News: SFX Cinema Pattaya Beach has opened a second 3D cinema.
Now playing in Pattaya
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: US, Action/
Adventure/ Sci-Fi – Go see it. You know you will eventually anyway. This, the
final Harry Potter, is an exciting and massively eventful finale that
will grip and greatly please anyone who has been at all a fan of the series up
to now. It’s powerfully acted and visually dazzling. The entire series of Potter
books and motion pictures has been leading us to this final showdown between
Harry and Voldemort. The fight here between good and evil is more than
satisfying. It’s thrilling – carrying an ultimate message that will resonate
with every viewer, young or old: there is darkness in all of us, but we can
overcome it.
It’s much better than the book, in my opinion, which has
sections that are so preposterous that no amount of suspension of disbelief can
overcome. Playing in both 2D and 3D versions at all three cinemas, in English,
except at Big C, where the 3D version is Thai-dubbed, one 2D version is in
English and another Thai-dubbed. I saw it in 2D; from what I’ve read so far, the
3D (which is post-production conversion) is good, but doesn’t add all that much.
Reviews: one of the rare films to be labeled by Metacritic as “Universal
acclaim.”
The Lost Bladesman: Hong Kong, Action/ Biography/
Drama/ History – This historical martial arts film set in AD 200 is adapted from
the story of Guan Yu crossing five passes and slaying six generals, as told in
Luo Guanzhong’s historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Most
reviewers claim it’s confusing, some admit to not understanding a thing, but
being very impressed with the fine balance between sweeping epic and intimate
personal drama. With superstar Donnie Yen. Generally favorable reviews.
Thai-dubbed only; not at Major.
Largo Winch 2 (Tome 2) / The Burma Conspiracy: France/
Germany/ Belgium, Action/ Adventure/ Thriller – Quite excellent, and a logical
choice to be shown in Thailand. Some of it is set in Chiang Mai, some in
Bangkok, and the crucial center of the story takes place just over the border in
Burma, among the Karen. The themes of “Crimes Against Humanity” and corporations
too large for their own good are straight from the headlines of the day.
“Largo Winch” is a popular Belgian comic book series
following the travails of a young and handsome orphan and his adoptive father
Nerio, head of a business empire. After his father is murdered, Largo inherits
the empire, but he is accused of crimes against humanity on the very day he
announces his intention to sell the corporation and use the proceeds to create a
humanitarian foundation.
Despite being listed as in English with Thai subtitles, or
told that at the box office, the truth is that it is shown in its original
languages (note the plural) and with English and Thai subtitles as needed. The
original languages are English, French, Thai, Serbian, and some Karen. Maybe a
few others. Quite an interesting international mixture, mirrored by the
world-trotting locales, and the stars from many nations. Proves that not only
Hollywood can come up with a first-class action film. It’s exciting and
full-bodied, and the Berlin-born French-but-of-Russian-and-Yemenite-origin
stand-up comedian Tomer Sisley is just perfect for the heroic central role of
Largo. I’d like to see more of him. Mixed or average reviews. At Pattaya Beach
only.
Hanna: (Scheduled) US, Action/ Crime/ Mystery –
A really weird one, sort of a cross between a Euro Art Film and an ass-kicking
female action flick like those of Thailand’s own Jeeja (Chocolate). Hanna
(played by Saoirse Ronan) is a teenage girl with the strength, the stamina, and
the smarts of a solider; these come from being raised by her father (Eric Bana),
an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Her upbringing and training have been
one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning
point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a
mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched
after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Cate
Blanchett). An odd film with odd actions done for obscure reasons, but
entertaining and intriguing. Generally favorable reviews.
The Moon (Pumpuang Duangjan): (Scheduled) Thai,
Drama/ Musical – The biography of Pumpuang Duangjan, considered the Queen of
Thai country music. The rags-to-riches story charts her successes in the 1980’s
up to her early death in 1992 at the age of 31.
The Roommate: US, Drama/ Thriller – I haven’t seen such
scathing reviews in a long time. Story of a deranged college freshman who
becomes obsessed with her new roommate. Consensus seems to be that it lacks
chills, thrills, or even cheap titillation, and is just plain bad. Worse, it’s
plagiarized from the film Single White Female, but pitched to teens.
Rated 18+ in Thailand, presumably for violence and menace, sexual content, some
language, and teen partying; rated only PG-13 in the US. Generally unfavorable
reviews, and at the lower end of that category. Pattaya Beach only.
Transformers: Dark of the Moon: US, Action/ Adventure/
Sci-Fi – The opening 12 or so minutes I think is magnificent movie-making:
exciting and provocative, beautifully shot, great story, involving. Then we get
the titles and the beginning of the story of the two stars, the incredibly
irritating Shia LaBeouf and his girlfriend played by Victoria’s Secret model
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is dreadful. The movie falls to pieces in my eyes
whenever their story is front and center, only to be further undermined by the
silly and incredibly noisy battles of the tinker toys.
Too bad, because there’s an involving and interesting movie
hidden beneath this one’s detritus. Set against the space race between the USSR
and the USA, the film re-imagines the reasons for the race, and neatly combines
historical footage with the fictional “true reasons” which, wouldn’t you know,
involves the Transformers and their hidden role in all this.
This indeed has been a big 2D and 3D spectacular at all
Pattaya locations, and has been continuing in 3D at Pattaya Beach in its new
second cinema devoted to digital 3D films. In 2D at the other locations, and
Thai-dubbed at Big C. The 3D is the best I’ve seen since Avatar. A lot of
care went into that aspect by the studio and director Michael Bay. Mixed or
average reviews.
Insidious: US, Fantasy/ Horror/ Thriller – A couple
are still unpacking boxes in their family’s new home when the wife first senses
a sinister presence. Eerie events steadily escalate into supernatural attacks,
until one day their oldest son slips into a mysterious coma. I thought it a very
scary and very fun haunted-house thrill ride by horror specialist James Wan, the
boyish-looking director responsible for the Saw series, and member of the
unofficial “Splat Pack” – directors who make brutally violent horror films. Not
so bloody here, just good old-fashioned scares. See it! Mixed or average
reviews. Only at Major.
Green Lantern: US, Action/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – A test
pilot is granted a mystical green ring that bestows him with otherworldly
powers, as well as membership into an intergalactic squadron tasked with keeping
peace within the universe. The personable and pleasing Ryan Reynolds becomes one
of the six Green Lanterns patrolling Sector 2814, which includes Earth. Also
starring Mark Strong and a delightfully evil Peter Sarsgaard. Much action on
another world, which is nicely detailed visually. It’s good comic-book fun. Now
in 2D only, and only at Major. Mixed or average reviews.
Mai Ga Mum: Thai, Comedy/ Drama – Another Thai comedy
directed by and starring Thailand’s undisputed comedy superstar, Petchtai
Wongkamlao (Mum Jokmok). Mum’s close friendship with a woman leads to
misunderstandings with his wife. Not at Major. May have departed.
Gan Core Kud: (Scheduled) Thai, Comedy/ Horror
– Usual Thai horror-comedy. A hip-hop group called Gan Core Club is stuck on a
remote island. Their paradise turns to horror when they encounter bloody
islanders who kill people, and zombies that rise from the sea.
