Now playing in Pattaya
Snow White and the Huntsman: US, Action/ Comedy/ Sci-Fi – I
saw the plain old regular 2D version, and thought it a fantastically beautiful
film with superb art direction and a fully realized story. It’s the old tale
intact, with every moment, every twist and turn, given full due. Visually and
aurally it is without peer. The direction is fine with the exception of the use
of the shaky cam in a few places to cheat on the action scenes. It’s a lazy way
of doing things, just making a blur of action so you can’t tell what’s going on,
and thus they don’t have to plan out the scene very much.
Probably you won’t be taken by it very much if you have an
objection to fairy tales, but for me it is one of the most exciting and
satisfying films I’ve seen in some time. Seemed a never-ending dark feast of
surprise after surprise, delight after delight, imaginative horror after bloody
evil. One could talk much about the excellent and imaginative costuming and art
direction, and music/sound design. It all ends in a truly huge battle,
unexpected in its magnitude and ferocity. Research on medieval battles and the
background of the fairy tale were provided by consultants from the University of
Chichester and the University of Oxford. All in all, just a very well-done film.
Starring Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, and Charlize
Theron; directed by Rupert Sanders, making his feature film debut. Shot mostly
in England, with impressive photography at Pembrokeshire with a
computer-generated castle. Mixed or average reviews, but I think it’s much
better than that. In 2D only, in English everywhere except Thai-dubbed at Big C..
Prometheus: (Scheduled.) US, Action/ Horror/ Sci-Fi –
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading
them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight
a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. Directed by Ridley
Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, who with this film
returns to the genre he helped define. Stars Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green,
and Michael Fassbender. Early reviews: Generally favorable.
Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted: (Scheduled.) US,
Animation/ Adventure/ Comedy/ Family – The Madagascar team of regulars – Alex
the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe – are still
fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple. Their journey takes them
through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they
reinvent – Madagascar style. Early reviews call it bright and breezy with fast
pacing, bright colors, dazzling circus acts, a vigorous villain, and some new
characters.
Men in Black III: US, Action/ Comedy/ Sci-Fi – I saw the 2D
version, and I enjoyed it all. The writers and director and actors were having a
lot of fun with the story, and the fun was infectious. There’s a truly enjoyable
chemistry between Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, and as things develop in the
story, the same chemistry works just as well between Smith and a younger version
of Jones, played by Josh Brolin. The story has a thoroughly disgusting alien
criminal killing the young Agent K in 1969, which naturally alters the timeline,
changes the Agency, and places the Earth in danger. Will Smith as Agent J must
travel back in time to 1969 to before the murder and work with the young Agent K
to save him, the Agency, the Earth, and humanity itself. Some amusing comments
on the year 1969 for those who can remember. Mixed or average reviews, saying it
does justice to the fun and whimsy of the original, and gives a surprisingly
emotional insight into the characters; it’s a solid creature-feature filled with
memorable performances and remarkable visual effects. Converted to 3D in
post-production. In 3D (English) and 2D (English) at Pattaya Beach; 2D (English)
at Major; and 2D (Thai-dubbed) at Big C.
Dark Shadows: US, Comedy/ Fantasy – Other than the pop music
on the soundtrack, which I hated, 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 e 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 (Digital at Major), except not playing at Big C.
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 reminisce about 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. It’s in 2D, showing now
only at Pattaya Beach.
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 is a big hit. It’s really quite excellent for this type of film, and
you may really enjoy it. 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
it’s quite well done. Shown in 3D and 2D at Pattaya Beach, 2D at Major; not
playing at Big C.
I Miss You: Thai, Drama – The film about a handsome surgeon
whose fianc้e dies in a car crash and comes back to haunt him when he starts to
look at someone new is in Thai only (no English subtitles) at all locations.
Art Idol: Thai, Drama/ Romance/ Comedy – About young love and following your
dreams. In Thai only; not showing at Major.
