Thai Cinema

[bayleaf]

Just seen Warrior King, aka Tom Yum Goong (Tom Thumbs Gong) on play.com (UK) for £10.99 if anyones interested.

Got my copy in 7/11 on Samui last year for 119 THB, ahh memories. All in Thai of course, no sub-titles but a grunt, bif, thud is the same in any language plus I get the 'authentic' Thai experience watching it here in England eating my Tesco takeaway Thai ready meal.

Also got a film starring the lovely Mamee Nakprasitte at Big C in Phuket town for 35 THB, can't understand a word of it but again feel closer to Thailand trying to guess what's going on in the plot.

Otherwise there's Butterfly Man again with Mamee.

Has anyone any recommendations of other Thai films worth seeing? I'd like to see one that includes the rural landscape and people, ie not the tourist experience but closer to what a Thai living in the countryside might relate to.

[magnusvv]

Originally Posted by bayleaf

Has anyone any recommendations of other Thai films worth seeing? I'd like to see one that includes the rural landscape and people, ie not the tourist experience but closer to what a Thai living in the countryside might relate to.

Check out Yam Yasothorn (Hello Yasothorn in English I think). Funny Mum Jokmok movie set up in Issan.

[landofsmiles]

All these foreign films were made here

and Time To Kill with Nicholas Cage has recently been filming in Bangkok. Ridley Scotts' American Gangster with Denzel washington and Russel Crowe is supposed to start filming this month and Rambo IV with Sylvester Stallone is due to film next year.

Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) – Director Michael Todd was able to borrow one of the royal barges of King Bhumibol Adulyadej when the production was in Bangkok.

The Ugly American (1963) – Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj appeared on screen with Marlon Brando. He played the prime minister of the fictional Southeast Asian country of Sarkhan.

The Big Boss (1971) – Bruce Lee portrays a young fighter from Guangdong who comes to Thailand to sort out his life and finds a job working in an icehouse. He tries to be peaceful, but they just keep pushing him.

Duel of Fists (1971) – David Chiang travels to Bangkok looking for his long-lost brother (Ti Lung), who's a muay Thai boxer in this Shaw Brothers Studio film by Chang Cheh. Locations include the Dusit Thani Hotel on Rama IV Road, long before overpass bridges and the Bangkok Skytrain were built, as well as the Siam Intercontinental, since razed to make way for Siam Paragon.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – Filmed around Bangkok and Phang Nga Bay near Phuket. Bond attended a boxing match at Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. One of the islands seen in the film is known as the "Nail" island (or Ko Khao Tapoo). This island houses the solar panels. The hideout of Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) is actually Ko Kow-Phing-Khan. Both islands are now tourist attractions. The "nail" island is referred to as "James Bond Island" in tourist literature. The location was extremely hard hit by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter, made in Thailand.The Deer Hunter (1978) – The Russian roulette bar was in Patpong in Bangkok, while the POW camp was in Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi Province.

1980s
The Killing Fields (1982) – Locations in Hua Hin and Phuket stood in for Khmer Rouge-era Cambodia. Actor Spalding Gray recounts the film's shoot in his monologue, Swimming to Cambodia.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – Sylvester Stallone's super soldier goes to Cambodia (actually Thailand) looking for his POW buddies. Followed by Rambo III', set in Afghanistan but actually made in Thailand.

Good Morning Vietnam (1987) – Thai actress Jintara Sukapat portrayed the love interest for Robin Williams' character.

Casualties of War (1989) – Brian De Palma's Vietnam War saga was filmed around Phuket.

1990s
Air America (1990) – Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand stands in for Secret War-era Laos. The film later attracted tourism to the region and was featured on the cover of Conde Nast Traveller in May 1993.

Operation Dumbo Drop (1995) – Yet another Vietnam War film made in Thailand. The elephant is the star.

Cutthroat Island (1995) – Renny Harlin's swashbuckler was filmed on location in Maya Bay, which would later be used for The Beach.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) – Tony Jaa worked as a stunt double and went on to become a major Thai action star. Filming was in historic old Ayutthaya, where a minor stir was caused when scantily-clad foreign women were filmed dancing on top of some sacred ruins. Mortal Kombat also was made in Thailand, around Sukhothai historical park.

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – Another Bond film and another Bond. Michelle Yeoh co-stars, as Bangkok stands in for Ho Chi Minh City. Scaramanga's island is seen, as Phang Nga Bay substitutes for Halong Bay, Vietnam.

2000-2003
The Beach (2000) – Environmentalists protested the film because the production crew altered the beach of Ko Phi Phi Leh. The beach was restored to its natural condition in the 2004 tsunami.

In the Mood for Love (2000) – Wong Kar-wai's love story starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu Wai is set in 1960s Hong Kong but exterior scenes were filmed in Bangkok.

City of Ghosts (2002) – Matt Dillon's noirish thriller was set in Cambodia and mostly filmed there, but some scenes were shot in Thailand, and many of the crew were Thai people.

Belly of the Beast (2003) – Steven Seagal portrays a former CIA agent who searches in Thailand for his kidnapped daughter. Co-stars Thai actors Sarah Malakul, Pongpat Wachirabanjong and Chakrit Yamnam. [2]

2004
Two Brothers (2004) – This family-friendly story about two tigers had some scenes made in Samut Prakan Province, at a tourist site called Mueang Boran (Ancient City), which has scaled-down replicas of many of Thailand's important structures. The tigers used in the film were from the Si Racha Tiger Zoo near Pattaya. The film was set in neighboring Cambodia, and many locations were used there was well.

