McDull: Rise of the Rice Cooker (2016)

This is the seventh installment of the McDull movies.

Last time in McDull: Me and My Mum (2014), McDull grew up and became a detective. In this movie, McDull is still a primary school kid in a parallel universe.

The mood of the movie is nostalgic. The story is about how people in a small town react to a global threat: a green alien monster which destroys the world. It reminds me of 20th Century Boys (2008).

The McDull series used to localize the protagonists in Hong Kong. But in this movie, Hong Kong is never mentioned. Probably because the producers want to market the movie to a broader market. The small town actually looks like a village by the sea in Greek. Most of the screen time happens in U.S.A., e.g. the destruction of a city, the robot marathon, and the final battle with the monster, etc. 

The old familiar characters are gone. No more McMug, Darby, May, June, Goosie, Fai. But there's a new character called April.

An interesting point to note is the subtle LGBT message embedded in the movie. It all came to me when I saw the rainbow-colored parachute. In addition, how the Rice Cooker Robot defeats the monster is very controversial. It makes it "comfortable" and the monster determines to take the Rice Cooker Robot with him to its planet. But the "massage" sequence is very hardcore. I don't think children understands it but this sequence is inappropriate for them. Moreover, there's a sequence in which McDull insists on wearing cosplay dress and a wig (Sailor Moon) to wander in the city. It can only be interpreted as a LGBT message or it is a completely meaningless sequence.

In my opinion, McDull movies usually have deeper meanings for adults. Sometimes the ending is dark. Therefore, it is not recommended to bring children to the cinema as some children became upset in the middle of the movie and their parents were busy consoling them and missed the resolution of the story. A movie isn't complete without a resolution. So never bring children to a cinema who are not mature enough to stay calm until the every end of the movie.

McDull: Me & My Mum (2014) & Doctor Who Series 8 Episode 11 & 12

McDull, Me & My Mum Trailer


Doctor Who Extra - Series 8 Episode 11 - Dark Water


Two unlikely movie / TV show being compared as they both share a theme on death.

First, I'm going to talk about McDull: Me & My Mum. McDull is not a bright kid but he eventually grows up as a brilliant detective "Bobby Mak".  The story is about McDull telling his story of his childhood, his relationship with his mother and how he becomes Bobby Mak.

McDull has a close relationship with his mother. Even though they were very poor, his mother always tried to provide with hin the best and she always made good excuses to make McDull feel better about life.  After his mother passed away, McDull ranaway until one day, he suddenly discovered his talents, after all these years being "dumb".

The theme of appreciating the love of our parents is very touching. I think McDull found it regretful that he didn't stay with his mother but ran away to be a sailor on her last few years. It also reminds us on how we should treasure our time with our  parents.

The second material I want to talk about is the two-part finale of Doctor Who Series 8.  It is surprising that Dark Waters starts with Danny Pink being dead. It makes Clara go crazy and she takes it out on the Twelve Doctor.

When Clara found Danny, he has already been turned to a half-zombie half-cyberman. It's a dilemma for her to decide whether to cut off his emotions by activating the cyberman emotions inhibitor. It's becasue Danny says that the emotions of remembering Clara hurts him so much.

The most disturbing part of the story is that the TV noise we heard is deciphered as "Don't cremate me! X3". So scary!!!!!!!!!!! There is afterlife and the soul is still connected with the body on earth and would feel the cold and pain and even the burning. That's horrible news about afterlife. Those with skeletons preserved will resurrect and rise again as cyberman.

So it is said that the egyptians preserved their bodies for resurrection. If the majority of Hong Kong people will most likely be cremated one day as tombs are in shortage in Hong Kong, will they not be able to resurrect?