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Year 2009
Year: 2009
Thai title: รถไฟฟ้า..มาหานะเธอ
English title: Bangkok Traffic Love Story
Rating: 4/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress: Sirin Horwang
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Young Bangkokian woman Li is almost thirty years old and still single. She is coming from a local Thai Chinese family. They are involved in the trading. Her father is ultra protective. Her grant-mother only speaks Chinese. All her friends are now married. She often indulges in alcohols to forget her loneliness. Ped, her best friend, just gets married. That night she drinks too much again and has a slight car accident. She meets a young man called Lung for the first time. He helps her to start again her damaged car. Her father confiscated her car because it is severely damaged as she was drunk. She has to take Bangkok public transport (boat, motorbike taxi...) to reach office as taxicab is too expensive. She meets Lung again when she takes the Bangkok Skytrain. He works in Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) company at night time. She sells solar cells at daytime and has a crazy Japanese boss. Her parents still try to do the matchmakers and present her a young immature guy called Chai. During Songkran holidays her parents are going to China as usual but she is not willing to go. She tries anything to be in touch with Lung and to raise his interest. She is a a blundering lady and breaks his glasses, laptop and then his digital camera. She tries to find ways to get his mobile number. He finally invites her for Songkran festival to play water games. When a love story could really start, Li discovers that Lung is granted to study two years in Germany so he has to leave after Songkran festival. They separate as good friends. The movie ends up happily as they meet again two years later in the skytrain. Li is now working at night time as stock trader with US market. Lung invites her for the coming Songkran festival. This movie celebrates the ten years anniversary of Bangkok Mass Transit System (BTS) company. The Bangkok Skytrain was opened on December 1999. This movie highlights modern ways for ladies to seduce men, i.e. give her phone number, invite to go out, be a gik (กิ๊ก)... It is in opposition between traditional way and modern way to meet a husband. Nevertheless Li's mother forgets all her principles as her daughter couldn't find a mate. The romantic comedy "Bangkok Traffic Love Story" was the biggest success at 2009 Thai box office with 150 million baht. Cris Horwang was named 2009 best actress by the Bangkok Critics Assembly Awards. The movie also criticizes Thai popular Mass media.
Year: 2009
Thai title: หนีตามกาลิเลโอ
English title: Dear Galileo
Rating: 3/5
Director:
Main actor: Ray McDonald
Main actress:
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Two young Thai women, Cherry and Noon, decide to go to London to change their life. They stop studying for one year in order to earn money. They enter with tourist visa and then become illegal resident when their visa expire. They are looking for work in Thai restaurants. Working conditions are difficult as police officers are looking for illegal workers. They discover the harsh reality of working environment (one is fired for arguing with a customer (เถียงลูกค้า), one is fired for being late to work). They befriend with a Thai cook, who, fed up with this illegal life, is finally caught by the police and deported. The two young women decide to go to Paris. They find a new job in a Thai restaurant. Their friendship starts to have trouble as they have often verbal arguments. Noon feels lost in France as she doesn't speak French. Noon meets a young man called Sisit. Sisit is living in an international artistic community in an old manufacturing building with no water and no electricity. The movie gives a bad image of French pharmacy as Cherry cannot get medicine to cure Noon as she has no official prescription. A romance starts between Sisit and Noon. Cherry wishes to do another job. They perform Thai traditional dances (รำไทย) in restaurant. She meets an old friend and is ahasmed as all her schoolmates have found good job. Cherry has skills in design but she stopped her studies. Sisit asks her to resume her studies. There is an analogy with Galileo, who was right (the Earth is not the center of the universe) and Cherry, who is wrong to have stopped studying. Strong foundations are needed to make a good building. Strong studies are needed to make a good adult. Cherry finds a job thanks to a director from Milano. Both friends go to Italy and reach Venezia. They find a job in pizzeria. Noon is arrested by the police as she was cheating on the food given to customers following an idea from Cherry. Noon is sent back to Thailand. Cherry feels lonely and sorry to have caused troubles to her friend. They promise to meet each other at Pisa tower and go to Paris again. This movie highlights friendship, family links, importance of studies, efforts needed to reach goals and encouragement to discover the world outside Thailand.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ปายอินเลิฟ
English title: Pai in love
Rating: 3/5
Director: Thanit Jitnukul,Prachya Pinkaew,Bongkoj Kongmalai
Main actor: Ray McDonald
Main actress: Supaksorn Chaimongkol
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Paris and Venise are well known to be romantic cities. Is Pai going to be the next romantic city? A group of teens come to Pai to shoot a movie. The young director has many original ideas about love stories in Pai and try to include touching moments. The six small stories are mainly based on succinct and brief unexpected encounters which generate love. The six stories are shot by different directors including Thanit Jitnukul, Bongkoj Kongmalai and Prachya Pinkaew. One story is about a young lady, fed up with her life on Bangkok. She notices some unread postcards in neighbour's letter box. She reads them. It is related to a man writing news about his small business in Pai to his old girlfriend. This one is not interested by the postcards anymore so the young lady decides to go to Pai. In another story, it is discovered that Koi, owner of the shop selling the postcards, writes the letter for the young man as he doesn't know how to write romantic letters. Love finally emerges between Koi and the young man. Prachya Pinkaew's short story is about a man waiting along the road and seeing life events near him. He is located at Pai's mileage stone 0 km (ปาย 0 km). Nice moments happen until it is finally discovered that the man is the spirit (เจ้าที่) of the mileage stone! Bongkoj Kongmalai's short story is about a Bangkokian backpacker coming to Pai to relax. He meets a nice girl who has just been dumped. Unfortunately he needs to go back to Bangkok. Another story if about a man, who needs to marry a young woman, living in Pai, only to share a plot of land. Once they divorce they can sell the land to a multinational corporation willing to build an hotel. As love emerges, they don't divorce and keep the land. The unity of the six stories is sometimes discutable.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ความจำสั้น แต่รักฉันยาว
English title: Best of times
Rating: 3/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress:
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Two close male friends, Keng and Ong, are partying and celebrating the end of their studies. Eight years have passed. Keng has become a veterinarian. Ong was married to Fai but there was no love from Ong anymore so they have divorced. When he was a student, Keng loved Fai but Ong was the first to seduce Fai. Keng and Ong are condemned to community service works following a drinking driving sentencing. Fai loves dogs so she still meets Keng very often. Keng meets a couple of elderly people, who try to have a romance despite the son's opposition. Keng still loves Fai but he is too shy to say it. Fai knows it but her heart is still split with Ong, her former husband. Keng helps the elderly couple to live their romance through teaching them MSN chat. They go together to Chumphon. If they can live their love story, why can't Keng succeed with Fai? The grandma's son is very worried about his mother so he wishes to call the police. To help them, Keng needs to lie that he is the one having organized the trip to Chumphon and that he will meet them there. So he needs to go there and finally Fai goes also with him. Grandma has to go to America to live with her son but she doesn't want to go there. She asks to stay. Uncle Chamat compares love with the tree inside his garden (ไม่ยอมตาย), which still survived after a typhoon. Fai cannot forget easily. She still hopes that Ong will come back but Ong is going to marry again (ผมอยากได้เมียไม่ใช่เพื่อน). The grandma finally tells to her son she wants to stay in Thailand. It is discovered that the uncle Chamat has Alzheimer disease. Fai and Keng move his favorite tree from Chumphon to Bangkok so that he can be close to his roots. Despite root transplantation to somewhere else, the tree can still blossom again when love is here. Fai and Keng can now live their own love story (รักใหม่กับคนเดิม). The movie title “ความจำสั้น แต่รักฉันยาว” means Short memory but long love. There is an analogy between the young couple (Keng still loves Fai after those years) and the elderly couple (Uncle Chamat loses memory due to Alzhaimer decease but love is still here).
