Buffalo Boys (2018) User Reviews

Kurosawa meets Peckinpah

[brucegolightly · 7/10 · 20 May 2019]

I saw strong influences of Kurosawa in this film, with overtones of Peckinpah. The mix works surprisingly well.

Unfortunately the guys in the lead roles were not really up to the task. I realize that as acting styles vary in other countries, but these guys lacked credibility. Perhaps the echoes of Kurosawa had me looking for a Mifune.

The romantic substory seemed extraneous and forced.

Good premise, but kind of mixed results

[Wizard-8 · 6/10 · 23 April 2019]

The idea of this movie - two Indonesian brothers trained in the way of the American cowboy returning to their homeland and using their skills for vengeance - sounded original and offbeat enough that I knew I had to watch the movie when I came across it on Netflix. While I don't regret watching the movie, I feel it could have been a lot better than it actually was. For one thing, despite the premise, there isn't a lot of "cowboy" behavior done by the two lead characters. Also, despite the Indonesian setting, the core elements of the script will come across as exceedingly familiar to those who have seen their share of revenge movies before. It doesn't help that for the most part, the tone of the movie is both very slow and often lacking enough bite. Still, the movie is generally well made for an impossibly low budget, the action (while not constant) is pretty exciting and brutal, and the movie is not dull despite the story being slow and exceedingly familiar. While I am giving this a (marginal) recommendation, I do see that the movie is not for everyone. And the people who would appreciate it would best wait to watch it when they are in a more forgiving mood than usual.

A Good Step For Local Movie Industry

[Waokelah · 6/10 · 24 July 2018]

After months of anticipation and high hopes (partly because of the shiny-looking-trailer), Buffalo Boys proves itself as a worthy new kind of action-tale that sets its foot right to build their own world. Buffalo Boys nailed in taking audiences into the old times, one with leather hats & boots. Having said that, it feels safe, too safe; from a generic villain boss, (two) damsel in distress, to emotionally instructive score (good ones, fortunately) with moments meant to achieve ideas bigger than what its capable to accomplished. Well at least they gives cliche a good name. Good thing that they has its moment-the fight choreography is superb with long duration, cool action scenes, and there are even some excellent explosions. Fun to watch. Don't be too angry if you guys found the drama as "too much". Can't wait to see more from this "world". The job done quite nicely, hopefully some improvements would be made in the next movie.

Good.

[ledhed-14824 · 7/10 · 1 May 2019]

Ok so some of the plot is predictable and I would prefer not to have to read subtitles but this is a very interesting and enjoyable movie. Everyone has an opinion but some of the narrow-minded, ignorant, one star ratings on here are ridiculous. Is it an American movie? No of course not but it is worth watching.

Didn't feel like Indonesian movie!

[viceroy_88 · 7/10 · 3 August 2018]

Well, I'm impressed. Great job to the film makers and everyone involved.

The cinematography, soundtrack, fighting scenes are on Hollywood class. If the actors doesn't speak in Bahasa Indonesia, I wouldn't know that it is an Indonesian movie.

Still, there are a few plot holes, but I'm gonna let it pass :)

Just an OK film

[LoremIpsum321 · 5/10 · 15 April 2019]

The film is not bat, but not particularly good either.

The story is very simple, yet, that's totally alright for a revenge "western". 2 dimensional characters, but well acted and likable good guys. But quite a cliché-ridden script. Fits the genre, tho. The locations are nice, too.

So why not a higher rating?

It's clearly a B- or C-movie. But that's not the point and would've been irrelevant if it weren't for one thing: The action, that's what matters, such films live off it, and in that department it's lacking here, gunfights and martial arts scenes alike.

The fight scenes with their choreography are nothing spectacular, only average at best which is a bummer since Sunny Pang is in the film who did a good job as the villain in Headshot fighting Iko Uwais. Some funny and interesting guns are shown and handled, too bad not more use was made of them. Less irrelevant dialogue and more cannon fooder to dispose of would have been greatly appreciated. The trailer suggests way more action than what's really there.

The usual paid 1-review-only-"fans" can be ignored like the "patriots" trying to boost their countries film industry. Ratings higher than 6 are nonsense and have nothing to do with reality. For the entertainment value I personally got out of it, it's a 5 from me. Nothing terrible, but nothing to watch again, ever.

