How many times has it been that we have seen American and European cities being subjected to the attacks of aliens, monsters and terrorists? Countless; on the silver screen, that is.
When will our humble country get some time in the spotlight?
Actually, unbeknownst to most people, Malaysia has quietly served as the backdrop or even setting for a variety of films, ranging from Hollywood blockbusters to Chinese popcorn flicks.
Here are some examples of films where you might be able to spot a familiar street sign in the background.
1. Crazy Rich Asians
The newest film on the list, the plot of Crazy Rich Asians mostly takes place in our neighbour (and occasional culinary rival) Singapore, but thankfully, some filmography did take place within our borders.
It was actually a blessing in disguise that Kuala Lumpur’s Carcosa Sri Negara was selected for use in exterior shots of the Young family home.
Prior to the arrival of the film crew, the historical mansion had been in a state of decay and the unfortunate caretakers were underfunded and ill-equipped to restore it to its former glory.
Thankfully, Hollywood and its infinite supply of resources soon helped to repair and clean up parts of the mansion.
Besides Carcosa Sri Negara, filming also took place in Langkawi and Penang’s Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, which Penangite cinemagoers might have recognised in the scene where the main character, Rachel (Constance Wu) and her nemesis/potential mother-in-law, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) engage in an emotionally intense game of mah-jong.
2. Anna and the King
Similar to the previous entry, this 1999 film by Andy Tennant starring Chow Yun-Fat and Jodie Foster was also set in a neighbouring country; this time our northern neighbour of Thailand.
Because Thai authorities were displeased with the very plot of the film and how it depicted their revered King Mongkut, filming had to take place anywhere but Thailand.
As such, Perak had quite the windfall as several sites within the Malaysian state ended up as the backdrop of scenes in the movie.
Sharp-eyed viewers should be able to spot Papan’s Istana Billah, Batu Gajah’s Kellie’s Castle and Ipoh’s railway station in the background of certain parts of the film.
3. Entrapment
Ah, Sean Connery. It is always a little sad to be reminded that the happily retired thespian will never be on the silver screen any time soon.
The next time one happens to pass through the Bukit Jalil LRT station, do take note that Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones once stood on the very same platform that the train just stopped at.
Entrapment is a 1999 caper film with the climatic heist taking place in the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.
And in the final scene of the film, Connery and Zeta-Jones exchange a last conversation at the Bukit Jalil LRT station which for some reason was doubling up as its Pudu counterpart.
Interestingly enough, there is one particularly glaring scene in which the Twin Towers are seen in the same shot as the Melaka River, which is 144 km away from the city centre.
4. The Sleeping Dictionary
A film that flies below the radar of most Malaysian cinephiles, this 2003 romantic drama film is set in the pre-war times of the Raj of Sarawak and stars Hugh Dancy and Jessica Alba.
As befitting a story that revolves around the relationship between a naïve Englishman and an Iban beauty, filming took place entirely in the East Malaysian state.
The film is based on the Iban courtship concept of ngayap, practised in the early 1920s and ’30s.
It is interesting, however, to note that Alba, an American actress of mixed European and Mexican descent, plays an Iban woman; a casting choice that would garner some justified criticism today.
5. Lust, Caution
While set in war-torn China during the Japanese invasion, Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution had some scenes filmed in Malaysia.
The 2007 spy thriller is based on Eileen Chang’s novella Lust, Caution which itself was inspired by the attempted assassination of a Japanese collaborator by the female Chinese spy, Zheng Pingru.
Penang and Melaka doubled up as occupied Hong Kong and Shanghai during the filming.
Despite having very explicit sex scenes, the Malaysian Censorship Board allowed the film to be shown in theatres with an 18-SX rating.
6. Police Story 3: Super Cop
The second film on this list with Michelle Yeoh in the cast, this Hong Kong film stars Jackie Chan and Maggie Chung.
The third of the eight-instalment series, this 1992 film sees Jackie Chan reprising his role as “Kevin” Chan Ka-Kui on yet another crime-fighting mission.
One particularly action-packed scene has Chan clinging onto a rope ladder for dear life, attached to a helicopter flying over Kuala Lumpur.
As is characteristic of his movies, there is no shortage of fight scenes in multiple locations within the capital.