Year: 2009
Thai title: ก่อนรัก หมุนรอบตัวเรา
English title: Before Valentine
Rating: 3/5
Director:
Main actor: Jaturong Mokjok
Main actress:
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Valentine day is coming soon. This movie deals about how love changes over the years. It deals with four couples. One teen couple is having a first puppy love and have difficulty to admit their love. One thirty years old couple is having their first major crisis. The couple partners have some questions regarding children raising, regarding physical aspect change, regarding saying things frankly (ไม่เห็นความดี), regarding lack of romanticism. The third couple is a mature couple around forty five years old, in which love has disappeared. The lady has still a romantic mind but not the husband so they often quarrel. The husband starts watching closely a younger woman (สาวสวยร้านเน็ตคาเฟ่). The fourth couple is having strong misunderstandings. How are they all going to spend their valentine day? The movie is quite well filmed featuring devil inside concept when people dream and live fictive events at the same time. It is a good feeling movie with modern Thai music. The four couples are facing crisis due to jealousy and are on the verge to break up. But Valentine day is making miracles thanks to a wedding promise, a forgiving, some old souvenirs and roses (แค่นี้ก็พ่อแล้ว). Finally all couples stay together with renewed love and happy relationship.
Year: 2009
Thai title: รักที่รอคอย
English title: October Sonata
Rating: 5/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress:
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In 2513 (1970) famous Thai actor Mitr Chaibancha dies. Saddened by this tragic event, young lady Pleun is hit by a car. The car owner, a young man called Rawee, brings her to Chonburi (Hin Hoi) as she wants to see where Mitr Chaibancha had his fatal accident. As Rawee's friend is out of town, they have to go to resort hotel. They appreciate each other and Rawee reads for her some pages extracted from Sri Burapha's novel "Songkram Chiwit" (สงครามชีวิต). It is a story of tragic romance and class conflict. Tomorrow Rawee will go studying outside Thailand for two years. In the next morning, he goes away and leaves the novel for Pleun. They promised to see each other on 8 October (8 ตุลา) in two years. Pleun decides to go to study at night time as she doesn't know how to read. She wishes to be able to read the novel Rawee gave her. She is working as sewer at daytime. A student, named Nim, likes her a lot. Pleun is accepted as tailor student thanks to her friend recommendation. She decides to change her name as Saen Chan same as the leading character from the book. She wait for Rawee's return. Two years passed. On 8 October 2515, she is waiting at the hotel. Rawee doesn't come. Nim is going to open his own shop and asks Saen Chan for wedding. She refuses as she is still hoping for Rawee return. She quits her hi-so mean boss (ใจด่า), who didn't give her any salary for two years. On 8 October 2516 Saen Chan comes again to the hotel. But only Nim is coming. She finally accepts to marry Nim and works now with him. On 8 October 2517 Saen Chan comes again. Rawee is here this time. He was in prison due to student protests (Violence broke out when students took to the streets demanding the military government to step down). Love happens again. This time she is one to leave and write a message. She is married to Nim but she doesn't love him. Nim starts to drink alcohol as he knows his wife doesn't love him. On 8 October 2518 Saen Chan goes to hotel again. Rawee is now a teacher for fishermen children. Saen Chan cannot make love with him because she is still married. She wishes to die. She leaves her home and start to write a book. On 2519 a violent crackdown on students and protestors occurred led by Thai military. She doesn't meet Rawee that year. His school is closed as he is labeled as a communist. On 8 October 2520 the hotel is now closed. On 8 October 2522 Nim is waiting at the bungalow and asks her to come back with him. Nim is a nice guy but she doesn't love him. He rapes her. On 8 October 2523 a governmental amnesty for former CPT members allows them to come back into society. Rawee can leave his forest refuge. Rawee finds Nim, who is now married and has a child. Nobody knows where is Saen Chan. Rawee stays in the bungalow waiting for Saen Chan. He has malaria sickness. On 8 October 2524 she comes back but finally leaves as she is afraid of a bad trick from Nim again. Three years passed. On 8 October 2527 Nim is here again. Rawee has died but gave a book for Nim to edit their story. This movie features a nice restitution of 1970 atmosphere and mixes a tragic failed love story with the two major historical events in 1973 and 1976.
Year: 2009
Thai title: นางไม้
English title: Nymph
Rating: 4/5
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Main actor: Nopachai Chaiyanam
Main actress:
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According to Thai animist beliefs, นางไม้ or "NANG MAI" is a female spirit inhabiting a tree. The movie starts with two men chasing a woman in a jungle. The camera wanders in the jungle. Only screams from the lady can be heard. Then no sound anymore. The camera continues to wander in the jungle then reaches a waterfall where the two men corpses are floating in a pond. Nok and Mae are married since a few years. Their wedding is slowing down. They go in the jungle a few days for camping. Nok is only interested in photographing trees. He finds a specific tree and starts to caress it. Mae also wanders on her side. Nok seems to be troubled as he even lost his glasses found by Mae in the jungle. One night her husband disappears. She goes to see the national park rangers. They have no explanations on the disappearance as normally beasts don't attack humans. As she wishes to stay one more night in the jungle, a ranger gives her sacred Buddha amulets for protection. She keeps calling him on mobile phone and hears weird sounds. While searching at night time, she finds one of his slippers. She collapses and is found by the rangers at morning time. Mae's boss, Korn, arrives and brings back Mae to Bangkok. They had an affair. The same evening Korn talks to his wife Noi to announce he breaks up. But Nok miraculously comes home also. He now behaves strangely, buy many trees and immaculate Mae with soil. Mae is not in hurry anymore to break up with Nok. There is a mix between Nok and Korn presence in Mae's home. Was Nok really back? She goes back to the forest to try to cut the tree. The end is resolved by the affair between Mae and Korn ending for good as requested by the spirit. Nok goes back to the forest to stay with the spirit. This movie is about about couple relationship. Nymph movie was screened in the 'Un Certain Regard' section, a category reserved for daring or unconventional works.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ฝันโคตรโคตร
English title: Dreamaholic
Rating: 2/5
Director: Ping Lumpraploeng
Main actor: Ping Lumpraploeng
Main actress:
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A street spectacle humorist (Dang), is chased by a rich and young film star (ดารา) coming to his home in Mercedes SL. Her name is Ple and she likes older men. Getting interest from Ple is like a dream for Dang as he has been single since his wife died 10 years ago. He tries to abuse from the situation. Meanwhile the reality is mixed with his own dreams. In his dreams, he is a film star. He is navigating between dream and reality not knowing which one is true. Dang behaves badly in his dreams when he is a film star. This romantic comedy highlights that we should take the chance before time is over. Ping Lumpraploeng's previous movie was Loveaholic (โคตรรักเอ็งเลย). It is famous for for having spectators laughing and crying at the same time. Ping Lumpraploeng tries a similar formula with Dreamaholic with moderate success.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ก้านกล้วย 2
English title: Khan Kluay 2
Rating: 4/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress:
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This movie is computerized cartoon taking place during Ayutthaya period when war with Burma was frequent. Khan Kluay is a strong young elephant. His wife Chaba Kaew is pregnant but Khan Kluay has no time for her as he trains other elephants to be elephants warriors. Chaba Kaew decides to go back to her village to deliver. She complains to Khan Kluay but Khan Kluay's mother highlights that Khan Kluay's duty (หน้าที่) to nation shall come first. The mother takes care of her. Chaba Kaew delivers two beautiful twins. Meanwhile Burmese troops use black magic to fortify their elephants. Burmese troops ransack the village where Chaba Kaew is staying. Khan Kluay's mother dies while protecting the twins. Chaba Kaew and the children are deported to Burma. Knowing this, Khan Kluay deserts to look for his wife and children. Khan Kluay is captured by Burmese troops and brought to their palace. A Thai princess is also held hostage there. She helps to organise the resistance to help the elephants but she cannot join as her son is also taken in hostage by the king of Hongsawadee. A Burmese sorcerer prepares a ceremony for a new attack on Ayuthaya. Twins elephants shall be sacrified. Through a Nai Khanom Tom (มวยไทย นายขนมต้ม) allegory, Khan Kluay succeeds to defeat the elephants leader and prevent his twins to be sacrified on the pyre. Finally the Thai soldiers imprisoned in Hongsawadee palace and all the elephants succeed to flee. Khan Kluay is accused as deserter. As Khan Kluay helps the Thai king to defeat the Burmese zombies soldiers and the sorcered, he is graced. This nationalist cartoon puts in stress family values (We are a family, parents' sacrifice for children) and the duty to the nation (being a soldier, allegiance to the Thai King).