"...when legends are born, they never die."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 26 May 2020]

The story begins in 1860 California and transitions to Java in the Indonesian Islands some six months later, just long enough to establish that a pair of brothers learned enough cowboy skills in the American West to take on villains in their home country. Traditional shoot 'em ups are interspersed with exciting martial arts choreography, some of which is quite stunning and brutal. A couple of knife throws finding their mark are also well staged and delivered, but for the life of me, I have to wonder why film makers can't get their players to learn the proper technique of shooting a bow and arrow. This is the second film in recent months I've seen in which a character, Kiona (Pevita Pearce), grips the arrow with her fingertips instead of placing the nock of the arrow between index and middle finger. With a very taut bow, one wouldn't be able to pull back on the string with fingertips. A minor nit-pick I know, but it just seems a silly thing to get wrong. That other film by the way, was 1974's "Devil's Possessed".

The villain of the story is a maniacal Dutch landowner (Reinout Bussemaker), with the usual assortment of thugs employed as henchmen. Younger brother Suwo (Yoshi Sudarso) dispatches a couple of those handily in a fierce saloon fight. I have to say, that crazed looking wild woman was my favorite, too bad she had to leave the picture so soon, but she had it coming. That battle resulted in Suwo returning the skull of a dead son back to his grieving elderly mother, a feel good moment for the oppressed citizens of the village.

A minor twist in the story occurs when Uncle Arana (Tio Pakusadewo) reunites with his wife, presumed dead, but forced into servitude by villain Van Trach. Arana finds her beaten and raped by the master, portending an ominous outcome for both sides. I guess one isn't supposed to question how older brother Jamar (Ario Bayu) made a comeback from getting shot three times by Van Trach at the finale, but it just wouldn't do for the pair of heroes to both wind up dead. In keeping with time honored movie Western tradition, the brothers say their final good byes and ride off into the proverbial sunset, but I wonder in this case if it was into the East.

An Honest Review

[generationofswine · 1/10 · 20 June 2019]

The words "Spaghetti Western" come to mind, but then the word "Brusesploitation" and "Hong Kong Action Cinema" the latter of which really should and probably does have a better name.

But then...those movies are all kind of fun. As in cool, hip, action packed, gory, violent, sadistic, nihilistic, and all the best possible things that off-Hollywood has to offer.

Buffalo Boys kind of comes short in the fun department. Here and there you see a little gem of a moment, but that is it.

The plot never gets into the Western depth and the action is never really as fun as what you would expect from a Hong Kong action flick.

In other words, it never goes over the top enough with the action to really make an impact and it never really goes full nihilistic new wave western enough to hit that cord either.

It tries to play it safe and the wow moments it delivers are things that we have seen before in both genres without the fun of being a genre trope.

Hidden gem

[arowlandwilliams · 7/10 · 8 December 2019]

Ok, I found this movie on Netflix a year ago, and it looked really interesting. For a guy who doesn't watch foreign films, this was great! Very engaging (a tad bit corny) story line and cool action scenes. I 100% recommend this movie. You can't go wrong with a good cowboy film

HORRENDOUS!!!!

[adamyancey · 1/10 · 10 March 2019]

Worst Movie I've seen in Many Years! Maybe in a 3rd World Country this is entertaining, but as an avid movie watching American, I feel like my time and money have been wasted. Horribly dialogue, terrible acting, words can not convey how bad this movie is!

Great!

[hasiimas · 8/10 · 20 July 2018]

The story line was strong, all cast was totally great, the set and effects are awesome, and the action and fight is nearly perfect!! Great job! Will wait for the next part.

Singapore produced film with Indonesian leads. Not bad.

[AziziOthmanMY · 3/10 · 13 April 2019]

If you expect action you'll get it in this movie. the storyline ain't that heavy or original but a decent action for ASEAN markets. skip this movie if you don't like indonesian speaking cowboys or don't know where's Indonesia is on a map.

Wow. this was BAD !

[ranleehow · 3/10 · 20 July 2019]

I love westerns, but this was unbearable. Three men just watch as everyone is brutalized, oppressed, raped, killed, beaten, beheaded, hung and tortured. They do everything wrong or just nothing at all. 3/4 of the characters have many chances to end the bad guy yet none even try. Painful to watch. Been watching westerns for over 50 years, this is in my bottom ten. Poor script, poor acting, and predictable.

Generic and predictable

[rwolhar · 1/10 · 20 April 2019]

I was very hopeful for this one....it disappointed. Horrible acting, a weak script , and predictability all had me very very disappointed here. The snails pace to finally build up to the final fight scene seemed to take forever.

