PASKAL: The Movie

PASKAL: The Movie is a 2018 Malaysian military action film directed by Adrian Teh and produced by Asia Tropical Films and Golden Screen Cinemas. It stars Hairul Azreen, Jasmine Suraya Chin, and Tiger Chen Hu. It was inspired by the elite Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM) force named PASKAL (Pasukan Khas Laut). With a budget of RM10 million (US$2.4 million), PASKAL: The Movie is the most expensive Malaysian film ever made.[1]

PASKAL: The Movie
Directed byAdrian Teh
Produced byKeoh Chee Ang
Screenplay byAdrian Teh
Anwari Ashraf
Story byAdrian Teh
Keoh Chee Ang
Frank See
StarringHairul Azreen
Ammar Alfian
Henley Hii
CinematographyYong Choon Lin
Edited byMonster Than
Moray Toon
Production
company
Asia Tropical Films
Distributed byGSC Movies (Malaysia)
Release date
  • 27 September 2018 (2018-09-27)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryMalaysia
LanguageMalay
English
BudgetRM10 million[1]
Box officeRM30.08 million

Filming began in Kuala Lumpur from March to May 2018; its official premiere was on 27 September 2018.[2][3] Although the movie received mixed critical reviews, it netted an overall profit of almost RM 30 million,[4] making it one of the highest-grossing local films in Malaysia, following Munafik 2 and Hantu Kak Limah.[5][6] In December 2018, PASKAL was listed by the local Malaysian newspaper Harian Metro as among the top 10 local films in Malaysian history.[7]

Plot

In 2018, a supertanker, Laurel 11 (inspired by the real-life MV Bunga Laurel), was hijacked by Somali pirates in the dark of night in the Gulf of Aden. The Royal Malaysian Navy picked up the distress call from the stricken ship and MT Bunga Mas Lima, which was inbound for home after a long operation at sea, was sent to aid the ship. The pirate's refusal to negotiate prompted Commander Maznan to deploy the Navy's elite special operations unit, PASKAL, to rescue the ship. The team was led by Lieutenant Commander Arman Rahmat. Two boats and a Westland Lynx (in the real-life rescue of Bunga Laurel, a Fennec helicopter was deployed) were deployed for the rescue mission. The unit's swift and stealthy tactics ensured the eventual success of operation with the pirates subdued and captured.

The team returns to Lumut, with Arman having a dilemma on whether or not to proceed with his plans for retirement. His mother's apparent distaste with his dangerous job and the painful memory of his past clouded him. Back in 2009, when he was a sub-lieutenant, Arman had undergone harsh training with a late friend, Joshua Tee Seng Wai (aka Girang), and Mohd Zariff bin Zafrudin (aka Jeb). Arman's motivations to join PASKAL was to know the reason for his father's sacrifice. The three of them were among the best in the unit and were selected to undergo advanced training course with the US Navy SEALs. However, in a peacekeeping operation in Angola two years later, a confrontation with a rebel group while transporting a Chinese UN Observer led to Jeb unintentionally killing Joshua. Jeb, wounded in the confrontation, was dishonourably discharged after he brutally executed a prisoner with a sidearm. Arman went to Joshua's wife, Lily, to tell the bad news and Joshua was given a military funeral.

Arman continues to take care of Joshua's wife and only son, who had also developed a close bond with his mother.

Despite handing over his request to retire, Commander Maznan enlists him on a reconnaissance mission in Kota Kinabalu as a "farewell party". He and his team are assigned to capture a pirate leader named Rudi Rusli Parjo, who was involved in the hijacking of MT Orkim Harmony. However, the plan was foiled after Arman discovered Jeb at a food court with Rudi. It was learned that Rudi, through his successful pirate raids, has been hiring ex-special forces members to his ranks, and Jeb was recruited as his bodyguard.

Jeb's jealousy over Arman's achievements and the apparent dislike with the Navy's system brings him at odds with Arman since training day and it only got worse when Jeb starts to stalk Lily, as a clear warning for Arman to stay away. A CCTV footage of Jeb's car that showcased a logo belonging to an oil rig company where Lily works alerted Arman to a possible hijacking plot. Arman alerts the Navy, who in turn alerted port authorities to lock down the area. The fake security personnel team was captured by authorities, but Jeb and Rudi managed to evade capture. Jeb and Rudi eventually seized the oil rig, with Lily being one of the hostages.

Arman's team was recalled from leave and were transported to the rendezvous point at sea via a RMAF C-130 before being picked up by the Scorpène-class submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman. Two additional teams were deployed as back-up to a forward operating base aboard KD Selangor. After a change of plans, Arman's team dived towards the oil rig and secured the top deck to allow reinforcements to be brought in. As Arman and his team travelled through lanes of traps and ambushes, wounding a couple of men and killing one, Arman encounters Jeb with Lily strapped with C4 on her body. Jeb threatens to blow up the entire oil rig if Arman does not put his gun down. When Arman puts his gun down, Jeb knocks Arman down and take out his knife, challenging Arman to see who is the best PASKAL. After a vicious knife fight, Arman managed to subdue Jeb and pushes him off the rail but still grabbed onto Jeb's hand. Refusing to be captured and hating the fact that Arman won the day, Jeb still says that he's still the best and tries to shoot Arman point blank with his pistol. The bullet only scratches Arman's face, but Arman was forced to let go and Jeb fell into the sea, presuming his fate to be death.