Year: 2009
Thai title: เฉือน
English title: Slice
Rating: 5/5
Director: Kongkiat Khomsiri
Main actor: Chatchai Plengpanich
Main actress:
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A foreigner, taking a young boy to his hotel room, is mysteriously killed by a man wearing a red cape. The body is found in a red suitcase. Police is investigating. Noi is a young beautiful lady. Her boyfriend, Tai, is in jail. Tai sometimes kills people in the jail compound to get money to support Noi. A second murder involves a middle age man bringing an university student at his home. The corpse is put in a red suitcase again. The police has no clues to progress. According to a psychanalist who did interview Tai, Tai seems to be linked to the mysterious murderer. Pa, a policeman, proposes an agreement to Tai, i.e. an earlier release versus the help to catch the murderer. It seems that the murders are linked to people having perverse behavior only. The killer then goes into a gay club and performs a killing rampage. Tai and Pa have a weird relationship. Tai was an undercover cop used by Pa to perform bad and unofficial tasks. A last task turned bad and Tai ended in prison. Following the agreement, Tai exits from the prison and has 15 days to catch the killer. If he failed, he will be back to prison and will never see Noi again (หนูตัวประกัน). Tai goes back to his hometown where he spent his youth with good friends. Tai is especially looking for his old friend Nut. Nut wished to do everything to be accepted by the local group of friends (ลูกน้อง). As he was gay, he was rejected. Finally Tai protected him. One of the victims is a former teacher who raped Nut. Tai and Nut became friends. Nut was the son of a prostitute and had a harsh life. He lived with a man, who was not his real father, and was raped frequently. One night Tai tried to helps Nut. Nut stabbed the man so they had to flee and reached Pattaya. Nut had often crisis. A local pimp tried to push them towards sex customers. One night Tai got angry with Nut as he tried to embrace him. He hit him. Nut was then kidnapped by the local pimp and put in a red suitcase. Tai and Nut were separated. Following his enquiry on Nut, Tai finds that Nut worked in a gay club (where the killing rampage happened) and was named Katoey Nat following a surgery. Wishing to know his new face, Tai finds that Nut is now Noi! Meanwhile Noi kills the policeman Pa as he tries to rape her. Noi and Tai meet each other at their youth place. As police is coming, Noi asks Tai to free her from this world...
Year: 2009
Thai title: สวยซามูไร
English title: The Vanquisher
Rating: 2/5
Director: Manop Udomdej
Main actor: Pete Thongjure,Saranyu Wongkrachang
Main actress:
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The Vainquisher is similar to a B grade movie. Lady Genja is expert in martial skills. She is working in Thai special forces as secret agent. During a mission in South Thailand, Genja is betrayed by her own organization but survives. Claire, her boss, is a treacherous lady. Two years later Genja is involved in an international terrorism threat involving CIA, Thai special forces, South Thailand islamic insurgents and Japanese Ninjas. Wajip, head of terrorists, is hidding in Bangkok. Genja has to face Claire again. English language is used in the main part of the movie as multinational teams are involved to catch Wajip. Sexy women and samourai fights cannot compensate the weak scenario and montage sequences. The owner of Sahamongkol Film International ordered all footage of Chotiros Suriyawong to be deleted from the movie "The Vanquisher" as she was rebuked for wearing a revealing outfit to the Subhanahongsa Awards. Following Tak Bai incident in South of Thailand, this action film was ordered to cut a scene showing gunmen opening fire into a mosque, or facing a ban.
Year: 2009
Thai title: กระสือฟัดปอบ
English title:
Rating: 2/5
Director:
Main actor: Phairoj Jaising,Akom Preedakul
Main actress: Intira Jaroenpura,Naowarat Yooktanun,Prangwalai Thepsatorn
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A teacher brings his art students on the country-side to go for camping. Every day people die in the village. Some people believe some ghosts "Phi Kraseu" and "Phi Pop" reside in the village. The spirit ("Phi Kraseu" - ผีกระสือ) is a malicious and very dangerous spirit which manifests itself as a beautiful woman. It floats through the air because it has no lower body. It appears as a length of intestines suspended from a lovely woman face. A "Phi Pop" (ผีปอบ) is an evil spirit believed to possess a person to eat his intestine while also forcing him to seek and consume raw animal organs and meat at night-time. A medium master (อาจารย์) try to chase villagers away in order that a foreign developer can build a resort. The medium master use two ladies ghosts to frighten the villagers. The "Phi Pop" ghost performs many killings. The role is played by sexy actress Prangwalai Thepsatorn. As the medium master fails to chase the villages, the developer gives him a last chance. So he launches ghosts in daytime to deter the villagers. The art students need to flee ghosts. The Phi Kraseu fights with Phi Pop to stop the killings. The village head (ผู้ใหญ่บ้าน) decides to use a sorcerer (หมอผี) to chase the ghosts from the village. Finally the students with the help of "Phi Kraseu" get rid of the "Phi Pop" and the developer. There are heavy gags characteristic of modern horror comedies. The fat student is treated as an elephant. Naowarat Yooktanun is still as beautiful as 30 years ago. Some sequences are a homage to old classic Thai movies.
