Two years in the making, the movie has been touted as Malaysia’s first action-disaster film. Directed by James Lee and Frank See, “Legasi: Bomba the Movie” is part action spectacle, part heartfelt tribute.

It follows Amir (Ben Amir), an elite Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Malaysia (STORM) unit member, who is forced to confront his past and lead his squad when the tallest skyscraper in the capital is engulfed in flames.

The film wastes no time. Its opening sequence is a high-stakes rescue mission on Mount Kinabalu. With storms raging, rocks tumbling, and a desperate leap to a helicopter, the scene is thrillingly executed.

Yet even amidst the chaos, the film underscores one of its key themes: brotherhood. When Eddy (Nas-T), Amir’s superior, insists no one is left behind, it sets the tone for the rest of the story.

Soon after, we meet Jordan (Henley Hii), the only Chinese member of the alpha squad. His initiation is almost playful, a race up the stairs in full gear, hose in hand. But it also provides insight into the camaraderie, and rituals that bind the unit.

At times, the film gives the squad a “Top Gun”-like treatment, with shirtless beach volleyball matches. And yes, if you’ve ever swooned over “abang bomba” at the parade, you’ll be quite pleased watching this movie!

But beneath the light-hearted moments lie heavier layers. The tension between Amir and Jordan simmers, particularly when the squad is deployed to contain a massive blaze at an oil and gas plant in Kuantan.

This sequence, with its large-scale explosions and strategic manoeuvring, almost echoes the real-life Putra Heights pipeline fire earlier this year.

Here the film stresses that firefighting is not simply about brute strength. It’s about planning, coordination and calculated risks.

Tragedy strikes, however, when Eddy, Amir’s closest comrade and brother-in-arms, perishes in the flames. It’s a pivotal moment in the film, plunging Amir into grief and guilt.

Retreating to his hometown, Amir questions his place in the service. His bond with a schoolteacher, and a potential love interest, provides the emotional nudge that draws him back to the squad.

The climax unfolds at the TEXVIN 118 skyscraper, where terrorists plant a bomb, sparking a devastating inferno on the upper floors.

The filmmakers find every way to complicate the mission – power cuts, water shortages, broken lifts and looming explosions – making the firefighters’ rescue efforts feel gruellingly real.

One highlight is a tense sequence where Amir and Jordan save a woman trapped in a lift, a genuinely nail-biting scene.

What sets this film apart is the actors’ intensive training with the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, which lends authenticity to the operations.

The details matter – the struggle of climbing 70 flights of stairs in gear, and even rescuing a suspected terrorist because life, above all, comes first.

While the frequency of so many large-scale disasters happening back-to-back might not be entirely realistic for Malaysia, the film still works. The CGI, while occasionally obvious, isn’t laughable, and was used effectively to heighten tension.

Refreshingly, there’s no over-the-top action hero who single-handedly saves the day. The spotlight stays on teamwork, sacrifice and duty.

The film however missed the chance to deliver a truly powerful emotional punch. The climax, though thrilling, felt resolved a little too quickly, with a large portion of the action centred on just reaching the fire.

What was lacking was the human element. More scenes of the squad interacting with and rescuing civilians first-hand could have amplified the drama and deepened the emotional impact.

Still, if you can look past the occasional cheesy dialogue, the film succeeds in leaving you with a deeper respect for the bomba.

“Legasi: Bomba the Movie” ambitiously reaches for international standards while staying rooted in Malaysian soil.

And as the film itself reminds us, the bomba are always “first in, last out”, a legacy you’ll walk away appreciating even more.

As of press time, ‘Legasi: Bomba the Movie’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.