With the upcoming general election that would soon be upon us, remember to register yourself as a voter and do the right thing for the nation. If you don’t, never start complaining about the results because you didn’t uphold your duty as a citizen. At the third quarter of last year, the Electoral Commision found that 14.8 million Malaysians have already registered themselves as voters but more than three million Malaysians who are over 21 years old have not registered. What are you waiting for?
All elections aside, what motivated me to register as a voter is a better future for myself in Malaysia as well as movies that have inspired me. Here’s a look at our top picks of movies that have changed the course of a country and touched our soul.
1. Invictus
This inspiring movie directed by the one and only Clint Eastwood ranked in the hearts of fellow South Africans and the world. With the brilliant performance by Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela made it more believable. Following the fall of apartheid, newly elected President Nelson Mandela faces a South Africa that is racially and economically divided. Believing he can unite his countrymen through the universal language of sport, Mandela joins forces with Francois Pienaar acted by Matt Damon, captain of the rugby team, to rally South Africans behind a bid for the 1995 World Cup Championship.
2. The King’s Speech
The movie that won an award for Best Picture at the Oscar in 2011 and Colin Firth’s best portrayal of England’s Prince Albert that garnered him Best Actor is truly an impactful movie. It centres around the unexpected friendship between Prince Albert and his speech therapist named Lionel Logue who helped him to overcome his stammer and how he uses unconventional means to teach the monarch how to speak with confidence in front of a crowd. This movie gets better when Prince Albert finally gain the confidence to speak eloquently and inspire the people around him to never give up in life.
3. Lincoln
Daniel Day-Lewis brought an impressive and remarkable portrayal of the United States of America’s 16th President, so much so he won Best Actor at the 2013 Oscar Awards. With the nation embroiled in still another year with the high death count of Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln brings the full measure of his passion, humanity and political skill to what would become his defining legacy: to end the war and permanently abolish slavery through the 13th Amendment. His moral fortitude, and courage to follow his heart and not be influenced by the government who oppose him is what makes this Steven Spielberg’s movie a fantastic one.
4. Malcolm X
What can be perfect that Denzel Washington playing a role of one of the most iconic figures of the United States civil rights movement? Malcolm X(1925–1965) was an African-American Muslim minister and human rights, activist. To his admirers, he was a courageous advocate for the rights of blacks, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its crimes against black Americans. Malcolm X the movie is brilliant and has a great storyline of a film that depicts his early childhood to his rise in the country.
5. Independence Day
In the epic adventure film “Independence Day,” strange phenomena surface around the globe. The skies ignite. Terror races through the world’s major cities. As these extraordinary events unfold, it becomes increasingly clear that a force of incredible magnitude has arrived; its mission: total annihilation over the Fourth of July weekend. The last hope to stop the destruction is an unlikely group of people united by fate and unimaginable circumstances. Although this movie was not inspired by true events, the union among civilians to save the country and bring peace to its land is what’s mesmerizing about this film.
However, let’s not forget how Malaysians are always united by the love of sports. Badminton is for sure the number one sports that gets people riled up whenever any of our Malaysian athletes play or the number one “kan-cheong” match between China’s Lin Dan and our very own hero Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
Be sure to catch a biographical film named Lee Chong Wei by Datuk Lee Chong Wei that is out in theatres now. This is a Malaysian biopic film directed by Teng Bee, which depicts the badminton superhero that rose from sheer poverty to become the top badminton player in the world. The film is based on Lee’s 2012 autobiography Dare to Be a Champion. Check the trailer out too! Gave me goosebumps!
Also, remember to register yourself as a voter at your nearest registration counters! Have a great day ahead!