"First Take Final Cut" is a Malaysian Cantonese/Mandarin comedy that spoofs film-making, and pokes fun at the media, film critics, and art house film. It also parodies Malaysian life in a very funny way. "First Take Final Cut" is about Chai, a pirated VCD/DVD seller who wants to be a movie director to get girls and lots of money. In the mean time, there is a local film event, where one of its projects has been abandoned by its director. Chai gets the job by luck. With zero experience and a 3-page script, a comedy of errors ensues.

"First Take Final Cut" is a refreshing look at local movies, let alone internationally as well. The movie was actually finished in the middle of 2003, but is only set to be released in cinemas now. Director Ng Tian Hann is still a relative unknown, but his work was last seen in the third segment ("Nodding Scoop") of "Visits: Hungry Ghosts Anthology". The lead of "First Take Final Cut" was also the lead in "Nodding Scoop" as well. This man is Ong Kok Liang.

Ong Kok Liang plays his role as a youth with no future as though it was his second nature. It was as though he wasn't acting at all. Haha, that's not a bad thing though. His character in the movie is genuinely funny and one can relate to him easily. The other cast members, Lavin Seow, Kiew Suet Kim, and Yee Chee Wei excelled in portraying their roles. Yee Chee Wei, who plays the 'Director of Photography' (DOP) was actually also one of the crew members on the set! The overall acting in this movie shows that the actors were very comfortable with the director himself.

Lavin Seow and Kiew Suet Kim play the two leads in Chai's film, both of which who are total opposites of each other. Lavin plays a former TV star with 'diva-like' demands, and Kiew Suet Kim plays a bitchy amateur actress who thinks too much of herself. Both actresses did their parts well.

The pace of the movie differs from scene to scene, where sometimes it is evenly paced, and sometimes it gets a little slow at certain parts. But that's just me nitpicking. It doesn't affect the storyline but in fact, enhances the 'art' of it. Filmed in 'miniDV' format, the quality of the picture is different than the usual movies that you watch in the cinema. The first difference is that it is not in the usual 'widescreen' format, but it is 'full screen'.

"First Take Final Cut" will not be everyone's cup of tea. A university/college student may appreciate what's being offered here if compared to a retired businessman.

"First Take, Final Cut" won the Bronze award in the 8th Malaysian Video Awards (MVA) 2003 in the Best Asean Features category and was also invited to a few international film festivals.

I am impatiently waiting to see more of these kind of local films on the big screen as I believe they deserve it, more than let's say certain Malay movies with big budgets, and no substance.

Do watch "First Take Final Cut" for good acting and great directing, and last but not least because (as corny as it sounds) MALAYSIA BOLEH! Also, watch out for the fighting fish that pops out every now and then throughout the movie.