Year: 2009
Thai title: เชือดก่อนชิม
English title: Meat Grinder
Rating: 4/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress: Mai Charoeunpura,Pimchanok Leuwisetpaiboon,Duangta Tungkamanee
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Bout is a lady selling Thai noodle soup. Her life is full of sorrow, sad and bloody events. She has one young crippled daughter called Bua. When Bout was young, she was mistreated by her mum so has now sequels. Bout was raped by her father forcing Bout to marry early as she was pregnant. She had also a bad unfaithful husband who had debts. She killed him and her mistress as they try to drown her daughter who spied them together in the bedroom. The events happen during 1973 Thai student uprising historical events. A corpse is found in her cart as a student hides inside and receives a lost bullet. To get rid of the corpse, she chops it inside her noodle soup. It gives a delicious taste. She meets a young man that is looking for his missing friend. A love story starts. There is a strong analogy on flesh during lust and on bloody flesh used in noddle soup... A debt collector always bothers and threatens Bout to get paid relating old debts from her former husband. One evening she kills him and uses his flesh in noodle soup also. The young man understand after a while why she stockpiles sedatives from his pharmacy. She uses sedatives to put to sleep her victims before chopping them. He discovers Bua's body in a big jar. In fact Bout is crazy as Bua is dead since a long time already. Bua is only alive in her imagination. The young man sends her to police but without tangible proofs, Bout cannot be arrested. She is released and is looking for revenge over her former boyfriend and his new girlfriend. She kidnaps the girlfriend in her bloody cellar containing so many corpses... Main actress is famous Thai pop singer Mai Charoeunpura. Her performance is so striking that the pity over her sad life surpasses the horror due to her bloody killings. The film has been cut by Thai censors as the censors worried the film story could jeopardise the popularity of Thai noodle soup! The original Thai title was ก๋วยเตี๋ยว เนื้อ คน meaning "human meat noodles". The Thai title has to be changed to เชือด ก่อน ชิม meaning "carve before tasting".
Year: 2009
Thai title: 6:66 ตายไม่ได้ตาย
English title: Death happen
Rating: 3/5
Director:
Main actor: Yodchai Meksuwan
Main actress:
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The movie starts with a strong opening. A middle age man gets suicide. A photo journalist, called Dao, takes pictures of a business arguing between two men. One man is shot. As Dao has seen the scene, she is also shot. But Dao is safe with no injuries. Her father just died. He is in fact the man who commits suicide. In the hospital morgue, her father wakes up and is sent to reanimation room. Strange night for Dao with two dead peope who finally wake up (ตายไม่ได้ตาย). The father killed his wife as she was suffering in terminal phase. Dao didn't meet her father for 15 years as she never forgives him. Wout is a policeman who is supporting Dao. Some journalist friends talk to her about lost spirits (วิญญาณ) that are wandering around refusing to die, refusing to be born. Dao is enquiring on those mysteries but a hitman is also chasing her regarding the embarrassing pictures she took. She then understands that her father died for her instead of her. Unfortunately the hitman finds her...
Year: 2009
Thai title: แฟนเก่า
English title: My Ex
Rating: 3/5
Director: Piyaphan Chuphet
Main actor: Shahkrit Yamnarm
Main actress:
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Ken is a butterfly and is working in entertainment mass media. One of his former girlfriend (แฟนเก่า), Min, is savagely killed by a truck when she was calling him from a phonebooth. His new girlfriend (แฟนใหม่) is called Koi. Ken is always followed up by a paparazzi. A ghost is coming back for revenge towards Ken bad behavior with women. Scary scenes happen to Ken and Koi. Ken goes to his Hua Hin home. To his surprise a former girlfriend Mem is waiting for him at nighttime. She was previously pregnant but then Ken dropped her. She then killed herself. Same as Mae Nak story, she is a ghost looking for her husband but Ken is not aware. She disappears mysteriously when Koi arrives. The paparazzi finds than Mem ghost image is surimpressed on many pictures he took. Frightening incidents happen. Mem causes Koi to have a deadly car accident. The paparazzi warns Ken's producer as Ken is not willing to listen to anybody after Koi's tragic accident. The paparazzi dies. The producer is also killed. Mem also causes Ken to have a car accident. As he apologizes (ขอโทษ) sincerely and claims his true love to Mem, the ghost forgives and spares his life. Finally as Ken continues his butterfly behavior, he falls with his new girlfriend from his condo to his death. Mem was also responsible of Min's death. This movie highlights the paparazzi bad practices and is a gory warning to butterfly men.
Year: 2009
Thai title: 5 แพร่ง
English title: Phobia 2
Rating: 5/5
Director:
Main actor: Charlie Trairattana,Choomporn Theppitak
Main actress: Marsha,Nicole Theriault
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Phobia franchise is back with a new episode released on 09.09.09! This time, Phobia 2 is made of five different stories. First story is about a young rebel teen called Phae. His parents are separated following a divorce. He blames his mother for not loving him enough. He is now a Buddhist novice in order to hide as he has committed a crime. While walking in the forest, the abbot asks him to stay in a remote area as part of meditation training. The local people believe in ghosts but Phae doesn't. Phae neither likes to be commanded neither listens to advice and recommendation. He secretly eats food at night time committing a breach in Buddhist teachings. He has no respect for monkhood. He is responsable of his father death in a car accident. Pret (เปรต) ghosts are living there. He is facing death as a karmic retribution (กรรม) of his previous bad actions (เรื่องของกรรม). Second story is regarding a teen having a motorbike accident and recovering from his injuries in an hospital room shared with a dying man. At night time a ghost (ผีอำ) is roaming inside the room and wishes to kill him in order to exchange bodies. Third story is about Thai zombies. Two japanese tourists are taken in autostop by a truck. The truck is transporting mysterious goods as something is knocking from inside. There are immigrants from south of thailand. They have eaten small balls containing drug. Then the drug has leaked and they become zombies. The two tourists and truck drivers are running for their life... Fourth story is about a garage lady owner, Nut, who is selling second hand cars. Those cars already have a deadly accident. She is concealing the truth to her customers. Some customers died as the cars were nice outside but not repaired inside. Nut is looking for her daughter that always like hiding in cars. Ghosts come to have revenge of having been sold a broken car. They take revenge over her daughter. The fifth story is the most funny and Ironical. It takes place on the shooting of Thai horror movie "Alone 2" (แฝด 2). The actress playing the ghost dies at hospital. The show must go on. The team needs to finish the movie to ease the ghost. Thainess is well shown in those 5 small movies. Phobia 2 was very popular and did 113.5 millions baht revenue in 2009.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ตอกตราผี
English title: The Fatality
Rating: 4/5
Director:
Main actor: Somchai Sakdikul
Main actress: Wiyada Umarin
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This movie is a Thai Taiwanese production. Suriyong is working in a caretaker shop and is rejected by the society. He has always ghost visions. Following a deadly fight in Taipei, Suriyong wakes up in a Thai hospital but in somebody else’s body! He is now Asanee. He cannot remember he is married to a lady called Nakhun. He cannot speak Thai also. A Thai doctor speaking Chinese is assigned to his case. Doctors believe Asanee lost his memory (บ้าอะไร) as he cannot remember anything. Back home Nakhun doesn't believe Suriyong and tries to shoot him believing he is Asanee trying to hit her again. A mysterious secret prevails. Suriyong goes back to work as Asanee was a clerk. Some mysterious administrative letters are given to him. It seems ghosts (a woman smashed by a car, a little girl) want to give him messages. His office is inside an old administration building perfect for a scary setting. Suriyong understands he needs to stamp the letters that are in fact death certificates (ทำหน้าที่ตอบแทนเขา). Suriyong through stamping the certificates (คนปล่อยวิญญาณ) allows the spirits to have a rebirth. It seems his wife, Nakhun, has a mysterious secret towards him as Asanee’s best friend seems not so happy to see him back. Nakhun convinces Suriyong to go for a Buddhist exorcism. It takes place during the Tattoo festival at Wat Bang Phra. Monks prayers fail to liberate Suriyong. There is an impressive 360 degrees shooting inside the temple. Suriyong investigates on Asanee’s past. The doctor also conceals a secret. Suriyong understands he has the right of life or death on people (คนอยากตาย). By stamping the certificate, Suryong can become Yama, the hell guardian, and can shorten people life and sufferings. Same as Asanee before, Suriyong starts to take pleasure by killing people (สนุกฆ่าคน). Things turn badly. Asanee's body is posseded by Asanee's spirit again and Suriyong’s spirit is expelled. Only the doctor can see him. Asanee tries to kill Nakhun again. The only way to stop Asanee is to stamp his death certificate. Suriyong, thanks to the doctor help, can stop Asanee on time and recovers his body. Nakhun then shots Suriyong as she has a lover. Both Asanee and Suriyong are now really dead and Nakhun can enjoy the heritage with her lover.
