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A picture of contemporary Indonesia through the eyes of two generations. The father, generation of pejuang (what’s the term? hero? warrior?), fought the Dutch colonialist to defend the new born Indonesia. The son, part of Gen-X, smart and successful, struggling to conquer today’s hardest and meanest battlefield: Jakarta. From their eyes we see the success story of economic development—tall buildings, real estate and new factory that provides jobs for the unemployed. We also see what’s behind it—slum, worn off nationalism morality value, compromised law and how the marginal class is eradicated in the dog eat dog world.

Yes, I’m talking about Nagabonar Jadi 2, the sequel of 1986’s Nagabonar which was written by the late Asrul Sani and directed by M.T. Risyaf. Deddy Mizwar who originally acted as the ex-pickpocket-then-general Nagabonar, now not only take the role of the old Nagabonar but also write the story (with scriptwriter Musfar Yasin) and direct the movie. Bonaga, the-British-graduate-with-Batak-dialect son is performed by Tora Sudiro, which is accompanied by best friends cum business partners Pomo (Darius Sinathrya), Ronny (Uli Herdinansyah) and Jaki (Michael Mulyardo), and the gorgeous Monita (Wulan Guritno).

Bonaga, a successful businessman, wanted to sell Nagabonar’s palm tree plantation to make a resort. He asked help and advice from his friends to convince his father, because on the plantation lays the tombs of Nagabonar’s beloved: his mother, his wife Kirana (Bonaga’s mother) and his best friend Bujang. The movie flows as the father-son conflict is built with fresh comedy, smart satire and love story.

It’s hard for me not to salute this movie as a successful sequel, but I’m actually agree with Riri Riza that this movie stands of its own and raise a different issue. Apart from that, it’s a neatly packed movie. Great story. Clever visualization (kudos for every parallel scene of Nagabonar and Bonaga). Great ensemble, especially Deddy Mizwar. Does anyone take notice of the unusual mouth expression? That’s probably the thing that connect me to the 1986’s movie, beside the appearance of Maryam (Nagabonar’s former rival performed by Nico Pelamonia) and the repetitious “Apa kata dunia!”

The only annoyance for me probably the dragging last quarter of the movie, when Bonaga come back and forth with his decision. It’s probably to give room for the abundant messages. The explicit picture nationalism for example. But as Sinema Indonesia said, "Walaupun penonton tidak harus setuju dengan pendapatnya, tapi dengan film dengan kualitas seperti ini, siapapun filmmakernya layak untuk didengar." Oh, and the ending, what with Indra Birowo meet Tora Sudiro, become too Extravaganza’s suasana menjadi kacau kinda like.

Anyway, it’s a movie that made me think and laugh and cry. And speechless.