in the 1950s. The princesses were portrayed in a more stereotypical light who played damsel-in-distress type of roles. But the age of the Disney Renaissance saw the studio introducing stronger female leads that better reflect the beliefs and attitudes of women in modern times. This includes characters like Belle, Pocahontas and Ariel. However, the one that truly broke grounds for Disney was not a girl of royal descent who gets a romantic conclusion for her heroic efforts. Instead she is from Asian descent who went against the social norms at the time to save her country and bring honour to her family. That heroine is none other than Hua Mulan.
 
Not your typical damsel-in-distress.
Image source: http://www.animationsource.org/sites_content/mulan/img_screenshot/98717.jpg


Based on the Chinese 360 word poem called the Ballad of Mulan, Mulan the animation was released in 1998 to cinemas worldwide. Unlike other Disney animated films, Mulan explores themes about loyalty to one's country, filial piety and upholding the family honour.


One of the many adaptations from the ballad.
Image source: https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-famous-people/ballad-hua-mulan-legendary-warrior-woman-who-brought-hope-china-005084

The legend originated back in the 5th - 6th century China and is a familiar household name to the chinese people just as Joan of Arc is in France. She is a beloved and heroic figure whose story has been adapted in many dramas, plays and movies in the east. The plot is about Mulan who sits worrying at her loom, when she learned that one male from each family is called to serve in the army to defend the country from invaders. With her father old and weak and her younger brother still a child, Mulan decides to take her father's place in the army.

The uniquely oriental flavour of Mulan captivated the western audiences and the movie went on the become one of Disney's critically acclaimed hits. Mulan the animation was a commercial success that garnered the Golden Globe and Oscar nomination grossing more than USD$475 million / RM1.97 billion worldwide. Though its success is also due to the original story being heavily tailored to the Disney formula. Mulan bombed in cinemas in China who found their beloved lady warrior too Disneyfied for their tastes.


 Mushu the jive-talking dragon that didn't sit well with the eastern audiences taste.
Image source: http://www.animationsource.org/sites_content/mulan/img_screenshot/99484.jpg

So this comes with no surprise to why the studio's remake of a live-action Mulan will be significantly different from the 1998 animated film to honour the original version for the eastern audience. 

The Disney Princess lineup which Mulan is part of.
Image source: The Disney Blog
                   
Mulan's popularity in the west is further sealed when she is officially recognized as the 8th Disney princess. She is the first non-white, east Asian princess and not of royal lineage. 

Mulan as a Disney princess at Disneyland.
Image source: Wikipedia commons
                                                                
In order to court the chinese market, Disney is pulling out all stops by pumping in a generous budget of USD200 / RM829 million making Mulan the most costly Disney film to produce. Unlike the previous life actions like Aladdin, Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, the movie is stripped of cute animal sidekicks, musical numbers, and other Disney formulaic elements. Instead, we are getting a large-scale epic war story with breathtaking landscapes, beautifully choreographed martial arts and most importantly, an all Asian cast comprising of renowned veteran stars. Niki Caro, the director of Mulan, stresses that she wanted it to be a war story that is as grand, epic and authentic to the original sources. She has roped in the Hong Kong's top gun of the film industry, Bill Kong, known for Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and House of Flying Daggers for advice on approaching the film.

When the trailers were first released to the public in June 2019, the results truly speak for itself.




(Top to bottom) Mulan all dolled-up and ready for matchmaking.
The ancient village where Mulan lives.
The Emperor of China starring Jet Li.
Image source: Josh Wilding, 12/5/19
                                      

                            

Staying true to its original source without being Disneyfied.
Image source: Josh Wilding, 12/5/19

Image source: The Disinsider

Synopsis
When the Emperor of China issues a decree that one man per family must serve in the Imperial Army to defend the country from Northern invaders, Hua Mulan, the eldest daughter of an honored warrior, steps in to take the place of her ailing father. Masquerading as a man, Hua Jun, she is tested every step of the way and must harness her inner-strength and embrace her true potential. It is an epic journey that will transform her into an honored warrior and earn her the respect of a grateful nation…and a proud father. 

“Mulan” features a celebrated international cast that includes: Yifei Liu as Mulan; Donnie Yen as Commander Tung; Jason Scott Lee as Böri Khan; Yoson An as Cheng Honghui; with Gong Li as Xianniang and Jet Li as the Emperor. 

The film is directed by Niki Caro from a screenplay by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Elizabeth Martin & Lauren Hynek based on the narrative poem “The Ballad of Mulan.”


