So much average

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Frankly speaking I watched this movie long ago when I was in my adolescence year. But even as a green movie goer, I can enjoy and appreciate this award winning movie (yes it won 6 "Citra" awards ; Indonesia's award for local film industry ; including Best Actor, Best Movie of the Year and Best Supporting Actress in 1987). Nagabonar's setting background is a village in North Sumatera (Indonesia) after Japanese troop's withdrawal era in 1945's. At first, Nagabonar (Deddy Mizwar) was just a pickpocket ; a country-bumpkin boy who took advantage of the chaotic situation of after war period in Indonesia by appointing himself a general in his village. He indulged himself in his power and new position ; living more luxuriously and having his friends as his subordinates. One of the most funniest moments in this movie is when he randomly promoted and demoted his friends in various army titles in just one day. He also fell in love with Kirana (Nurul Arifin) ; a doctor's daughter (CMIIW). But being a fake general did not mean that Nagabonar didn't take his role seriously as a leader. In time his experiences and various dramatic events in his life gradually changed him to be grown up,responsible and respectable man. He became a true soldier leading his troops battling against the foreign forces who tried to take over their area. (And won Kirana's heart). Drama and comedy blend perfectly in this movie. In my experience the awarded movies have the tendencies to be boring ; but not this movie. Deddy Mizwar's act was brilliant. Nagabonar's character is interpreted so well that I doubt another actor can replay this character better should a director decide to remake this movie. Two thumbs up for the movie writer too! I never thought that a story with a war setting and a little of ethnic differences' touch could be turned into such a great movie. In my opinion, this is one of the must-see Indonesian movies.