Now playing in Pattaya
Men in Black III: US, Action/ Comedy/ Sci-Fi – An alien
criminal kills the young Agent K in 1969, altering the timeline, changing the
Agency, and placing the Earth in danger. Veteran Agent J (Will Smith) must
travel back in time to 1969 to before the murder and work with the young Agent K
(Josh Brolin) to save him, the Agency, the Earth, and humanity itself. Also
stars Tommy Lee Jones. Early reviews: Mixed or average, saying it does justice
to the fun and whimsy of the original, and gives a surprisingly emotional
insight into the characters; a solid creature-feature filled with memorable
performances and remarkable visual effects. Converted to 3D in post-production.
The Cabin in the Woods: US, Horror/ Thriller – You should see
this at least three times. First time for the surprises. Second time for the
game of “spot that reference” to see how many of the eighty or so monsters you
can recognize – as well as name the movie it was in. (I’ve been really pestered
by people asking me where the classroom of Japanese schoolgirls came from. The
girls are being attacked by a Sadako look-alike from the famous 1998 Japanese
horror film Ring.) Third time to ponder the philosophical proposition
that humanity’s love of horror films is a necessary propitiation of the beasts
that lie within our own breasts, to keep them at bay.
Yes, I loved it! I think it’s a remarkably complicated and
richly-layered play on the whole of the horror film literature. Five teenagers
head off for a weekend at a secluded cabin in the woods, as per usual. They
arrive to find they are quite isolated with no means of communicating with the
outside world. Per usual. When the cellar door flings itself open, they of
course go down to investigate. They find an odd assortment of relics and curios,
and when one of the women reads from a book she awakens a family of deadly
zombie killers. Then the film really takes off into numerous horror universes.
There’s far more going on than meets the eye – because the
five campers are all under observation. Written and produced by Joss Whedon, who
wrote and directed the current The Avengers as well. Rated R in the US
for strong bloody horror violence and gore, language, drug use, and some
sexuality/nudity; 18+ here. Definitely not a movie for children, nor the
squeamish or faint of heart. Generally favorable reviews, which praise it as an
astonishing meta-feat, capable of being funny, strange, and scary — frequently
all at the same time. It’s been described as “a final exam” for fans of the
horror genre in the guise of a puzzle. In 2D and English, except Thai-dubbed at
Big C.
Iron Sky: US, Comedy/ Fantasy – When I first heard about
this, my impulse was to tell you all to please don’t see it. The very idea gave
me the shivers. Nazi’s hiding out on the far side of the moon since 1945,
preparing a triumphant return to Earth.
But… the Nazi stuff really isn’t all that repellant, and in
fact the people who will dislike the movie the most will be Sarah Palin
supporters, because she really gets it. She’s the US President, you see, when
the Nazis attack. (It’s the year 2018.) She’s totally comfortable with this
state of affairs, because she knows that every president who had a war in the
first term was reelected. (Sarah has redecorated the Oval Office with
taxidermied specimens of endangered species, and one gigantic polar bear.) “Of
course we lied to you,” she tells the UN. “This is the United States, people.
That’s what we do.”
I found the film quite funny and imaginative, and the visuals
– the CGI and the model-building – rather spectacular for a low-budget film. It
comes from a team of self-taught Finnish independent film makers lead by Timo
Vuorensola as the director. He built a web following with his previous culty
sci-fi parody Star Wreck. Using that following, the filmmakers allowed
anyone who wanted to help with the film. People could ask for a screening in
their home town, help collaborate in the film’s creation, and invest in the
movie. In fact, 10% of the film’s budget was generated by fans, and the donors
are listed in the credits. It was featured, believe it or not, in this year’s
Berlin Film Festival in February, and turned out to be rather a hit. Yes, for a
crazy comedy, I recommend it. Rated 18+ in Thailand. Mixed or average reviews.
In 2D, and not at Big C.
Distortion / Kon Loke Jit: Thai, Drama/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller –
Nonzee Nimibutr’s seventh movie, a psycho-thriller which explores the inner
lives of four characters: a psychologist, a scientist, a businessman, and a
student – all haunted by nightmares, repressed memories, and the darkest of
pasts. The characters are involved in a case of grisly serial murders. Nonzee
was director of Nang Nak and Jan Dara, among others. 2D with English subtitles;
not playing at Major.