The cast of Mulan during the official world premiere held on the 9th of March 2020 before the Covid-19  pandemic struck.
Image source: https://www.screenreels.com/2020/03/11/mulan-celebrates-its-world-premiere-in-los-angeles-premiere-and-making-of-footage/

Crystal Liu Yifei is a household name in China. She is affectionately nicknamed as fairy sister for her grace and elegance. Director Niki Caro selected Liu from 1000 aspiring girls for the role of Mulan.
Image source: Frederic J. Brown, AFP via Getty Images

 
Niki Caro the director.
Image source: Getty Images

According to Wellington-born, New Zealander film director Niki Caro, she resonated deeply with the story of Mulan as a powerful and brave woman. Despite being a non-Asian director, Caro is no stranger to movies outside her culture. Caro earned critical acclaimed for her film Whale Rider (2002); a story of a Maori girl who wants to lead her tribe, a role traditionally reserved for men and forbidden for women.

Exclusive chat with the Actors - Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Jet Li and Donnie Yen, and director Nick Caro

Disney has assembled an arsenal of international award-winning veteran all-Asian stars to bring Mulan to life. Here's the cast lineup that will be starring in the movie. Image sources: Insider

Chinese actress Crystal Liu Yiufei will be playing as the heroine, Mulan:

The 32 year old actress starred alongside Emile Hirche in the movie, “The Chinese Widow”

New Zealand actor Yoson An stars as Hong Hui, Mulan's possible love interest:

An original character in the film that is similar to Commander Shang from the animation.

World renowned actor and martial artist Jet Li plays the Emperor of China:

Jet Li is a critically acclaimed actor renowned for his portrayal as Wong Fei Hung in Zhang Yimou's Once Upon a Time in China (1991-1993) and other films like Fists of Legend (1994) and Hero (2002) Initially he turned down the role until his daughters persuaded him to in order to promote chinese culture to the world.

Donnie Yen will play Commander Tung, Mulan's mentor:

According to sources, he joined the film after being inspired by his daughter. No stranger to the Western audience, Donnie Yen is best known for his role as Ip Man and Chirrut in Star Wars Rogue One.

Jason Scott Lee is the main antagonist Bori Khan:

Differing from the original villain Shan Yu from the 1998 animation, Bori Khan is seeking revenge for his father. 

 Gong Li plays the witch Xianniang:

Gong Li made her debut in Hollywood as Hatsumomo in Memoirs of the Geisha and later starred in Zhang Yimou's Curse of the Golden Flower in 2006. 
                             

 
                                     
Behind the Scenes
In order to create the vision of a large-scale epic battle scenes, international stunt teams from China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Australia were brought in to work with. The stunt teams were given 3 months of intense and rigorous training to prepare themselves for the challenging battle scenes. As part of the training, Caro stated that the stunt members and actors had to learn Wushu style of sword fighting. With experienced Wushu martial artist Donnie Yen onboard the set, actors were made sure to be fully prepared and fight as authentically as possible.

Over 4000 weapons were made for the film!

         
Crystal Liu training behind the scenes.

                                  
Bringing ancient China to the Ahuriri Valley in New Zealand.
According to the Otago Daily Times, up to 60 horses, 100 workers, and a fleet of vehicles and machinery filled the picturesque valley during the peak of production. 
Image source: Stuff.co.nz

Niki Caro refrained from using green screens for environment and backdrops. The entire crew was flown to China for the shoot. These locations include the Hubei province in Central China, the Singing Sand Dunes in Mingsha Shan Desert in Xinjiang Province, Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park in North Central China, Flame Mountain, Mazar Village and more. 


The battle scenes were shot in Caro's native country of New Zealand. Various scenic locations in the South Island was selected for shoot including the Mackenzie District, Poolburn, Rangiopo, Hanua, Muriwai, Woodpile and Ahuriri Valley. Nearly 900 people were filmed.

The best decision that Disney made is to bring back former Disney mouseketeer and global pop star sensation Christina Aguilera to sing the film's official main song, “Loyal Brave and True”. She will also sing the 2020 remake version of Reflection as a tribute to the original 1998 animation that fans loved. Crystal Liu, who is also singer, will lend her vocals in singing the gentler mandarin version of Reflection backed by a full orchestra.  

Crystal Liu Yifei and Christina Aguilera
Image source: Charley Gallay, Getty Images for Disney.

