The following is an excerpt plucked from our Polis Evo 2 review.
“On this edition of ‘Dash Goes off on a Tangent’ we discuss yet another controversy surrounding yet another film. Sometimes, when people carry pitchforks, flaming torches and yell on top of their lungs to criticize certain aspects of a movie, it’s understandable. (By understandable I mean, you may not agree with the backlash, but you can see where people are coming from like in the case of the lack of brown Asians in Crazy Rich Asians). Sometimes, the scrutiny and angry tweets are absolutely necessary (i.e. Malaysian censor board cutting three minutes out of Bohemian Rhapsody or when it was the white Scarlett Johansson and not an Asian who was cast as the lead character in Ghost in the Shell). But there are times, where the backlash surrounding certain films will make you wonder how we as a collective society have been able to survive for this long when there are people who are so insufferably moronic. Which brings me to Polis Evo 2.
Since the release of the Polis Evo 2 trailer, some ignorant Malaysian Muslims have asked the public to boycott this movie because its villains are part of a fictionalised Islamist terrorist group. The whole thing started when a PAS Committee member (of course it’s a political personnel — what else is new?) mentioned, in a lengthy Facebook post, that this “trashy” film is anti-Muslim, is trying to “give Islam a bad name” and paint Muslims as “evil.” What’s even more frustrating are the dumbasses who agree with him. Look, there is a case to be made if the villain in the movie is an Islamist terrorist while the heroes are all Christian, Buddhist and Hindu saviours.
But buddy, all the protagonists in this movie are Malay Muslims — HEROES who go on to save hundreds of hostages. So, what in the world are you smoking? Also, movies work best when they’re earnest. And the reality of the situation is, Islamists terrorist groups do exist (non-Muslim terrorist groups too). We have to not only accept it, but also talk about it. Just like how Indian films like Kaala and Pariyerum Perumal have commented on the fundamental flaws and atrocities of the Hindu religion. So grow up and stop being a baby. Watch the news. Read a book or two maybe. Geez!”
If you’d like to discuss this movie with me you can hit me up on Twitter here: @dashtalksmovies