Bad turn

[koday-31855 · 3/10 · 3 February 2021]

So a very interesting movie for much of the first half and more, but really? Horrible strategy for a rescue after turning down several chances to kill off the main protagonist (How many times do we have to see this? I've deer hunted for decades and you take the shot the second you have it or you never have it again.). A bunch of peons die because of their bad tactics, but who cares? (Auntie chooses horrible death by fire with her love, although that's a very Eastern theme.) Then brothers inexplicably are choking each other over anger (!?!), instead of revenging and actually planning for once. Big arming up scene. Then the ridiculous face-to-face, 2 against 20, although any opponent would have tactically killed them easily. Lots of killing, no diff than many. Then Glory!, but we've forgotten about the two main bad guys somehow. Heroic finish, could have been better planned to be unavoidable.

This movie could have been decent, better than originally expected, but it was a letdown after all.

Must Watch

[agoessoegiharto · 10/10 · 23 July 2018]

As Indonesian, im tired with dozen Indonesia movie which topic about ghost or sentimental drama. Buffalo Boys give me some refresh, it's offering something new. The most i like in this movie is about action scene and fight. The coboy custom is interesting too, its badass. Im enjoying watched this movie. Its really worth it to watch.

2 stars

[fredjohnson55343 · 2/10 · 18 April 2019]

2 stars. Terrible story-line. Not cohesive, rambling and vile. I also hate reading my movies. What exactly was the point of this movie? Most of the acting was also second rate though I give them 2 stars for trying hard. Oh, and the cowboys in this movie were utter cowards. It was embarrassing watching them.

After Raid like movies?

[prafull-ambekar · 1/10 · 22 February 2019]

Unbelievable and illogical. They just watch all the injustice happening and after killing an extra, leave the bad guys for a final showdown. They saunter into the villain's den as VIP guests and after a few shots fired, they finish all that ammunition they brought to fight of an army. Dead brother comes back to life to save his brother.

WARNING

[tautij · 1/10 · 4 May 2019]

My one star is for the fact that the script had promise, but what transpired was absolute nonsense.

This movie makes you watch 90% of misjustice, executions and killings at the hand of the antagonist and his henchmen. Not to mention the needless killing of bystanders after the point has been made. With that being said... There are scenes of brutality and sexual assault against a woman by this antagonist even all the pre mentioned violence.

The protagonists then meander in the town scoping a way to kill the antagonist. They have no wit, no plan, no idea! The movie built them up at the start to be skillfull fighters... But they are totally amateurish, comical and unconvincing.

You get 10 minutes at the end where the protagonists exact their revenge, by this time I'd lost all hope... And yet after they kill the bad guys... You are left feeling short changed as the way they were killed did not leave you as the watcher satisfied as it was weak and unmemorable.

So many plot holes and over complicated story lines as they were trying to do to much.

In the end, I am thoroughly disappointed as this is two hours of my life I will never ever get again.

I REPEAT... DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND BRAIN SPACE WITH THIS NONESLESS Drivel. Thank me later.

Don't waste your time

[carjack-51900 · 1/10 · 14 April 2019]

This movie is not meant to be watched in America If they would speak English all the time the movie would be great I'm given this movie two thumbs down

ONE OF THE BEST INDONESIAN MOVIE IN 2018

[emir-adenaury · 8/10 · 23 July 2018]

Splendid! The story is great, the actor/actress do a very good job, the visual, the sound effect, everything is great. Well done Mike Wiluan!

This movie combine the history of colonialism in Indonesia and the western cowboys. Although this movie is just a fantasy,the look presented is actually realistic.

Worst movie I've seen

[subkhansarif · 1/10 · 25 November 2019]

It was so bad that I couldn't even stand half of the movie and walked out of the theater. It was boring as hell, the story was floppy with no depth, the pacing was extremely slow, the cgi was cheap.

Vile and Disgusting

[movieed1 · 1/10 · 18 April 2019]

Portrays Indonesian "Cowboys" as wimps. Graphic vile brutality, for the sake of nothing to do with the vague unclear storyline.

Good story but....

[bdfmullins · 5/10 · 3 May 2019]

Netflix said it was in English, but 90% if it was in Javanese with English subtitles. If I wanted to read I would have picked up a book.

Slow

[rynecortez · 1/10 · 11 July 2020]

This movie is so slow. There's hardly any action in this movie.