Now playing in Pattaya
Titanic: US, Adventure/ Drama/ History/ Romance – Still the
one film in town to see. It’s grand entertainment! I’m shocked by the poor
reception it’s gotten in Thailand – seems few people are interested. I’m saying:
If you ever liked it, see it again in its 3D incarnation. You’ll love it. If
you’ve never seen it, now’s your chance. This is made to be seen on a big screen
with a good sound system. And it’s even better in 3D. I can’t encourage you
enough to go see it.
It’s a brilliant reworking of the 1997 film, done under the
fastidious eye of the director James Cameron, who as we know is a stickler for
perfection – or at least as close to perfection as possible. Here, his work is
outstanding. Even the 2D version now is sharpened and cleaned up in a hundred
small ways: little errors fixed, some skies reworked (there are now bright stars
in the sky in the aftermath of the sinking, and the stars have been corrected
after an astronomer pointed out that the wrong stars were shown for that place
on earth), also some anachronisms have been removed. Some of the color has been
changed. The audio has been restored and enhanced. Then the whole film was
scanned digitally, as a necessary step before converting to 3D. The conversion
itself, as I saw for myself, is as good as it gets.
It’s thrilling – much more than I had expected or had hoped
for. I agree with the majority of reviewers who say that, in this very rare
case, the 3D technology improves on what is one of the greatest motion pictures
ever made. Believe me, James Cameron’s epic creation shines, and the picture and
sound conversion is a stunning achievement. And those who are not moved to tears
by the stories shown are those who are determined not to be, who have made that
decision ahead of time.
Generally favorable reviews. All low expectations and doubts
can be thrown overboard. Showing in glorious 3D and sound to match at Pattaya
Beach and Major, sparkling-clear 2D and Thai-dubbed at Big C. At least that’s
the way it was this last Wednesday. (More up to date I cannot be.) See it!
Battleship: US, Action/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – A fleet of ships
is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover
and thwart their destructive goals. It’s based on a game! Hasbro’s classic naval
combat game. Just as the Hasbro game Transformers brought those toys to
the screen, so this time the popular board game is realized onscreen, with hopes
that you will want to see sequel after sequel. Stars Liam Neeson and the star of
John Carter, Taylor Kitsch. Viewers who fancy lots of pyrotechnics will
have their money’s worth here. I understand that the “flying yo-yo” weapons of
the aliens are a must-see, but I wouldn’t know first-hand. I haven’t convinced
myself yet that I want to see it. Early reviews: mixed or average. Not opening
in the US until next month – we’re a test case. There’s a short scene after the
closing credits which bring tidings of the first sequel. It’s a 2D film; at Big
C it’s Thai-dubbed.
Home: Thai, Comedy/ Drama – Here’s a Thai film I’m really
looking forward to. The buzz is decidedly awesome, along the lines of saying it
delves into Thai family relationships as deeply and as movingly as the
director’s worldwide hit, Love of Siam. That director is Chookiat
Sakveerakul, and the three stories that make up this film are located in Chiang
Mai, his home town. Rated 18+ in Thailand – which is a very good sign indeed.
Scheduled to open yesterday.
Wrath of the Titans: US, Action/ Adventure/ Fantasy – Perseus
braves the treacherous underworld to rescue his father, Zeus, captured by his
son, Ares, and brother Hades, who unleash the ancient Titans upon the world. A
sequel to Clash of the Titans. Stars Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, and
Rosamund Pike. Generally unfavorable reviews, mostly saying that its 3D effects
are an improvement over its predecessor’s, but in nearly every other respect,
Wrath of the Titans fails to improve upon the stilted acting, wooden dialogue,
and chaos-driven plot of the franchise’s first installment. Shown in both 3D
(English) and 2D (English) at Pattaya Beach, 2D (English) at Major, and 3D
(Thai-dubbed) at Big C – as of Wednesday.
The Hunger Games: US, Action/ Drama/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – I
found this to be tight, taut, creepy, exciting – and entertaining. And food for
thought. The story: every year in the ruins of what was once North America, the
evil Capitol of the nation of Panem forces each of its twelve districts to send
a teenage boy and girl to compete in the Hunger Games. A twisted punishment for
a past uprising and an ongoing government intimidation tactic, The Hunger Games
are a nationally televised event in which “Tributes” must fight with one another
until one survivor remains. With Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, and Liam
Hemsworth. Generally favorable reviews, saying that it’s thrilling and superbly
acted, capturing the dramatic violence, raw emotion, and ambitious scope of its
source novel. Second film in the series already shooting. A 2D film in English;
not playing at Big C (as of Wednesday).
The Cold Light of Day: US, Action/ Thriller – After his
family is kidnapped during their sailing trip in Spain, a young Wall Street
trader is confronted by the people responsible: intelligence agents looking to
recover a mysterious briefcase. With Henry Cavill, Bruce Willis, and Sigourney
Weaver. This is a 2D film; no reviews yet; won’t open in the US until September
– but the buzz is not good. Thai-dubbed at Big C; English elsewhere.
Ma Mha 2: Thai, Comedy/ Family – A sequel to 2007’s popular
Mid-Road Gang, about a cute pack of soi dogs (if packs of dogs in
Thailand can ever be considered cute). Here, an adorable pooch has been adopted
by a nice family and turns would-be hero when the family baby is kidnapped and
the dog takes it as his duty to catch the kidnappers and return the kid. The
dogs speak, but only in Thai, and without English subtitles; not playing at
Major.
Plon Naya 2: Thai, Action/ Comedy – Poj Arnon at it again,
continuing the farce of his 2004 bank-robbery film Spicy Beauty Queens in
Bangkok. Colorful transgender cabaret dancers robbed a bank to pay for
sex-change operations, and now they’re back so the ringleader can finally get
his change. But before that can happen, the hospital is stormed by a radical
student group. English subtitles at all locations.
