Seems the cineplexes had second thoughts about Jackass 3D; it only opened in a few theaters in Bangkok. Whew! Close call!
Now playing in Pattaya
Saw 7 3D: (possibly opened yesterday) Canada/ US, Horror/ Mystery – You already know what to expect. Rated R in the US for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and language. Generally unfavorable reviews.
Due Date: (possibly opened yesterday) US, Comedy – A high-strung father-to-be, played by Robert Downey Jr., is forced to hitch a ride with a college slacker (and aspiring actor) on a road trip in order to make it to his child’s birth on time. With Jamie Foxx. Rated R in the US for language, drug use, and sexual content.
The Dog / Ching Mah Terd: Thai, Action/ Comedy – Three would-be hoodlums set out to kidnap a dog famous in their land as a Friendship Mascot, and a rogue gunman sets out after them. Starring heartthrob Mario Maurer, semi-heartthrob “B” Pakorn Chatborirak, and funnyman Kohtee Aramboy. Rated 18+ in Thailand.
RED: US, Action/ Comedy – A delight! I had more fun at this one than any movie in some time. It even made you muse over a few things as you sped along, but not too much and not too deeply. Mostly it’s just glorious nonsense, with actors that you have come to love to watch, doing their stuff. “RED” stands for “Retired, Extremely Dangerous.” Starring Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Karl Urban, and Mary-Louise Parker – a great cast! They used to be the CIA’s top agents - but the secrets they knew now make them the Agency’s top targets for assassination. They Rated this 18+ in Thailand. Mixed or average reviews, but I loved it! Thai-dubbed at Big C.
My Best Bodyguard: Thai, Action/ Thriller – Starring HRH Princess Ubolratana as a dedicated reporter fighting a villainous pharmacy organization that secretly runs an experiment involving a deadly virus which can kill a whole city.
The Back-up Plan: US, Comedy, Romance – Basically those who are expectant mothers should love it, as well as those who expect to be expectant some day. See it if you’re desperate for a middling rom-com. Jennifer Lopez is a pleasure to the eyes. Generally unfavorable reviews. Not at Big C.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (3D): US/ Australia, Animation/ Fantasy – The animation is superb: the textures of the feathers, the motions of the owls, and particularly the expressiveness of the faces and the life in the eyes. Quite marvelous, and with beautifully done voice work by excellent actors. It’s a dark and dense and highly detailed world these owls live in, and it fairly captured me. Some very scary parts, so young children take note! The use of 3D was superb, a new standard, but it’s no longer being shown in 3D here, only in 2D and only at Pattaya Beach. I loved it; mixed or average reviews by others.
Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps: US, Drama – Oliver Stone directs this follow-up to the acclaimed 1987 film – 23 years later. There are some really good turns by a number of people: Michael Douglas, Eli Wallach, Frank Langella, Josh Brolin. Some of their scenes are well done with a lot of intensity in the execution. But without much point or purpose, for me, and it should have been angrier. Mixed or average reviews. Not at Big C. May have already left.
Fan Mai: Thai, Action/ Thriller – Really lots of rain and blood. A girl calls it off with her boyfriend when she finds he’s been seeing someone else – who’s dead. Looks kind of intriguing as well as spooky.
E Hed Sod Pa Ded Suek: Thai, Comedy – Outrageous Thai comedy routines involving a bride who happens to have a penis, and is shown in the trailers raping her bridegroom by riding roughshod over his sensibilities with her inflamed member. Just the usual Thai hijinks. He is later challenged to lead a team to defeat a band of ladyboy terrorists, and they must disguise themselves as ladyboys in order to do the job. It’s noisy trash, to be blunt, but it’s served up with English subtitles for your pleasure at all three locales. Rated 18+ in Thailand.
Grown Ups: US, Comedy – This film, starring Adam Sandler, is a comedy, or so it wishes, about five friends and former teammates who reunite years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. I can’t imagine why anyone would deliberately want to see this picture. It’s pretty ugly, full of pretty ugly Americans, living ugly lives, tearing each other down in typically American ways. Only at Pattaya Beach, if there. Generally unfavorable reviews.
Yai Sang Ma Yai / I Am Grandmother: Thai, Comedy – Undistinguished Thai comedy, in Thai only, only at Big C.
Devil: US, Horror/ Thriller – A group of people trapped in an elevator realize that the devil is among them. Produced by M. Night Shyamalan, which the directors and crew are desperately trying to live down, being that his name, post-Airbender, is as welcome as the devil himself. Mixed or average reviews. At Major only, but may be gone by now.
Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (3D): US/ Australia, Action/ Comedy/ Family – The age-old battle between cats and dogs, in live-action with animated mouths that spout talk that’s meant to be cute. It offers little more than the spectacle of digitally rendered talking animals with celebrity voices, all in 3D – at Pattaya Beach, of course. In 2D elsewhere, and the Big C version is Thai-dubbed. Generally unfavorable reviews.