Rudi and another pirate attempts to escape by crossing the filipino waters with a boat but was chased with a navy boat. Just before they can cross the filipino waters, they were shot. Their corpse and the boat crossed the filipino waters abandoned.

All the hostages are rescued and brought back to shore, with the wounded sent for treatment. Arman's mother, finally understanding her son's sacrifice, acknowledges him and apologises, saying that his father would be proud if he was alive.

In a ceremony, Arman and his team were awarded honours by the fleet commander. At one point, Arman laments about not knowing the full names of the members who he served with, in which Misi, his chief petty officer, replies that "How many kingdoms know nothing of us?", a direct reference to a quote by Blaise Pascal in a book titled Pensées. Later, as the Fleet Commander brings Arman to a memorial site where his father's name was inscribed, the Commander reveals that Arman's father once served under him and told that his father's duty was a calling from God, in which it will be a sin if there's no one willing to do it.

Cast

Principal cast

A born leader, Arman has the qualities of a true soldier. His late father once served under PASKAL with Commander Maznan and a subordinate of Admiral Kamarulzaman. He is one of the best soldiers in his unit, earning him awards for his basic course.

  • Ammar Alfian as Warrant Officer Class 1 Mohd Zariff bin Zafrudin (Jeb)

A stronger, muscular man who reaps rewards based on his skills. Jeb's erratic and aggressive behaviour was portrayed early in basic training and his jealousy of Arman grew stronger. In a mission in Angola in 2011, his aggressive nature surpassed his rationality, choosing to engage the enemy with a grenade that was tossed back by the enemy, which inevitably killed Joshua. Jeb was dishonourably discharged for killing a prisoner cold-blooded. He blamed the system for "unfairness' and gone rogue. He worked as a mercenary for Rudi.

  • Henley Hii as Lieutenant Joshua Tee Seng Wai (Girang)

Joshua is one of Arman's closest friends. He is married to Lily and had a son. He was unintentionally killed by Jeb during a confrontation in Angola.

  • Taufiq Hanafi as Lieutenant Khairil Fikri bin Abdul Musa (Ustat)

Ustat served as Arman's right-hand man and follows the teachings of Islam to heart.

  • Gambit Saifullah as Petty Officer (Bintara Muda) Adam Ashraf bin Hanafi (Gagak)

Gagak served as the team's designated marksman.

  • Hafizul Kamal as Petty Officer (Bintara Muda) Imran Tamrin bin Radzi (Yan)
  • Theebaan G as Chief Petty Officer (Bintara Kanan) Shailesh Marimuthu (Misi)

An officer who spends his time reading books.

  • Jasmine Suraya Chin as Lily, Joshua's wife.
  • Nam Ron as Commander Mohd Maznan
  • Sherry Aljeffri as Khadijah
  • Amerul Affendi as Rudi Rusli Parjo, a pirate leader involved in the hijacking of MT Orkim Harmony
  • Dato' Sri Eizlan Yusof as Vice Admiral Datuk Ahmad Kamarulzaman
  • Tiger Chen as Sergeant Chen Han, UN China Observer in Angola
  • Sam Loo as Zero, a Malaysian PASKAL commando on Arman's team
  • Lucas Chua as Polar, a Malaysian PASKAL commando on Arman's team and callsign is Bravo One
  • Adi Afendi as Captain Michael of Bunga Laurel II supertanker

Cameo appearances
  • Lieutenant Commander Jason Solomon as Super Lynx Pilot (himself)
  • Steven Yap as Boon, an engineer on the Bunga Laurel
  • Adrian Teh as Captain Stanley, commanding officer of the KD Selangor
  • Keoh Chee Ang as Security Guard
  • Fabian Loo as Wai, Jasmine's friend and co-worker on the oil rig

Production

PASKAL was directed by Adrian Teh.[8] it is based on actual events of the Royal Malaysian Navy's Special Forces Team during the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Angola in 1998, and the successful rescue of seized MV Bunga Laurel's trade vessel in 2011. The cost of filming was about 10 million RM. The shooting was conducted at several locations within and outside of Malaysia, including Lumut, Semporna, and Istanbul, Turkey.

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References
  1. "Most expensive Malaysian movie is set for a Sept 27 opening – Nation | The Star Online". The Star. Malaysia. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  2. "Paskal movie trailer attracted Najib's attention". Kosmo! Online. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. "Paskal action films begin to air today". Kosmo! Online. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. "Record box office numbers prove renewed interest in Malaysian flicks". Star. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  5. "Elite Malaysian military unit gets the spotlight in 'Paskal The Movie'". Star. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  6. "PASKAL Is Hands Down The Most Badass Local Action Movie Of 2018. Here's Why!". Rojak Daily. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  7. "Local films broke the stage 2018". Harian Metro. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  8. "'Paskal The Movie' among my greatest satisfaction: Royal Malaysian Navy chief". New Straits Times. 28 October 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
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