Year: 2009
Thai title: บุปผาราตรี 3.1
English title: Buppha Reborn
Rating: 2/5
Director: Yuthlert Sippapak
Main actor: Santisuk Promsiri,Somchai Sakdikul,Mario Maurer
Main actress:
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The Buppha ghost saga continues with two new opus in 2009. In 2009, Buppha 3.1 and 3.2 were released. Lang, a teenager, can see ghosts since he is a child. He breaks up with his girlfriend as she is fed up with those ghost stories. Then he moves to a new place, the old factory building where Buppha used to live. In parallel, a little girl is always teased by her schoolmates. She fell in the stairs. When she wakes up, she is not the same. Buppha spirit is reincarnated in her body. She goes back to the building where she lived in Buppha 1 and 2. She then goes on rampage on the building residents by frightening them or killing them. Bupha either do her killings in the body of the little girl or inside the body of Buppha. In the building, there is an underground illegal casino. The comical psychic (หมอผี) Master Kong, who is now running for governor of Bangkok, tries again to chase Buppha spirit away but as usual fails. Lang meets Buppha and recognizes her as the teacher, who helped him a few years ago. He is fond of her. Nowadays Thai horror movies are either comedy comic oriented or scary oriented but Buppha is a unique mix of Thai comedy and gory horror. In such modern horror movie, ghosts are not afraid of Buddhist incantations (maybe related to numerous modern scandals in which monks were involved so they lost some respect from people and ghosts also) and especialy when those incantations are said with a hip hop trend!
Year: 2009
Thai title: บุปผาราตรี 3.2
English title: Rahtree Revenge
Rating: 3/5
Director: Yuthlert Sippapak
Main actor: Santisuk Promsiri,Akom Preedakul,Somchai Sakdikul
Main actress:
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The Buppha ghost saga continues with two new opus in 2009. In 2009, Buppha 3.1 and 3.2 were released. Buppha was the teacher when Lang was a kid. Lang still wants to meet Buppha again. He knocks at room 609 but she is not willing to teach him again (ไม่สะดวก). Police arrives in the building and enquiries on the bodies found in the underground casino. They see a jumping embalmed corpse and flee. A Hong Kong police officer is coming to help. Lang stays in the factory building because of Buppha. There is identification between Buppha and the little girl. The underground casino den is still opened. More comic customers are coming. Police comes again with the support of monk Luang Phi Teng (หลวงพี่เท่ง). Luang Phi Teng is the main character from "The Holy man" movie, which was a top hit in 2005. Luang Phi Ten is giving blessing to the police (ให้กำลังใจ - รับพร). The monk is entering the building with them. The police wishes to capture the little girl ghost but she continues her killing rampage with the policemen. The monk and remaining policemen flee also. The embalmed jumping corpse is now inside the casino den. Afraid customers are fleeing and leave their money behind. A Chinese customer uses a Chinese baby spirit (กุมารทอง) to get back the money. The Chinese spirit is not as strong as the Thai spirit and gets smashed. Lang loves Buppha, who is already dead. His soul (วิญญาณ) is gone to search for Buppha. A monk brings him back to human world. Despite advise from monk not to go to the building again, Lang flees from hospital to meet Buppha. A new exorcist master (อาจารย์) from Cambodia goes to room 609 in the building. They are all killed. Finally a traditional hermit (ฤาษี) with his hunchback is brought by Lang's friends. The comic hermit has difficulty to fight against the strong spirit (ของแรง). The father is burning (เผาศพ) the body of his small daughter causing the killings to stop. Buppha Rahtree 3.2 continues the same recipe including an unique mix of Thai comedy and gory horror. It is more fun than Buppha 3.1
Year: 2009
Thai title: จีจ้า ดื้อสวยดุ
English title: Raging Phoenix
Rating: 2/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress: Yanin Vismistananda
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This movie features the new Thai martial arts feminine star nicknamed Jija. Jija's mother dropped her, her music band group drops her. She feels lonely and indulges in alcohol. Then she gets kidnapped by a mafia group but is rescued on time by Salim, part of drunken martial arts expert team. Their goal is to stop the kidnapping organization. They teach her but finally drop her also as she doesn't fit into their plan. She succeeds to beat the leader and gets her place back in the team. The kidnappers are looking for specific woman scent to make perfume. She acts as a bait and gets kidnapped again. She helps Salim, who is looking for his wife captured a long time ago, and defeats the gang. The movie is having a basic scenario and mixes various ambiances (Mad Max 2, Perfume - The Story of a Murderer, Hip Hop and breakdance). It is still enjoyable thanks to Jija and her partners martial arts impressive skills. The movie boasts to be the first one introducing a new form of martial arts that combines Thai boxing with breakdancing. Viewers looking for action and martial arts skills won't be disappointed. Viewers looking for a good and original scenario may take a rain check.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ท้าชน
English title: Fireball
Rating: 3/5
Director:
Main actor: Suchao Pongwilai,Kowit Wattanakul
Main actress:
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Tan (แทน) is in coma state in hospital. He was severely beaten. He needed money to pay the caution for his brother Tai (ไท) to be released from prison. They are twin brothers. Pang, Tan's girlfriend, is still waiting for his hypothetical wake up. Tai is a former player of fireball basketball, which is a mix of basketball and Thai boxing. Tai wants to understand who did injure his brother. He is recruited by a boss building a new team made of Zing, Iq, Muk. A few famous veteran actors are present in this movie, i.e. Suchao Pongwilai, Kowit Wattanakul. Den is the team boss. Misunderstanding happens inside the team as it is a more of collage of individuality. Tai finds the man who crushed his brother. But revenge can only happen during an official match to avoid team disqualification. Pang will not drop Tan as he helped her a lot to pay for her studies. Matches are very violent and competition is harsh to reach the final. Iq dies during the second match. Muck tries to throw the third match away for money. He is beaten to death by the mob. Due to Pang's debts to cure his brother, Tan is forced to accept a money deal to lose the final. Tai's condition is getting critical and a lot of money is needed to pay for an operation. Pang is worried Tai will end up like Tan. During a thrilling final, Tai's team wins and the man who injured Tan is defeated. But only Zing survives during the final game. Tan wakes up at the moment Tai dies. This recent Thai action movies surfs on the Thai Muay action movies wave. The movie made 8M Baht in year 2009 and well below its 35M Baht budget.