                            
                             The new Mulan song by Christina; Loyal, Brave and True
 
                           
                           The original classic fan favourite Reflection gets a 2020 remake.

                            
                            Crystal Liu singing her version of Reflection in mandarin.
    
True to all things Disney, you can always bring a piece of Mulan home to your heart with these sweet merchandises available in the States.  Sadly, we won't be seeing this lovely merchandise on our local shores anytime soon.



Image sources from Disney Springs and Disneyland Resort.



For ardent cinemagoers who crave a truly exhilarating cinematic experience in its full glory, GSC have you covered on 4DX, ScreenX, Dolby Atmos, D-Box and Onyx. So if you are convinced enough that Mulan is worth a cinema viewing, then head down to the nearest cinema and book tickets today. If you are still undecided, then we have a 2-cent non-spoiler review at the end for your consideration. 

Source: MBO Cinemas

Before that, MBO Cinema is having a contest with exclusive Mulan prizes to be won. These mini posters of Mulan are also available while stocks last at selected MBO outlets. Head over to MBO's Facebook page to take advantage of their exclusive offers. 


Non-Spoilery Reaction
Mulan is truly a visual spectacle with breathtaking landscapes, colourful costumes, elaborated stunts, and stunning choreographed fighting. For the most part, Niki Caro's vision of a more authentic and epic Mulan was delivered beautifully and feels made for the BIG screen. Indeed, Malaysians are most fortunate to be able to watch Mulan in its full cinematic glory where it deserves. There are subtle nods to the 1998 animated classics cleverly woven into the film that will surely delight Mulan fans. However, like the previous Disney live-actions, the story feels familiar and does not deviate far away from the original. The live-action made up for what the animation could not in terms of the realistic sword fights, choreographed martial arts, epic battle scenes and of course, the gorgeous backdrop and scenery. From this perspective, this is what makes the Mulan film stand out, making the animation classic pale in comparison. The stellar team of actors themselves breathes new life into the story. Liu Yifei's performance as the strong-willed Mulan feels genuine enough. For the most part, this is a moderate pace, action-oriented film with some touching moments in between that is sure to delight both fans and viewers new to Mulan.

MULAN is now showing in Malaysian cinemas nationwide.
#MulanMY #Mulan #Disney

Friday 13 March 2020

Vin Diesel's superhero upgrade into BLOODSHOT

Written by The Vulcan.


BLOODSHOT. "Who?" you may ask. What he ain't is another intergalactic rogue misfit adventurer the likes of Star-lord in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However he is yet another character with comic book origins but not that from the pages of Marvel or DC. Instead Bloodshot first appeared in the pages of Valiant Comics in November 1992 as guest or cameo roles of Eternal Warrior and Rai. With a solid reception by readers, Bloodshot #1 was released in February the following year to quickly become one of Valiant Comics best-selling characters.

Cover of Bloodshot #1 (1993)

Created by Kevin VanHook, Don Perlin, and Bob Layton, the original Bloodshot was imagined as a tech-augmented soldier with super-human attributes and regenerative "healing factor" (like Marvel's Wolverine) made possible by nanites in his bloodstream. For the less sci-fi initiated, nanites are extremely small robots the size of nanometers (billionth of a meter); as comparison a human hair is 75,000 nanometers. In the comics, the nanotechnology was developed by Project Rising Spirits (PRS) over decades to create the ultimate soldier embodied as Bloodshot. However the process erases his memory and implants false ones as a means for control. Core to the story is Bloodshot's quest to recover his identity.

Current version of Bloodshot in Volume 3 series (2012 onwards).

The first volume of Bloodshot comics ran for 51 issues until 1996. It was then rebooted the following year by Acclaim Comics with this second volume running 16 issues. After a long hiatus, Bloodshot returned in 2012 with a third volume now under Valiant Entertainment. This incarnation of Bloodshot finds his former identity as Ray Garrison and continues to adventure in several series until today in Volume 4. If you like to check out the comic books, follow this guide for the right reading order. The first issue is even available to read for free here.

In the shared Valiant comic universe, Bloodshot crossovered with Harbinger in Harbinger Wars.

The rights for a Valiant cinematic universe (VCU?) was acquired by Sony Pictures in 2015 for five movies starting with Bloodshot and then the Harbinger titles; Harbingers are psychics with superpowers with shared story arcs involving Bloodshot. Unfortunately for Valiant fans, rights of the Harbinger titles fell to Paramount Pictures last year and therefore prospects for such a new superhero universe were much diminished; read more about this here. Whilst there are no definitive movie release dates for Harbinger, Sony's Bloodshot blasts into cinema's worldwide this week.


