Writer: Pamela June

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Watch this if you liked: "Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam", "Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2"

How far would you go to save someone you love?

This is a question answered by director Shuhaimi Baba's new movie, "Waris Jari Hantu". Ari (Rusdi Ramli) and Tina (Maya Karin) have been best friends since young and their love for each other is a little more than platonic. Ari, however, is offended by the villagers' ridicules of him being a sissy.

Tok Wan (Azean Irdawaty), the custodian of a mystical tiger spirit, is their relative. Both Tok Wan and her mystical tiger protect her family and the village of Merdekar from harm. As she starts to age, Tok Wan begins to search for a female heir to her spiritual powers - someone who will take over her responsibility as protector of the village.

Tina has always been said to be the rightful heir but she is afraid of the great burden. Ari, however, volunteers for the responsibility but Tok Wan says that only females are allowed to become her successor because they don't tend to abandon the village for the city. After leaving for Singapore one day, Ari begins to shun his villagefolk, contacting them only through brief text messages. However, when he returns home one day to meet them, he is faced with the challenge of earning their acceptance of the new 'him'.

The cast from "Pontianak" reunites in this new movie from director Shuhaimi Baba about a folklore from Seremban. This movie does not go full-scale on the folklore and mystical elements but plumps up the plot with humour and drama.

The cast, with all the chemistry they've 'gathered' over the past few movies together, manage to put up a good performance. Rusdi plays his feminine character very well, along with Rashid Salleh (as Tina and Ari's friend, Ah Meng). The character brings laughter making the drama of the story move around him. Check out his walk and actions as it is sure to make you laugh.

Maya plays Tina, the girl who nurtures her love for Ari and longs to marry him. She is able to portray and reflect the emotions with facial expressions that are quite convincing. Azean, who is a new member of the cast, performed so well that she absolutely commands the audience. As Tok Wan, you see her crawling and talking to the mystical tiger. The emotions she portrays through her eyes evokes the spirit of the tiger.

The movie starts off on a humorous note, and later falls into drama, with the mystical elements coming in between. Messages are brought up in the movie, with friendship and family values that will touch the hearts of the audience. It has a plot that moves on nicely, with a twist that will leave audience in shock.

This is a story that will bring you to laughter and tears, both at the same time. A good job by director Shuhaimi Baba.

Cinema Online, 23 September 2008