Year: 2009
Thai title: วงษ์คำเหลา
English title: Wongkumlao
Rating: 3/5
Director: Mum Jokmok
Main actor: Mum Jokmok,Somchai Sakdikul
Main actress:
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Ramon is a young lady. She is an English teacher in a HiSo family living in a palatial house. The family includes crazy domestics, a stammering son called Johnnie incapable to study hard during private English lesson, a lazy daughter called Maew, a mother (คุณหญิง) playing in illegal casino (บ่อน). Bow, young man, is fianced with Maew. The HiSo family wears exuberant clothes and has a high pitch tone when speaking. They all have funny long Thai names. The grandfather is sick but still has enough strength to hide four bunnies in his room. Ramon, the leading actress (นางเอก), is a poor lady bothered by the various jealous ladies. Johnnie's brother Phet, wearing a beautiful immaculate white suit, comes back from foreign countries. Maew and her mother (นางอิจฉา) dislike Ramon. Bow, despite being Maew's fiance, has high interest into Ramon. He offers her flowers and gifts causing Maew's ire. Bow asks Chet to act as an intermediate (พ่อซื้อ) to seduce Ramon. The HiSo family needs to think about Phet's wedding. During a family trip to Hua Hin, the mother and Maew use ruffians (ตัวกง) to injure Ramon but to no avail. The family has a declining jewelry business. Ramon makes new designs and Phet wishes to operate new business changes. Mysteriously Ramon's successful designs are stolen. During typical TV series, surprising announcements always happen on the last episode. So during the official collection launch, it is discovered that Ramon is a undercover policewoman. The family lawyer is dishonest and has stolen the jewelry designs. A wedding between Ramon and Chet can happily take place. This movie needs to be seen tongue in cheek as it is a satire of Thai TV serie / soap opera called locally 'Lakorn' (ละคร). It includes the leading actress (นางเอก), who is always a kind and nice person. She never kisses her boyfriend neither held his hand. The bad girl (นางอิจฉา) tries everything to be the main actor's girlfriend and always tries to get rid off the leading actress. She is often a stereotypical character who does not hesitate to do bad things to the leading actress. The leading actor is called พระเอก. A group of funny comedians (ตัวตลก) supports the leading actor. The funny comedians are represented here as 'katoei' (กะเทย - man dressed like a woman), who always has a silly but funny role to play. The movie is based on famous Thai TV series such as 'Baan Sai thong' (บ้านทรายทอง). It includes sickly sentimental music (รักเธอหมดใจ).
Year: 2009
Thai title: ผีตุ๋มติ๋ม
English title: Pee Toom Tim
Rating: 1/5
Director:
Main actor:
Main actress:
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Pee Toom Tim is a gay ghost comedy taking place during football World cup qualifications. Rak is a successful football goalkeeper and is part of Thailand national team. During a match, he is injured on the head and dies. A spirit (วิญญาณ), called Ming, enters the dead body. The big issue is that Ming is gay so Rak's character changes from a macho to a gay style. Ming has to deal with Rada, Rak's girlfriend. Rak's goalkeeper duty is important as Thailand national football team has the opportunity to qualify for the first time for World cup. His teammates believe Rak is crazy as he is talking alone but in fact talking in fact with Yama (พระยม), the hell god. Ming has to perform a few missions (qualify the football team for world cup, declare his love to Rada, help for the acceptance of a gay member in a family - เป็นกะเทยแต่เป็นคนดี - and in Thai society as a whole, help a young Thai man to achieve his dreams to be a dancer instead of being a policeman as requested by his father, organize a wedding between a cheerleader and a footballer and so on...). As usual, there are a few bad cliches about gay characters working in bars or gay shows. One of the coach promises to drug the national team as he has debts with the mafia. As he knows that Rak is possessed by a spirit, the coach is seeking help from a master (อาจารย์) in order to fight Ming (ผีนรก / ผีตูด). Ming prevents this to happe and the national team is qualified. Finally Rak spirit is allowed to come back in his own body. The movie was shot in 2002 but only released in 2009 as the executive producer worried for Sahamongkol Film International reputation!
Year: 2009
Thai title: หอแต๋วแตก 2
English title: Oh My Ghosts!
Rating: 2/5
Director:
Main actor: Koeti Aramboy,Jaturong Mokjok,Ekkachai Srivichai
Main actress: Tukkie
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Thai movie หอแต๋วแตก 2 (แหกกระเจิง) was released in year 2009. It lasts 1h30mn. There is a mix of scary, comic and teenage sequences. This Thai comedy movie features typical flatulence Thai gags, visual gags and reference to some of the jokes found in Baan Phi Pop (บ้านผีปอบ) film series. It looks like the movie was shoot inside a museum. The same three ladyboys (กะเทย) (Taew as Jaturong Mokjok, Ekkachai Srivichai, ยิ่งศักดิ์ จงเลิศเจษฎาวงศ์), owning a dormitory, need to find where Pancake (Koeti Aramboy) died in order to do proper funeral offerings. They find he died in the toilet so they do pray facing the basin! There is one ghost (Tukkie), called Usamanee, in the dormitory wearing Thai traditional dancer clothes. Pa Yoon (ติ๊ก กลิ่นสี), new tenant (เช่าห้อง), sends a ball on the dormitory’s spirit house. It causes Usamanee's anger and Ploy, Pa Yoon's assistant, dies. There is another Thai ghost lady, called Tichada (อภิญญา สกุลเจริญสุข), in the dormitory. Pancake is having arguments with Usamanee (อีผีบ้า). As usual tenants wish to leave as the dormitory is haunted. It is identified that Pa Yoon, Usamanee and Tichada are related to each other in a previous life. Pa Yoon plans to perform a special ceremony to ensure Usamanee and Tichada cannot rebirth again in another life. Pa Yoon and Toi (วีรดิษฐ์ ศรีมาลัย) were husband and wife in a previous life but Toi liked Usamanee so Pa Yoon killed both Usamanee and Tichada. Pancake and the three ladyboys have to go back in the past to gather information in order to defeat Pa Yoon. As usual, the ladyboys in “Hor Thae Tak” film series wear flashy clothes (แต่งตัวแรง).