Official Synopsis

Based on the bestselling comic book, Vin Diesel stars as Ray Garrison, a soldier recently killed in action and brought back to life as the superhero Bloodshot by the RST corporation.  With an army of nanotechnology in his veins, he’s an unstoppable force –stronger than ever and able to heal instantly.  But in controlling his body, the company has sway over his mind and memories, too.  Now, Ray doesn’t know what’s real and what’s not – but he’s on a mission to find out.

Directed by: David S. F. Wilson
Story by: Jeff Wadlow
Produced by: Neal H. Moritz, Toby Jaffe, Dinesh Shamdasani, Vin Diesel
Cast: Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez, Sam Heughan, Toby Kebbell and Guy Pearce

Vin Diesel as Ray Garrison, aka Bloodshot.
Star of the blockbuster Fast & Furious franchise Vin Diesel takes on the mantle of Bloodshot / Ray Garrison. Fans of the comics will point out immediately that he looks nothing like the titular character with grey ash skin, red eyes, chest circlet, and... hair! Indeed Vin Diesel retains his trademark "bad boy" look of his breakout roles as Dominic Toretto, Xander Cage and Riddick. So perhaps it's best to frame this movie adaptation as Vin Diesel's version of Bloodshot.

 Left to Right: Vin Diesel as Dominic Toretto (Fast & Furious), Riddick, Xander Cage (XXX) in trademark black singlet.

Whilst the exploits of Dom / Xander / Riddick often surpass human believability, his latest foray as Bloodshot brings him true superpowers able to smash concrete with his bare hands and heal lethal injuries faster than Marvel's most famous clawed mutant. Of course one can say Vin Diesel has also been superpowered before as the lovable Groot in the Guardians of the Galaxy, even cheating death like Ray Garrison. Let's just say Bloodshot is how we imagine Fast & Furious' Dom to be if granted superhuman powers!


In the movie PRS has been renamed Rising Spirit Technologies (RST) and based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia! Can't miss our Petronas Twin Towers in that trailer, then have fun trying to spot other familiar sights in the movie. But don't hold your breathe too long (unless you're KT; see below) as American producers just might not get the local nuances right... like what was suppose to have passed off as Sibu, Sarawak in 2018's Venom movie!



RST's reseach program is headed by Dr. Emil Harting (above) played by Guy Pearce (Iron Man 3, Prometheus). Using nanotechnology and cutting-edge prosthesis, he has created a team of augmented soldiers codenamed Chainsaw, with a brainwashed Ray Garrison as its most potent weapon sent on missions across the world.


KT (Eiza Gonzalez, above) was injured in the line of duty and subsequently equipped with prosthetic lungs enabling augmented function underwater.


Ex-Navy SEAL Jimmy Dalton (Outlander's Sam Heughan, above) who lost his legs in an explosion now sports stronger and faster bionic legs from RST. As seen in the trailer he is also further augmented with an additional pair of mechanical arms which no doubt evens the odds when he is seen trading blows with Garrison.

Blind ex-Ranger Tibbs (Alex Hernandez) rounds out the team with high-tech ocular lenses granting him extraordinary vision.

Main cast at the Bloodshot Premiere.
See what the RST's team of augmented humans are capable of in this tech vignette:


Bloodshot is Director David S.F. Wilson's feature movie debut. Hailing from South Africa, he started his career visual effects with actor Sharlto Copley (District 9, The A-Team, Chappie). Creating a name for himself, he was recruited by Tim Miller (director of Deadpool) into Blur Studio in California. He has more recently directed the pilot episode of the Netflix series Love, Death + Robots. Wilson shared that it was Vin Diesel's 8-year old son Vincent that helped convince the action star to come on board for Bloodshot.

Check out what Wilson, Vin Diesel, Eiza Gonzalez and Bloodshot's co-creators Bob Layton and Kevin Vanhook have to say:


Hear more from Vin Diesel and the cast including Lamorne Morris as Wiggins in this extended interview by ComicBook.com:


It is worth noting that this movie is not actually Bloodshot's first live action appearance. Indeed just a couple of years ago in 2018 Bloodshot appeared in web TV series Ninjak vs the Valiant Universe by fan filmmaker Aaron Schoenke of Bat in the Sun, famous for its Super Power Beat Down videos. Actor Jason David Frank of Power Rangers fame was cast as Bloodshot looking close to the character's comic incarnation. Watch the action below:


Ninjak vs. Bloodshot... who will win?

