User reviews

This historical movie is quite good, in terms of its acting and also the content. It tells a true story of the Malaysian Police resisting the Communist in a small county of Bukit Kepong, Malaysia. A credit should be given to the director for his sensitivity in making sure that the movie is really based on the historical fact of the event, and yet the movie is still moving and entertaining.

Good to see something nice from this part of the world!!!

I saw this movie when it was first released, and found it gripping. Thinking back, I think it would've had the same effect now. One of the better Malaysian films, and perhaps the best Malaysian war films ever made. Yes, this is Jins Shamsuddin's masterpiece. No sappy ending, no testosterone-challenged man, no overacting. The only grouse is as pointed out by one of the other commenters - how can trained military/police personnel be outgunned and outammoed by a bunch of commie guerillas?

I must admit that this is the masterpiece of Jins Shamsuddin, a veteran malaysian director. It tells a story of Malays in a small village in the rural area struggle to combat the communists in order to defend their lives, families and the most thing, that is their pride.

They did very well in fighting the enemy but unfortunately they forgot to learn from history, Malays are always defeated by people from themselves, that's their real enemy.

Bukit Kepong is one of the best Malaysian films ever made, and next to 'Sarjan Hassan' by P. Ramlee, definitely the best Malay-language war movie ever. It tells the true story of a doomed remote police outpost in Johore during the 'Emergency' years, when the Communist Party of Malaya took up arms and began a vicious campaign to establish a Communist state in Malaya(as it then was). Despite the fact that the movie has been attacked as being anti-Chinese (as the guerillas were predominantly ethnic Chinese), this is not so, as the Communists did not just target Malays, they threatened and killed anyone who refused to support their cause, including members of the Chinese community.

The movie is quite well-made, despite a few sillly moments, such as when a group of RELA armed volunteers(local villagers) are pinned-down by a smaller(but better trained) group of Commie ambushers, while on the way to relieve the besieged police outpost under attack by a huge force of guerillas. Despite out-numbering the enemy, they actually succeeded in running out of ammo, forcing some brave(and suicidal) individuals to charge the Commie positions armed only with parangs!

The battle for the police station was long and bloody, with quite graphic scenes. The director skilfully used music, crying women and children to impart to us the horror of losing loved-ones in war where necessary. It's the kind of movie which fills the viewer with a burning sense of patriotism and a desire to kill Communists (with great savagery) by the end of the film.

Whilst not exactly 'Cross of Iron', it is certainly far-better than 'Saving Private Ryan', and it's a great advertisement for the armed forces! Highly recommended.