Year: 2009
Thai title: โหดหน้าเหี่ยว 966
English title: hodenhahaew
Rating: 2/5
Director:
Main actor: Jaturong Mokjok
Main actress:
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This comedy movie is about a former mafia boss, called Song, going out of jail and looking for revenge on one of his teammate, called Tai, who married the woman that Song loved twenty years ago. This woman is dead already and a daughter, called Thip, is born from this marriage. She is now a young girl being part of a music group and has problems with her father. The mafia boss and two of his acolytes are chasing Tai. This chase involves many characters including a monk, who lost his way to his temple, Mongkhon, a former Song's teammate, Piek, a local gangster and friend of Tai, and Oe, Thip's boyfriend. Many funny situations happen. Finally it is known that Thip is in fact the daughter of the former mafia boss Song. Thip's mother didn't want her daughter to be raised inside a gambling den. Knowing the true, Song forgets any idea of revenge and goes back to jail.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ฟ้าใสใจชื่นบาน
English title: Blue Sky of Love
Rating: 2/5
Director:
Main actor: Phairoj Sangwaribut,Akom Preedakul,Somchai Sakdikul
Main actress:
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In October 1976 a young woman Sai wishes to support the popular movement against the Thai military dictature. But her mother is against this choice. A young man called Kong helps to push her in her mother's car so that she can be safe. A few months later, a group of friends including Kong visits a country park in Northern Thailand. They are not aware that many students have fled the army repression to take refuge inside forests. They take a wrong bus. It is full of new CPT members (Communist Party of Thailand). They are taken as new recruits. Sai is part of the trainers team. This movie is based on historical facts. Many students used to urban life had difficulties adopting to the harsh realities of guerrilla struggle. Strong rules are put in place. They have to perform public work for the community. They want to escape as life is too harsh in the camp. Heavy jokes regarding food, camp doctor and the jungle life take place. They miss Bangkok booze. They volunteer to go inside the jungle to reach a village in order to get food as they ravaged the CPT rice fields by confusing rice plants and weeds. They meet government soldiers in the village so they have to flee. The team leader cowardly drops Sai but Kong helps her. They finally get captured. The military captain, who is Kong's father, releases them. Kong and Sai are then alone in the jungle. There is a mix of comedy and romance through beautiful natural landscapes (waterfalls, mountains in the mist, sunset on top of mountain). The CPT camp is finally attacked by Thai army and destroyed. All friends and Sai flee. Sai is shot in the back by her former team leader and dies in Kong's arms. This movie mixes some historical settings, comedy, romance and drama but the blending is not that successful. Regarding viewers willing to know more about this dark period of Thai history, The Moon Hunter (14 ตุลา) is a great movie to watch.
Year: 2009
Thai title: สาระแนห้าวเป้ง
English title:
Rating: 1/5
Director:
Main actor: Koeti Aramboy,Mum Jokmok
Main actress:
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Thai movie สาระแนห้าวเป้ง was released in year 2009 and lasts 1h41mn. The three Thai comedy actors, Willie, Ple, and Hoi from popular prank show "Saranae," brought their TV show program on the golden screen. This show was very popular on TV, so the movie was also a big commercial success. It made 92M THB. A comic group hires two junior comics and perform pranks on them by using hidden camera. During 120 days, the two junior comics have to perform pranks on famous people such as comic actor Koeti Aramboy, Korean K-pop girl band called Baby Walk, Carabao Ed and comic actor Mum Jomok. They meet Mum Jomok for a movie proposal. Mum Jomok orders food without paying the bill. The three Thai comedy actors have to run away. Mum Jomok finally accepts to join their movie but is in bad mood during the shooting. A sequence with taxi driving like crazy makes Mum Jomok very upset. They try to excuse themselves with Mum Jomok. Mum Jomok complained about Saranae team but finally accepted their excuses. Maybe it was just to make a commercial buzz before the release of the movie. Finally, pranks are even performed on the two junior comics also!
Year: 2009
Thai title: แหยม ยโสธร 2
English title: Hello Yasothon 2
Rating: 4/5
Director: Mum Jokmok
Main actor: Mum Jokmok,Noppadol Duangporn
Main actress:
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A few years have passed since "Hello Yasothon 1". Yaem is now married and has three children. He is village headman (กำนัน). A new district officer (นายอำเภอ) is coming. His name is Palat and he is coming from Bangkok. He tries to seduce Yaem's daughter called Wae. Yaem's teen child provides hints to Palat to seduce his sister Wae. Yaem doesn't trust Bangkokian people, who speak sweet words too easily (คนกรุงเทพปากหวาน). The mother likes Palat but the father always interferes. The movie highlights the life in Isan (อีสาน ) area in the Northeast of Thailand through the village head activities, i.e. visit Buddhist temples, check rice fields, market, village silk craft, Bun bang fai festival (ประเพณีบุญบั้งไฟ). Palat needs to go back to Bangkok. Wae is pregnant with Palat. Yaem comes to Bangkok to ask his parents to take responsability. Meanwhile local ruffians steal the Buddha statue (Ong Bak as a funny reference to Tony Jaa's movie in which Mum Jokmok also played) from the local Buddhist temple and kidnap Yaem's wife and daughter. Yem and Palat help each other to neutralize the ruffians. This movie is an hommage to 1960s old Thai movies. Actors are wearing colorful clothes. This movie has an ambiance similar to "Mon Rak Lung Tung" (1970 - มนต์รักลูกทุ่ง) but with less songs and more comedy. Lao language and a Molam (หมอลำ) soundtrack are used. The movie is full of funny visual or wording jokes. It is also an hommage to Isan culture. Isan people shall be pround of their language and culture.
Year: 2009
Thai title: ความสุขของกะทิ
English title: Happiness of Kati
Rating: 5/5
Director:
Main actor: Krissada Sukosol,Sahat Piempongsan
Main actress: Jaruwan Panyopas
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This movie is a based on a novel written by Jane Vejjajiva. It got a S.E.A. Write Award. A family is quitting their appartment in Bangkok. Katy, 9 years old girl, is now living with her grandparents on countryside. Kati's life in the village certainly contrasts with her life in the city as countryside life is depicted as quiet and bucolic. She misses her mum (แม่เคยสัญญาว่าจะกลับมา). She tries to have a normal life and so watches Thai TV series (ละคร) when coming back from school. She notices that there is no picture from her mum (ในบ้านไม่มีรูปถ่ายแม่เลย) in the house. She starts to understand there is something going wrong (ไม่เคยมีใครพูดถึงแม่). It looks like adults want Kati to enjoy her childhood and forgets her mum (กะทิจำหน้าแม่ไม่ได้แล้ว). Tong is Kathi's best friend and she spends a lot of time with him. She heard adults mentioning that nobody can escape suffering and unhappiness. The movie shows nicely the life in the countryside (development coming in the village, football match in Buddhist temple compound, numerous pupils in classroom, first vision of a foreigner through a French cyclist visiting the village during his trip around the world). She then learns that her mother is very sick. Kati is sent to a house close to the sea. No need to hide the truth to her anymore. The mother is sitting on a wheelchair. She has no more strength. The movie shows the last touching moments of love between Kati and her mother. Kati spends a lot of time with her mother. The mother then passes away peacefully. Kati shall now decide if she wishes or not to meet her real father. She takes the decision to meet him and waits for his feedback. Meanwhile she goes back to countryside. The photography is superb. There is great picture and sensitive mood. The movie highlights the importance of family and close friends, life sorrow, change and choices that need to be taken. The last sequence on the drawers appears as a completion of Kati's life puzzle as she can learn about her mother's life and her own life amongst their contents.
Year: 2009
Thai title: เจ้านกกระจอก
English title: Mundane history
Rating: 4/5
Director: Anocha Suwichakornpong
Main actor:
Main actress:
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A young man, called Ake, is paralyzed and sitting in wheel chair. The movie relates the relationship between Ake, Pan, his personal male nurse, and Ake's father. Pan is coming from Phrae but has been educated in Khon Khaen. Ake has no wish to live anymore. It is difficult time for everybody and also for the father, who is always very busy. Ake is not willing to eat downstairs, not willing to receive visitors. Pan brings him some energy to accept his fate and they start to share a close relationship. It raises the discussion of the human condition and the helplessness that every person must endure. They talk common passions such as reading and writing. Finally Ake dies and the movie ending sequence is the birth of a child as part of our evolutionary cycle. The movie goes forward and backward, with repetitions same as our brain thinking. There is an allegory with a supernova as our human condition is biological, social, political and astronomical. Anocha Suwichakornpong is a Thai independent film director and his first long movie "Mundane History" won the Tiger Award from the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2009. The movie earned the 20+ rating in Thailand due to some "obscene" scenes. In fact the failed masturbation scene shows the emotional stress in which Ake has fallen in. Same as Apichatpong Weerasethakul movie, viewers might like or hate this movie.
