My review on the movie "Ib Zaug Ntxiv"
Posted on 25 February 2009
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Title: Ib Zaug Ntxiv (One More Time)
Production: Kollusion Pictures
Starring: Cher Peek Lee
Doua Her
Paa Thao
Xai Xiong
Cher Vue
So I’ve saw the trailer to this movie for some times now and I had always thought it was just a little something some random Hmong guy had just put together so I had never really thought nor did I ever considered watching this movie. Again the trailer I had saw a year or so ago, I just thought it was going to be another random clip or if anything a very boring, poor acting, low budget home made movie. I guess I was bored the other day and found myself a copy of this movie so i had decided to watch it.
I was scared that it was just going to be another waste of my precious time like the last movie I had saw “3 Lub Tooj Npab“, but nonetheless I gave this movie a try and to my surprise it had surpass my expectation, well compare to the last movie I saw that is. The camera skill wasn’t so bad, it does look much much more professional, the acting skills were not the greatest, but then it wasn’t so bad, I was convinced with some of the acting and was able to bare through the movie. The story line was well written although there were some flaws an bit confusion. I had also notice that there were some bad pronunciation in their Hmong language, but then it wasn’t so bad, it was just here and there that I notice the mispronunciation.
I thought the story line of the movie was good, they went straight to the point and did not drag the movie at all. Like I’ve said before, I did notice some few flaws in this movie which made the movie a bit confusing at one point. The biggest confusion to myself and I am sure to other viewers as well was the part where our main character another word our Phej Ej (p’ek), Dej got himself into the hospital. Well first before all that happened he got off work and his ex girlfriend Lia wanted to talk to him for the last time, it’s funny how he should know not to get into the car with her, she is up to no good. Well she drove him to a open field and pulled a gun on him, okay so she was going to kill him, the funny thing was, he was able to get the gun from her, but what an idiot, he pushed her away then threw the gun on the floor and took off with her car. DUHH, dude should had known that she had one thing in mind, don’t freaken throw the gun to the ground and leave her with the gun, she’ll come back for you, idiot. Well so he made it home and took the Nag (Na) out to dinner and asked her to marry him. Well sweet of him of course, but what really got me was when they both returned home and he told her he was going to go get the left over food from his car, then his friend and his wife came over rushing to take her as if something bad had happened. Well funny thing is, something did happened to Dej, the friends took Nag to the hospital because Dej was in critical condition and is still under an operation. The doctor said Dej got into a car accident and he will not be the same again. Funny how Dej just went outside to his car to get the food, and then got into a terrible car accident where the car rolled over at least 3 times and Nag who is inside the house had no clue what was going on and it took his friend who lives a few minutes away to let her know. Funny don’t you think? So someone made a comment that they had it wrong, he was suppose to be shot by Lia, the ex girlfriend that why he was in the ER. Okay so they should had really checked that part and reshoot so that part would had made more sense.
Lia, Dej’s ex girlfriend bugs the bananas out of me. She is always screaming his name when he won’t do as told. I mean dude, she took off and got marry to some other guy but then while she was married she kept running back to him stating that her husband don’t love her and that Dej isn’t a man, but kept wanting him back while she was still married. Funny thing. She was also so upset knowing that Dej had a new girl that he is caring for. Gosh, I just wanted to slap Lia so badly. Chick’s got issue and her Blonde hair made her look pretty dirty. I think she was the only character that I hated the most. she was a bit selfish to my eyes. Of course its only a movie, but still it bugs me.
I really don’t have any problem with this movie at all besides that glitch, this movie was well written, acting was pretty okay, and the dialog wasn’t so bad so I would give this movie a 8 out of 10. I guess 8 because I did notice the few flaws, but who said every good movie don’t have any flaws. I guess for a small production it was well done. A big plus for this movie is that they went straight to the point and did not waste time on pointless dialog nor pointless parts, there were few parts that I thought should had been left out, but then the majority of the movie was not wasteful. Maybe next time they should pay more attention to little details because even little details matters.
10 responses to My review on the movie "Ib Zaug Ntxiv"
Hey, I like the new look.
I also thought this movie was pretty good too and I do agree on some of the flaws that you pointed out.
LYNDA–Thanks.. It’s so hard to find a good theme to match this site since wordpress is limited to themes and I am not sure if we can even make my own theme. Few themes that I saw, it cuts out half of my images so that really sucks!
