I’m talking about the movie, of course. Not the book. Me and my buddy talked about this movie on the phone the other night and we agreed that Laskar Pelangi is a great movie measured by other Indonesian movies that also hit the cinema at the same time (Cinlok, Barbi3, Chika, Suami-suami Takut Istri) or most of Indonesian movies overall. Here’s why Laskar Pelangi deserve three exclamation marks.

The first (!) goes to the children. Eventhough there are a lot of minor character with familiar faces from Tora Sudiro to Jajang C. Noor, all the children in Laskar Pelangi can act.

The second (!) goes to the script. Laskar pelangi is more like a documentary movie. It has a narrator (Lukman Sardi), an alligator, and even a local dance. But that’s the correct way to capture the essence from Andrea Hirata’s Laskar Pelangi. I really wish they can make the scene where Lintang’s father died more memorable.

The third (!) goes to the cinematography. It’s the one thing that guarantee to save Indonesian movie. Throw in the cinematography. The story can be dull and lame, but at least you can enjoy the scenery. I don’t think there’s more shot on rainbow in any other movie than Laskar Pelangi.

A job well done. No sinetron version, please.