Year: 2009
Thai title: หลวงพี่กับผีขนุน
English title:
Rating: 4/5
Director:
Main actor: Mum Jokmok
Main actress:
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Seua is a sales manager, who acts badly in his life. He takes advantages of old people to sell them expensive goods and services. Following customers' complains, police tries to catch him. He flees to his home town, where his mother has found a wife for him but he has to become a Buddhist monk first. He has difficulty to get used to monk life (walk bare foot, eat whatever people offer you during morning alms, no comb...). At the same time, an egoist and rapacious old lady died in the village while trying to catch a jackfruit (ขนุน). Her ghost frightens all the villagers when they try to eat her jackfruit! Seua has to find solutions as the temple abbot is on trip. Seua starts to change his mind and behavior (promise to take care about his old mother, be nice to others, doesn't disrobe despite difficulties in order to help the villagers, understanding that ordination rite is an act towards the others - parents and community -). The ghost finally accepts its death. The police officer, understanding that Seua has changed his mindset, doesn't catch him. Seua finally marries a woman he truly loves.
Year: 2009
Thai title: โยมผีพ่อ
English title: Yom-Pee-Poa
Rating: 2/5
Director:
Main actor: Kiet Kijcharouen,Suchao Pongwilai,Jaturong Mokjok,Der Doksadao
Main actress: Naowarat Yooktanun
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A turbulent boy, called Yung, becomes a Buddhist novice. It is a relief for the village as this boy spent his time annoying villagers. A ghost is seen inside the village Buddhist temple. Villagers use talismans (ของดี) to protect themselves against the ghost. The ghost, called Tik, is pacifist and even funny (ผีตลก). Tik is Yung's father. He requests his son to find his wife (Yung's mother) with whom he misbehaves before. They are going to Bangkok. The mother, called Tom, is working in a Karaoke. Tik cannot rebirth (เกิดใหม่) if Tom doesn't forgive him. Chao, Tom's father, tries to help. Tom is protected by a mafia boss. The mafia boss shots Tom. Both Tom and Tik can rebirth happily. This movie is another ghost comedy with Buddhist monks. This comedy includes visual gags, sonorous gags, witty riposte in dialogues. It is targeted for a rural audience public. This movie messages are related to gratitude (กตัญญ) over parents and to always try and never give up. It is a typical comedy movie of 2000s decade, i.e. quite pleasant to see (หายความเครียด) but immediately forgotten.
Year: 2009
Thai title: สวรรค์บ้านนา
English title: Agrarian Utopia
Rating: 5/5
Director: Uruphong Raksasad
Main actor:
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Thai movie สวรรค์บ้านนา / Agrarian Utopia was released in year 2009 and lasts 2 hours. The movie takes place in North of Thailand. Northern language is used. The movie director is Uruphong Raksasad. The movie got multiple awards such as 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards, NETPAC Special Mention Award... This movie has also been registered as National Heritage per the 2012 list released by the Thai Film Archive. The movie picture is great such as beautiful colorful skies featured in numerous sequences. Two farmers families are featured. The movie shows their life. The farmers listen to a political meeting but are doubtful that politicians can understand their issues and help them. The farmers still use buffalo to prepare rice fields. Kids are playing in ponds and are even riding buffalo. Rice growing periods are shown. Various ways to find food from the surrounding nature are shown through hunt for birds, hunt for frogs, mushroom collection, getting fishes from river, catching big mouse for barbecue, ants eggs, honey from bees, hunting with rifle. Hand harvest is still happening in this area and villagers are helping each other. Rice is put in bags and sold to cooperative. One father wishes his son to work for government as such job offers regular salary. Farmers family are poor family. There is no money to buy games for the son and it is better to use it for studies. The father is not willing to go to Bangkok to work in factory. Animism is strongly present as offerings to local spirit do occur. One villager is living a natural and utopia life. He doesn't want to marry another time as he knows a new wife wouldn't accept such simple life. He wants to be close to the nature. Another rice harvest cycle starts again. Heat, heavy rain, storms are part of farmers’ life. Farmers must work hard every day. One of the farmers must sell his land as he needs money. The utopia farmer invites him to share his land as he has no time to take care of it by himself. No need to pay rent but need to harvest by following natural ways. The farmer finally refuses as it will be too troublesome to work with the utopia farmer (ผีบ้าน). It is not realistic when you have a whole family to feed. So, he considers going now to Bangkok as he has no longer any choice. Life is no longer heaven in สวรรค์บ้านนา. His wife has also to work on small construction sites as only doing agricultural job is not enough to survive. The movie ends up with the farmer arriving in Bangkok...
Year: 2009
Thai title: 2022 สึนามิ วันโลกสังหาร
English title: 2022 Tsunami
Rating: 3/5
Director: Toranong Srichua
Main actor: Suchao Pongwilai,Choomporn Theppitak
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This movie takes place in 2022 eighteen years after the 2004 Tsunami. Three young people, i.e. Phu, Cindy and Phi Phi, are working with Dr Siam. The three young people participate to events and demonstrations to enhance population awareness regarding the worrying climate changes. Doctor Siam has lost his son during 2004 tsunami. Since he has worked on an alarm system to detect tsunami and earthquakes. Phu and Cindy are traumatised by 2004 tsunami events. In 2022, the climate has changed a lot. Thailand is no more safe regarding earthquakes. Three false alarms have been already raised by Dr Siam so the prime minister is in difficult position towards his coalition partner complaining that population evacuation hurts Thailand business. His main coalition partner wishes to replace the current prime minister and his son is a corrupted real estate investor only seeing his own interest. He is selling drugs also and wishes to expel Moken people from his paradise island. Nobody can stop him as he is the son of a politician. Rawai, a Moken, warns Dr Siam, regarding separations under the sea announcing underwater volcanoes explosions. Despite the danger Doctor Siam goes to his underwater lab to get important data and sacrifices his life. There is an urgent need to evacuate Bangkok due to coming 30m high tsunami waves. The mother nature takes revenge. The movie includes references to monarchy, Buddhism and Thai nation in a way similar to 1970s movies. Big earthquakes happen. Bangkok is submerged. The Prime minister is a modern politician capable of sacrifice for his nation and people. From his helicopter, he saves children from drowning but remains stranded on their school bus as the helicopter is overloaded already. A miracle happens as the giant Buddha statue in front of Bangkok gets detached from its pedestal, floats and gets the Prime Minister in its hand preventing him from drowning. The coalition partner dies as his luxury boat is overwhelmed by the huge waves (ความดีต้องชนะความชั่ว). The Doctor Siam body is wrapped into a Thai flag. The movie plays on the environmental and disaster films wave in 2009 (Home, 2012...). It has an environmental message that we all need to change our behavior to save the planet. It raises various issues (corrupted politicians, business interest versus citizen interest, sea-based Moken minority situation, society debauchery). Effective Fx are used but not good enough to make it believable.