Our 2 sen movie reaction to Vin Diesel's Bloodshot

2020's Bloodshot comes in different flavour from the comic book superhero movies from Marvel and DC being served in recent years such that we could step into the cinema with minimal context and limited expectations. Hence, Bloodshot delivered an entertaining ride without a dull moment.

However it's difficult to see Vin Diesel apart here from his trademarked roles (black singlet - check!), just elevated to insane superhuman levels. Maybe that's why he took the role since doing the same carnage to F&F's Dom can't be explained rationally away in that franchise. Perhaps he could have tried to look closer to the comic Bloodshot and be a bit less Vin Diesel. But then that would probably disappoint a few million of his fans that want a Vin Diesel movie. And Vin Diesel fans probably outnumber Bloodshot fans so we can understand Sony Picture's choice as less risky versus casting against a less well-known younger actor.

Whilst the plot is somewhat predictable thanks to the trailer having explained a bit too much, there are still some small surprises. One of which is Lamorne Morris' Wilfred Wiggins who contributes much of the movie's humour. And most of the other cast members have enough moments to be worth remembering their names.

As for Kuala Lumpur, our nation's capital could have been "served" better with some on-location shoots. But the actual location of RST was not really important to the overall narrative, as noted in an overseas reviewer that a different cut of the movie exists where the city was not named.

No doubt Bloodshot's box office performance will determine whether there will be sequels. But if the movie plays well then selling a sequel will certainly be easier and should be put into production sooner rather than later as middle-aged lead star Vin Diesel is not getting any younger, muscles aside. As for a Valiant Cinematic Universe, it's unlikely Harbinger Wars will happen but there are many other comic books Sony Pictures could look to adapt; just browse the Valiant's comic titles.

For other opinions, read this review by Variety or watch Comicbook.com's video:


Wanna win some Bloodshot movie premiums? Join this contest by KLIPS by 17 March.


TGV Cinemas is offering their MovieClub members to the chance to win these movie premiums via their Facebook contest ending 19 March. Then watch their exclusive interview with Vin Diesel himself here.


MBO Cinemas has similar movie goodies available via their Facebook contest until 19 March as well.


More chances available from LFS Cinemas on their Facebook contest ending 20 March.


Still wanna try then head to GSC Cinemas' Facebook contest but act fast as contest closes 15 March.


Plus choose to watch Bloodshot in GSC's 4DX or D-box by 25 March and stand a chance to win Sony appliances including a PS4.


Fans of IMAX movies at TGV Cinemas will receive an exclusive poster with every purchase of 2 tickets.

Follow more on Bloodshot from the official Facebook Page and Sony Pictures Malaysia.


BLOODSHOT  IN CINEMAS NOW!

Disclaimer: Bloodshot is a registered trademark of Valiant Entertainment LLC, referenced here for fan service engagements without intent to infringe.

Thursday 27 February 2020

At FANTASY ISLAND be careful of what you wish for, you might just get what you deserve

Written by Hayashiforest.


Palm trees, waterfalls, sandy white beaches and white suits. The ultimate place that grants your greatest fantasies, albeit for a price. Remember the wise old saying, “Be careful of what you wish for?” Somehow, there is an eerie ring to it that lends itself well to the element horror making FANTASY ISLAND ripe for a horror movie adaptation.

Fantasy Island Origins 




The origins of Fantasy Island is as uncanny as its plot. The series hails back from the 1970s and was created by Gene Levitt for the ABC television network. It starred the late Ricardo Montalban as the enigmatic and mysterious Mr. Roarke and Herve Villechaize as his assistant Tattoo.

The original Fantasy Island's Mr. Roarke (left) played by Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban with his assistance Tattoo played by Herve Villechaize.

According to the producer Aaron Spelling, the series was unintentionally "pitched" to the executives as a joke. During a pitching session that was not going well, an exasperated Spelling exclaimed, “What would you like me to do? Put some guy on an island and have him grant wishes to people?!”

Aaron Spelling, the producer of the show.
Although it was sarcasm, the network was sold on the idea. Spookily enough, the series became a hit that spanned for 7 seasons from 1978 to 1984.

What made the series so alluring? 

  

As the name implies, Fantasy Island has a mysterious element that borders on the surreal and supernatural. The presence and roles of Mr. Roarke and Tattoo were left open to interpretation. For those of us old enough to remember, the series will open with the ringing of the bell and crying of, “De plane! De plane!” by Tattoo atop the bell tower, announcing the arrival of new guests to the island. What the island truly represents and why do fantasies magically happened are never explained in the series.