ANGELA–Glad I am not the only one who thought that. Gosh, if only they would had went over the movie before releasing it they could had fixed all the little flaws, but nonetheless I didn’t think I wasted time at all. Once again, this is a good start for the Hmong movie industry.
It looks like a good movie. Unfortunately, I don’t understand the language.
One thing I like to know it where are all these movies being shot at? America? Australia?
Dallas–this particular one was shot in California, few of the movies I’ve reviewed on were made in eithr Thailand or Laos, and the other few were made here in the United States. I wish I have these clips and is able to put subtiles on it cos I wouldnt mind doing so, only I dont know how and I dont have the clips.
Hey I really like your review… I truly understand what you’re coming from about the flaws on this movie. I don’t blame that because it was my first time writing, acting, directing, filming a movie and unprofessional etc…lol It’s we as a crew (Director/Producer/Editor) rush the film to be release too soon. I notice that was a major downfall. Even if what most people don’t know, the time when Dej takes Nag and propose to her and they come back home from the dinner and Dej runs out the door… That whole time it was just a spiritual moment she had with him. I as a director I should of pay more attention to making that more understanding. If you watch it again you’ll notice at the hospital, we showed a little clip of her thinging back in black and white of Nag sitting at the dinner table by herself and talking to herself, that’s why the waitress gave her a funny look when she order drinks for two. Then you’ll notice that when they sat down, Dej touches nothing from the table, not even his drink. I wanted for the viewers to take a part of explaining to them self of what happen to Dej when he drove away from Lia. But again I didn’t make that clear. Anyways that was a few years ago and I hope I have improve. I’m currently with Fly Image now and still writing my owe script and directing my owe film. I’m happy you have watch it and put up a review for it. It makes me fell like my work do exist…lol But yeah thanks. Check out my up coming film shooting in April of this year (2009) and hope to be in Film Fest Jan. of 2010. Sorry this one is not for the Hmong community. I don’t think they’ll understand and respect it cause we as Hmong people are not ready for this type of film yet. Knowing me, I like to make my film confusing and a little out of this world. Thanks for the support you have already given to me. Much love.
Cher Peek Lee
FLY IMAGE – http://www.myspace.com/flyimage
CHER PEEK LEE—thanks for taking your time to come and read my blog and comment it, that means alot to me. I am glad that you like this review and what not. Once again, I am hoping that soon enough all the Hmong movies and entertainment will be just as great as the hollywood entertainment, I am more than sure that that day will come soon, we are improving one step at a time. I do wish you the best of luck with your filming and hope that you’ll reach that goal and be at the film fest in Jan of 2010. Humm it’s always fun to break that wall of what the Hmong people thinks in that way, people can learn how to accept what is new and be one step ahead. But I do understand that the Hmong people are a bit behind, but we do need people like you to break the ice. I’ll belooking forward to your upcoming movies. It’s a pity that where I live it’s hard to find any Hmong movies at all, if not I’ll support more than I am right now. As for the movie “Ib Zaug ntxiv” although there are really really confusing parts that did not makes sense hence the part where Dej was sent to the ER, the movie was still good and well acted. I was very happy with the ending of the movie and what not. Do keep up the good work. On and I am looking forward to watchig your movie “Daim Daub”, I hope that I can find that movie soon so I can watch and do a review on it.
Once again thanks for reading and commenting.
[...] you guys remember a while back I did a movie review on the movie “Ib Zaug Ntxiv” starring Cher Peek Lee back in February of ‘09, for this movie “Daim Duab”, Cher Peek Lee [...]
ha moze! fnny how I stumbled on a few of your movie reviews in the last few months. what a coincidence…
Hmm.. like you said, it was a confusing movie at the end and now after reading CPL’s comment, I totally understand the movie making it so much better! It’s one of my favorite movies cuz I LOVE the antagonist.. Lia is what makes the whole movie so worth watching. I really liked her acting as the antagonist b/c without her Nag would probably not even “come” to the US and be with Dej and the whole movie wouldn’t even be a movie lol..
I actually bought the movie b/c of the trailor when it first came out- and I think it’s one of my best investments for HmongAmerican movies
Dawb, I actually enjoyed this movie too, although the ending was a bit confusing, but I do agree, after CPL explained it, I understood it some more.