What I loved most: Actors (excluding May and Choy

What I really hated: Storyline, Direction

I am an avid movie goer and this is one of the worst I have seen. The story had failed to move me, and had instead confounded me with its gratuitous over- the-top dramatisation of getai life, distasteful humour (most of the time), and confused blend of different genres of comedy, drama and musical. It just feels like an unsuccessful Moulin Rouge-wannabe set in a local context. Please watch it if you want to feel turned off.

What I loved most: The scriptwriting

What I really hated: Could be a little corny

881 caught me by surprise - albeit a little corny, it was entertaining whilst retaining a strong local flavor. A good looking cast and superb directorship. Catch it if you can. It's totally worth your time and dollar.

What I loved most: Great catchy music, good acting and colourful visuals.

I went ahead to watch this film despite my friends telling me that it’s not good. I’m glad I didn’t really listen to them. 881 is great! Royston Tan weaves a touching story together with catchy getai (歌台) music into another great piece of work. I’m sure many will love: 一人一半 , a sentimental song about love and sharing which will no doubt linger in your ears as you leave the theatre. This is the first Hokkien musical that I have watched on celluloid. In fact, is there any other? For those who have watched musicals mainly in English and Mandarin, this will be a totally new experience! The tale is made playful on purpose, with a zany, whacky humour true to the spirit and flavour of real ‘getais’. Together with the loud, colourful costumes, catchy songs and a liberal use of colloquial Hokkien, Royston has successfully recreated the atmosphere that you see around the 7th lunar month, also known to the Chinese as the Hungry Ghosts Festival. The two sisters, comically named, “Big papaya” (played by Yeo Yann Yann), and “Small papaya’ (played by Mindee Ong) were more like “Ah Lians”, though without the usual stereotyping. These two female leads were excellent in their portrayal of little girls with their dreams and aspirations, and the strong love that binds them together. The other memorable character will be “Auntie Ling”, played by Liu Ling Ling, a veteran getai singer in real life. She amazes me for a first-time actress, who played her role with such gusto and ease, that I actually thought she was a professional. Auntie Ling’s son, Guan Yin is played by Qi Yu Wu, a new face to some. He plays almost a ‘him-bo’ role, as he hardly utters a word in the entire film. Though I feel there is a reason why Royston has made Guan Yin silent throughout the movie. Guan Yin is actually the narrator of the story from the start, providing a third party perspective as a simple guy in love with the sisters. I feel Guan Yin’s silence does have a purpose. Watching the movie, Guan Yin’s silence contrasted markedly against the female leads’ singing - from the colourful papaya sisters to the loud Auntie Ling – the focus on the women, their dreams and hopes and the vulnerabilities were made more evident. Moreover, all these three women were fiercely independent without the men in their lives - Auntie Ling’s husband had died; Little Papaya is an orphan who had lost both her parents to disease. Big Papaya was ostracized by her parents due to her love for getai. A quiet male character, like Guan Yin accentuated these underlying contrasts. Further, Guan Yin’s silent support for the girls, seen in the quiet actions he took, speak louder than words. After all, many Asian men will agree (and their girlfriends and wives too), we hardly speak enough to our girls. We try to let our actions show. The final act was particularly touching as the sisters embraced in a final song -Little Papaya lay dying in Big Papaya’s embrace - A little melodramatic perhaps, but life can be a melodrama. I left the theatre, wondering to myself, will I have someone I love holding me till my last breath. With so many of us chasing our 5’C’, our material dreams, will we be really happy in our final moments? As our breathing fades, and the cold sets in, can fat bank accounts or BMWs comfort us; give us warmth like the embrace of someone you love? I left the theatre deeply moved. 881 is a simple story about common people reaching out towards their dreams, and the love that binds them together. It also showcases the uniqueness of our culture, our language with all its subtleties and warts too, making it real and accessible to many. If you haven’t watched 881 because of some dumb comments from others, give it a chance, go catch it!

What I loved most: The story behind the glory

By and large, it should be Royston Tan's first few commercialised movies ever. The story of the two sisters have depicted their faith in fulfilling their dreams, no doubt there are numerous obstacles along the way but hey overcome it all to achieve what they have always wanted. It is a beautiful piece of work that depicts the usual singaporeans you see sitting by the coffee shops chatting with the friends in hokkien, not to mention it demonstrated what the Ghost month (lunar 7th Month) is like in Sunny Singapore. The scenes whereby the singers and audience being uncouth is demonstrated in a manner careful enough to not offend. A perfect movie for the locals. It is all about the typical chinese culture that is slowly dying to westernization. A nice reminder of the interesting past that our parents and grandparents have gone through. Catch it before it is gone.