Tattoo atop the bell tower yelling, "De plane! De plane!"
Each episode featured two guests with their fantasies that will play out during their time on the island. When a fantasy manifests, the guests must see it through to its conclusion. That is where the fantasy often unexpectedly takes on a dark twist. If the guests survive the fantasy, the episode will conclude with a moral lesson. Fantasy Island is best described as a cautionary tale that leans towards dark undertones similar to The Twilight Zone.

Welcome to the new Fantasy Island (2020) by Blumhouse.

Michael Pena as the new Mr. Roarke.
With Blumhouse at the helm of the new 2020 reboot, it will not stray far from the classics. It is still set on an exotic island and will still feature the host Mr. Roarke (now starring Michael Pena) who warns his guests with the classic line that guests must see their fantasy through to its final conclusion. Fans will be able to recognise the icons that honours the original series including the white plane flying into the island bringing a set of new guests.

See the trailer for the movie below;

  

The cast lineup that will be the island's guests are all established actors including Lucy Hale (Pretty Little Liars, Truth or Dare), Maggie Q (Nikita, Mission Impossible III), Austin Stowell (Dolphin Tale), Portia Doubleday (Carrie 2013) and Michael Rooker (Guardians of the Galaxy). Jeff Wadlow the director himself has directed films like Truth or Dare and Cry Wolf.

The new cast of Blumhouse's Fantasy Island (2020).

FANTASY ISLAND (2020) at a Glance

Directed by: Jeff Wadlow
Written by: Jeff Wadlow & Chris Roach & Jillian Jacobs
Based upon the television series created by: Gene Levitt
Produced by: Jason Blum, Marc Toberoff, Jeff Wadlow
Executive Producers: Couper Samuelson, Jeanette Volturno
Cast: Michael Pena, Maggie Q, Lucy Hale, Austin Stowell, Jimmy O. Yang, Portia Doubleday, Ryan Hanswen and Michael Rooker

The film's official synopsis:
In Blumhouse's Fantasy Island, the enigmatic Mr. Roarke makes the secret dreams of his lucky guests comes true at a luxurious but remote tropical resort. But when the fantasies turn into nightmares, the guests have to solve the island's mystery in order to escape with their lives.

Find out more about the movie at its official website here. And read what actress Maggie Q has to say about her role as Gwen on Fantasy Island.

If you are a fan of Blumhouse horror cum slasher films and relish on plot twists, be sure to watch Fantasy Island. The movie was released on Valentines Day in the United States as a horror date movie. However, it is still not too late to do that here in Malaysia. You can still bring your date to watch the movie available in Malaysian cinemas nationwide now from 27 February 2020.

Fantasy Island Promo in Malaysia 

In Malaysia, a promotional stint for Fantasy Island was carried out during Comic Fiesta in December 2019. A "vacation resort' booth was setup welcoming convention attendees to visit Fantasy Island. After viewing the movie trailer, potential guests were invited to join contest to win Movie Premiere invites by sharing their fantasies. It was not all fun games though as a creepy character inspired from Fantasy Island gave Comic Fiesta visitors warnings to the guests to expect the unexpected.

Mr. Roarke's Malaysian representative inviting attendees at Comic Fiesta 2019 to Fantasy Island.

But beware your fantasies may not turn out as expected.

Staff at Fantasy Island booth ready to serve your fantasies.,

Welcome to the Movie Premiere!

This week, Fantasy Island opens in Malaysian cinemas nationwide. And some fans took the opportunity to dress-up at the Movie Premiere in TGV 1 Utama.

The staff of Fantasy Island out for a movie night at the TGV Cinemas.

They wanna watch Fantasy Island... just making over 18 years old to enter R18+ movie.

Movie Premiere guests taking opportunity for photos with the Fantasy Island staff.

"Who's fantasy is this creepy slasher guy?"
Check out movie review by Star2 here then book your tickets to Fantasy Island at a cinema near you. Just "be careful what you wish for..."

Official music video for Fantasy Island "Don't Wish Your Life Away" by Jared Lee.

#FantasyIslandMovie #MYfantasyisland #NeverComingHome

Disclaimer: Fantasy Island and associated trademarks are copyright to Columbia Pictures / Blumhouse Productions, referenced here for fan service announcements without intent to infringe.