Now playing in Pattaya
Reminder: see 50/50 if it should happen to open here; by far
one of the best films around. It’s a comedy/ drama without a chase in it. Just a
good-hearted film about a difficult topic – a 27 year old writer of radio
programs diagnosed with a rare form of spinal cancer – that’s funny and sad and
beautifully acted.
Puss in Boots 3D: US, Adventure/ Animation/ Comedy/ Fantasy –
Long before he met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover, and outlaw Puss in Boots
became a hero when he set off on an adventure with the tough and street smart
Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. This is the
true story of The Cat, The Myth, The Legend ... The Boots. With Antonio
Banderas, Salma Hayek, and Zach Galifianakis. Generally favorable reviews, which
say it has an abundance of wit, visual sparkle, and effervescent charm. In 3D
and English at Pattaya Beach, 3D and Thai-dubbed at Big C; not at Major.
Trespass (2011): US, Crime/ Drama/ Thriller – In a private,
wealthy community, priority is placed on security. Behind the walls and
manicured gardens, a fast-talking businessman (Nicolas Cage), has entrusted his
mansion’s renovation to his stunning wife (Nicole Kidman). Then their home is
invaded by thugs. Just a note: With a budget of $35 million, the movie grossed
only $24,094 in its first ten days; it was then pulled from theaters and eight
days later showed up on DVD, now holding the speed record for theater to store.
And after all that, it opens in Thailand! Rated R in the US for violence and
terror, pervasive language, and some brief drug use; 15+ here. Generally
unfavorable reviews: “nasty and aggressive, more unpleasant than entertaining.”
“Cage gives one of his more demented performances.” Don’t underestimate the
drawing power of Nicolas Cage when he’s genuinely unhinged! Not at Big C. (In
Digital.)
Headshot / Fon Tok Kuen Fa: Thai, Action/ Thriller – A film
By Pen-ek Ratanaruang, director of Last Life in the Universe, this is a
modern film noir about a man trying to forget his past – but his past and his
karma won’t forget him. Adapted from the novel “Fon Tok Kuen Fa.” Premiered in
September at the Toronto International Film Festival, then was shown at the
Tokyo and Vancouver festivals; has created a bit of interest and anticipation.
Rated 18+ in Thailand. Pattaya Beach and Big C only, and with English subtitles.
The Thing (2011): US/ Canada, Horror/ Mystery/ Sci-Fi/
Thriller – A prelude to John Carpenter’s classic 1982 film of the same name: A
paleontologist has traveled to a desolate region of Antarctica for the
expedition of her lifetime. Joining a Norwegian scientific team that has
stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice, she discovers an
organism that seems to have died in the crash eons ago. When a simple experiment
frees the alien from its frozen prison, she must join the crew’s pilot to keep
it from killing them off one at a time. Rated R in the US for strong creature
violence and gore, disturbing images, and language; 15+ in Thailand. Mixed or
average reviews. Thai-dubbed at Big C, English elsewhere.
Vampire Strawberry: Thai, Comedy – Another one of those Thai
combinations of horror and low comedy; this time the story is about two kids who
unknowingly release a vampire from its box. Naturally the vampire is now hungry,
and starts hunting down young women, to drink their blood, of course. Shown in
Thai only, and not at Major at all.
In Time: US, Crime/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller – I quite enjoyed this
film. It has one of the most intriguing premises of recent movies: In a future
where time is literally money, and aging stops at 25, the only way to stay alive
is to earn, steal, or inherit more time. You need to stretch your beliefs a bit
to swallow all this, but once you do you’re in for a fun and stylish ride with a
bit of social commentary. It’s a quietly angry picture – an extended metaphor
for the way corporations suck the life from the poor and the
not-quite-middle-class. A young man (the ubiquitous and ever more excellent
Justin Timberlake) lives life a minute at a time, until a windfall of time gives
him access to the world of the wealthy, where he teams up with a beautiful young
heiress to destroy the whole corrupt system. Also stars Cillian Murphy, Alex
Pettyfer, Amanda Seyfried, and Olivia Wilde. An interesting style to it, and the
art direction and cinematography are top notch. Mixed or average reviews. In
English with Thai subtitles; not at Big C.
Paranormal Activity 3: US, Horror/ Mystery – Much like its
immensely popular predecessors, this is a slow-building, stealthily creepy
supernatural thriller that takes a teasing and indirect approach to generating
suspense and dread, but surpasses the previous ones in terms of tension and
scares. In fact, they say it’s so spine-tingling you might just freak out. Rated
R in the US for some violence, language, brief sexuality, and drug use; 18+ in
Thailand. Digital but not 3D, and at Pattaya Beach only. Generally favorable
reviews.
Paranormal Activity 2: Tokyo Night: Japan, Horror/ Thriller –
Surely meant to confuse you with the title, this is not a part of the series at
all, but is a Japanese variation. In a secluded family home in a remote Tokyo
residential area, the 27-year-old daughter is recovering from broken legs she
received in a car accident while in America. She is in the care of her brother
while the rest of the family is away, and as luck would have it he has a video
camera. Apparently, that’s all the encouragement the ghosts need to act up. At
Major only and Thai-dubbed only. No reviews, but you can guess what you’re in
for.
Killer Elite: US/ Australia, Action/ Crime/ Thriller – The
story pits two of the worlds’ most elite operatives – an ex-special ops agent
(Jason Statham) and his longtime mentor (Robert De Niro) – against the cunning
leader of a secret military society (Clive Owen). Covering the globe from
Australia to Paris, London and the Middle East, they are plunged into a highly
dangerous game of cat and mouse – where the predators become the prey. Rated R
in the US for strong violence, language, and some sexuality/ nudity; SF cinemas
have a Thai rating of 18+, but Major has it as 15+. Mixed or average reviews.
Not at Big C.
Mid Mile / Racing Love: Thai, Comedy/ Romance – Racing-car
drivers competing for love and glory in this pretty standard mix of slapstick
and gross jokes. Well-known Thai comedian Kohtee Aramboy stars as a tuk-tuk
driver who joins the race. Not at Pattaya Beach; Thai only.
Tower Heist: US, Action/ Comedy/ Crime – Ben Stiller, Eddie
Murphy, Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda lead an all-star cast in a
comedy caper about ordinary working guys who seek revenge on the Wall Street
swindler who stiffed them in a Ponzi scheme. I found it a fair low-key comedy
with some amusing sequences and a touch of social commentary. Should have been
better, par for the course from director Brett Ratner, but it’s pleasant enough.
Mixed or average reviews. Not at Big C.
30 Kam Lung Jaew: Thai, Comedy/ Romance – Currently the top
film in Thailand, for three weeks now! Ja, a beautiful woman, has everything a
woman is supposed to dream of having: a successful career, a partying lifestyle,
and a handsome sweetheart. On her 30th birthday, Ja finds her perfect life
changed when her boyfriend wants to halt the relationship. Now, at
thirtysomething, Ja accepts a happy single life until a new guy gets in her life
– and he’s seven years younger than she is. I’m led to believe it’s a charming
tale. Now Thai only everywhere.
