The Charming of Yogyakarta for International Filmmakers

“Yogyakarta is a volcano, a temple, a shrine and now a place to stay” – The New York Times

Candi Sewu (inside Prambanan Park)  for The Philosophers A.K.A. After the Dark - www.youtube.com

The name of Bali as a world’s class destination is becoming more popular after “Eat,Pray,&Love (2010)” movie success in the box office.  Yeah, in this film, Julia Robert and Javier Bardiem have great acting. The locations for this film are in 3 countries such as Italy (for “Eat”), India (for “Pray”), and Bali – Indonesia (for “Love”). The effects for tourism are WOW, and one of them is more tourists coming to this island until today. But yes, Australian tourists are still number one for international visitors. That makes sense because from Darwin – Australia to Denpasar – Bali is only 3 hours flight. Oh yeah one more, please “Get It Right” if Bali is not a country!. Don’t be a silly person in the digital era like this. 

 

 (www.filmrcithulk.wordpress.com)        

But, did you know if Bali is not the only one island in Indonesia that interested for foreigner filmmakers?. Anaconda 2 : The Curse of Black Orchid (2004), Savages (2012), Java Heat (2013), The Philosophers A.K.A After the Dark (2013), Beyond Skyline (2014 – Post Production), and Blackhat (2015) are just the examples. There are some more but have been flopped in the market, not famous. The titles above are more well-known for the moviegoers. Did you know if three of the films have been taken in Yogyakarta for the locations?. Here the list below is my explanation for some of  the movies above:

-       Java Heat (2013): Mickey Rourke, Kellan Lutz, Ario Bayu, Atiqah Hasiholan, & Rio Dewanto

 

The poster film of Java Heat (Borobudur as the background) - www.margatehousefilms.com 

 

The film was screened at the “Dallas International Film Festival” on April 4, 2013 then at the “Taormina Film Fest” on June 15 – 22. This film got various reviews from www.imdb.com , and for me Java Heat is still worth it to watch. Yogyakarta Special Region (or just “Yogyakarta”) and Central Java Province are the mainly locations for this drama-action-crime-thriller movie. The choices of locations are amazing. 

The locations are in Borobudur (World’s Largest Buddhist Archeological Site since 2012 – Guinness World Record, and one of World Wonders), Candi Sewu (The Biggest Ancient Buddhist Compounds in Indonesia), Keraton Yogyakarta (Yogyakarta Sultanate Palace), Tamansari (Yogyakarta Water Castle) and its underground area, and Malioboro (shopping street).

Kellant Lutz and Borobudur as its background - www.margatehousefilms.com

 

The story is fictive. Why? Never happened bomb case in Yogyakarta!. This is what I don’t like from the film. But, what I love from Java Heat is the screenplay, cinematography, and showing the Javanese traditions such as “Wayang Kulit” (Javanese Shadow Puppet) performance, Javanese “Batik”, and Javanese “Keris” (asymmetric dagger). When Mickey Rourke riding “Andong” (Yogyakarta Traditional Horse Cart) also cool!. I have favorite quotes from the film.

Quote 1:

Jake Wilde (Kellan)        : I flew in last week, and they invited me to this party. It’s informal, when I realized it’s    like Hawaiian shirt party.

Hashim (Ario Bayu)       : Batik. It’s called Batik.

Quote 2:

Jake                                :“Bule”?

Hashim                           : Literally, “stupid white person”. But, it can be a term of endearment.

Quote 3:

Hashim                           : Americans. You are like children. Always think you are “Rambo”.

Jake                                : You know Rambo? “I always thought the mind was the best defense.”

Hashim                           : “Weapon”!

Jake                                :  What?

Hashim                           : “I always thought the mind was the best weapon”.

Jake                                : See? That’s why we make a good team.

-       The Philosophers A.K.A After the Dark (2013): James D’Arcy, Sophie Lowe, & Bonnie Wright

 

 Prambanan, one of the settings for "After the Dark" - www.pinterest.com 
 

This science fiction psychological apocalyptic thriller film had awesome cinematography, very good complicated and unpredictable story, and got better critics from www.imdb.com then also www.rottentomatoes.com . The film premiered in competition at Neuchatel International Fantastic Film Festival on 7 July 2013, and at Fantasy Filmfest on 21 August 2013. Then, finally has been released on February 7, 2014 in the United States, after the film changing the title from “The Philosophers” to “After the Dark. 

 

The poster film of "After the Dark" and Sewu Temple as its background - www.wikipedia.com 

The locations are in the different places in Indonesia like in Jakarta, Yogyakarta (Prambanan), Candi Sewu (Central Java Province), Bromo (East Java Province), and Belitung Island (nears Sumatera). I love the story and the cinematography. The film is showing the spectacular destinations in Java Island. Superb!. Thank you very much John Huddles!. Don’t worry, Bromo is fine even elementary school students can enjoy the view. Eruption in the film is just CGI, of course!.

Favorite Quote:

Georgina (Bonnie Wright)         : What we will do in Prambanan?

Mr.Zimit (James D’Arcy)           : Field trip.

-       Beyond Skyline (Upcoming in 2017): Frank Grillo, Bojana Novakovic, Iko Uwais, & Yayan Ruhian

 

 The Poster film of "Beyond Skyline" and Prambanan as its background, & the poster of the first film - www.teaser-trailer.com 

This is American science fiction action thriller film about alien invasion in Asia (especially Indonesia), and the second film after “Skyline (2010)”. The first film is taken in the US, got not good critics but box office in the worldwide!. Now, for the second film is located in Indonesia like in Yogyakarta (Candi Sewu, Sri Gethuk Waterfall) and Batam Island. There are two Indonesian martial artists here, Iko Uwais and Yayan Ruhian from “Merantau”, “The Raid” and “The Raid 2 : Berandal”. Beyond Skyline needs long post production because the CGI is more complicated than the first film. Be patient!.    

 Sri Gethuk Waterfall, Yogyakarta, Java Island, Indonesia

-       Savages (2012):Taylor Kitsch,Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Salma Hayek,Benicio Del Toro

The poster film of "Savages" - www.uphe.com 

This American crime thriller film is really “dark”. Some scenes are really “breathtaking” and “messy”. It is very good action film, very good story, twist ending, and unpredictable plot. Mainly the location is taken in America and a little bit in Moyo Island, Indonesia (eastern Indonesia). You don’t know Moyo Island? Come on! You only know Bali?. Google guys!.

Favorite Quote :

Taylor                 : After we’ve done, let’s take vacation to Indonesia.

Blake                  : Indonesia? Wow. More than 10.000 islands, something? 

Pulau Moyo (Moyo Island),Indonesia - www.dutapulauseribu.com

And this is just information for you my friends. There will be more foreign filmmakers will come to Yogyakarta. Why? Did you know if Yogyakarta is the heart of Java? Even “The Huffington Post” and “The New York Times” have been wrote nice things about my city. Please read my last article about Yogyakarta, “Why Yogyakarta is Special for your Trip?”. For tourism destination, Indonesia is not only Bali. Go to Moyo Island! Go to Yogyakarta! Go to Borobudur!. Go to Sumatera, Kalimantan A.K.A. Borneo, Sulawesi A.K.A Celebes, Maluku A.K.A Moluccas, Lombok, Flores, Raja Ampat, and Komodo Island. Just pack & go!. Go..go..go!.