StreetDance 2 (3D): UK/ Germany, Drama/ Music/ Romance – A
follow-up to the popular StreetDance 3D of 2010 with mostly new dancers in a
European-set dance contest spectacular. It’s all about dancing, and in that it
shines – you shouldn’t pay much attention to the story. Again with the 2008
winner of Britain’s Got Talent, George Sampson.
After a top street dancer (Falk Hentschel) is humiliated and
laughed off stage, beaten by an American dance crew, he sets off to gather the
best dancers from around the world to take them on in a rematch. With landmark
locations, a spectacular fusion of dance styles, and an unparalleled vibrancy,
this sequel sees our hero fall in love with a beautiful dancer as he discovers
the magic, power, and passion of salsa. Has all the charms a dance movie ought
to have, and sensational high-energy routines to some great pop hits. Mixed or
average reviews. At Pattaya Beach only, in 3D and English.
Dark Shadows: US, Comedy/ Fantasy – I hated the pop music on
the soundtrack – way too loud and insistent, and it grated on my nerves. But
other than that, the film was fun, and I really enjoyed myself. It’s a
gothic-horror tale centering on the life of a vampire (played by Johnny Depp)
and his run-ins with various monsters, witches, werewolves, and ghosts; a
reworking of the TV shows which ran from 1966 to 1971. Mixed or average reviews,
saying director Tim Burton, as usual, is great on atmosphere and comic timing
(these are his weirdest moments since Ed Wood), but less so at reining in
an overcomplicated plot and dimly lit action scenes.
I found it a bizarre combination of comedy, campy horror, and
gothic melodrama, and the lead vampire, blood dripping from his chin, is a great
role for the chameleon Johnny Depp. Relax and enjoy its light, spoofy tone. If
you do, you might find it a ghoulish joy. 2D and English everywhere (Digital at
Major).
American Pie: Reunion: US, Comedy/ Raunch – I was really
bored with this. The script was just terrible – profoundly unfunny and
uninteresting, and with attempts at treacly sentimentality on friendship and sex
that sometimes reach the depths of such atrocities as Adam Sandler’s Grown
Ups. All the American Pie characters we met a little more than a decade ago
are returning to East Great Falls for their high-school reunion. In one long
weekend they will discover what has changed, and who hasn’t. They reminisce
about – and get inspired by – the memories of their hormonal teen selves, who
once upon a time launched this disgusting comedy legend. Have they grown up?
What do you think.
Rated R in the US for crude and sexual content throughout,
nudity, language, brief drug use, and teen drinking; 18+ in Thailand. Mixed or
average reviews, saying in general that it will provide sweetly nostalgic
comfort food for fans of the franchise, but fails to do anything truly new or
interesting — or even very funny — with the characters. The movie’s message is
that the way to face impeding maturity is to embrace your inner teen idiot. 2D
and English; not at Big C.
Marvel’s The Avengers 3D: US, Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi –
Marvel Comics brings its greatest superheroes together in this film, hoping
they’ll be enough to smash the evil super-villain Loki (and attract you to the
cinema by strength of sheer numbers). Looks like their strategy is working, as
the film had the biggest opening in the world ever, and in Thailand as well.
Already it’s made more money here than any movie this year or indeed the last
four years, except for Transformers 3 in 2011 and Avatar in 2009. That’s even
including the Naresuans!
Quite excellent for this type of film, and you may enjoy it
quite a bit. Generally favorable reviews, saying the film lives up to its hype
with a script that never forgets its heroes’ humanity. And that there aren’t
many writer-directors around as talented as Joss Whedon. That indeed it’s the
writing that sets this film apart from the crowd.
The film was converted to 3D during post-production, and
along with most reviewers I think that it’s quite well done. Nevertheless, the
things that are really good about this film are not related to 3D – things like
the dialogue, which is unusually terrific. Shown in 3D and 2D at Pattaya Beach,
2D at Major, and 2D (Thai-dubbed) at Big C.