Alexander the Great goes up against a war elephant.Alexander (2004) – Colin Farrell goes up against an elephant here. Part of Alexander the Great's eastern campaign were filmed along the Mekong in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province and in Saraburi Province. Royal Thai Army soldiers were used as extras. Thai actors Bin Bunluerit and Jaran Ngamdee portrayed an Indian king an Indian prince respectively.

Around the World in 80 Days (2004) – This Jackie Chan/Steve Coogan remake of the 1956 film was also filmed in Thailand, with scenes shot in Krabi that were meant to take place in a rural village in China. Sammo Hung makes an appearance as Wong Fei Hung.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) – Made in Bangkok and Phuket, including Bangkok's Soi Cowboy. Tabloid reports that Hugh Grant was chased by bargirls were false.

2005
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (2005) – The approach to Kashyyyk, the Wookiee homeworld, was filmed around Krabi Province by Santa Film International. [3]

Stealth (2005) – Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel and Josh Lucas portray high-tech US Navy aviators. Rest and relaxation scenes are set in Thailand and were filmed on The Beach island, Ko Phi Phi Leh. Neighboring Myanmar is the setting for a missile target, but those scenes were filmed in Australia.

2006
Rescue Dawn (2006) – Werner Herzog came to Thailand in August 2005 to direct this true story of pilot Dieter Dengler and his escape from a POW camp during the Vietnam War. Stars Christian Bale and Steve Zahn.

The Aftermath (2006) – The HBO-BBC joint production came to Phuket in April-June 2006 to film mini-series about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the resulting tsunami that hit Phuket. The movie stars Tim Roth and Toni Collette.

[sishow]

I thought "Beautiful Boxer" (English title, also available from play.com!) was very good, but it been mentioned in another thread on here somewhere!

[jason_uk]

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

All these foreign films were made here

and Time To Kill with Nicholas Cage has recently been filming in Bangkok. Ridley Scotts' American Gangster with Denzel washington and Russel Crowe is supposed to start filming this month and Rambo IV with Sylvester Stallone is due to film next year.

Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) – Director Michael Todd was able to borrow one of the royal barges of King Bhumibol Adulyadej when the production was in Bangkok.

The Ugly American (1963) – Prime Minister Kukrit Pramoj appeared on screen with Marlon Brando. He played the prime minister of the fictional Southeast Asian country of Sarkhan.

The Big Boss (1971) – Bruce Lee portrays a young fighter from Guangdong who comes to Thailand to sort out his life and finds a job working in an icehouse. He tries to be peaceful, but they just keep pushing him.

Duel of Fists (1971) – David Chiang travels to Bangkok looking for his long-lost brother (Ti Lung), who's a muay Thai boxer in this Shaw Brothers Studio film by Chang Cheh. Locations include the Dusit Thani Hotel on Rama IV Road, long before overpass bridges and the Bangkok Skytrain were built, as well as the Siam Intercontinental, since razed to make way for Siam Paragon.

The Man with the Golden Gun (1974) – Filmed around Bangkok and Phang Nga Bay near Phuket. Bond attended a boxing match at Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium in Pom Prap Sattru Phai district. One of the islands seen in the film is known as the "Nail" island (or Ko Khao Tapoo). This island houses the solar panels. The hideout of Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) is actually Ko Kow-Phing-Khan. Both islands are now tourist attractions. The "nail" island is referred to as "James Bond Island" in tourist literature. The location was extremely hard hit by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Robert De Niro in The Deer Hunter, made in Thailand.The Deer Hunter (1978) – The Russian roulette bar was in Patpong in Bangkok, while the POW camp was in Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi Province.

1980s
The Killing Fields (1982) – Locations in Hua Hin and Phuket stood in for Khmer Rouge-era Cambodia. Actor Spalding Gray recounts the film's shoot in his monologue, Swimming to Cambodia.

Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985) – Sylvester Stallone's super soldier goes to Cambodia (actually Thailand) looking for his POW buddies. Followed by Rambo III', set in Afghanistan but actually made in Thailand.

Good Morning Vietnam (1987) – Thai actress Jintara Sukapat portrayed the love interest for Robin Williams' character.

Casualties of War (1989) – Brian De Palma's Vietnam War saga was filmed around Phuket.

1990s
Air America (1990) – Mae Hong Son Province in northern Thailand stands in for Secret War-era Laos. The film later attracted tourism to the region and was featured on the cover of Conde Nast Traveller in May 1993.

Operation Dumbo Drop (1995) – Yet another Vietnam War film made in Thailand. The elephant is the star.

Cutthroat Island (1995) – Renny Harlin's swashbuckler was filmed on location in Maya Bay, which would later be used for The Beach.

Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997) – Tony Jaa worked as a stunt double and went on to become a major Thai action star. Filming was in historic old Ayutthaya, where a minor stir was caused when scantily-clad foreign women were filmed dancing on top of some sacred ruins. Mortal Kombat also was made in Thailand, around Sukhothai historical park.

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) – Another Bond film and another Bond. Michelle Yeoh co-stars, as Bangkok stands in for Ho Chi Minh City. Scaramanga's island is seen, as Phang Nga Bay substitutes for Halong Bay, Vietnam.

2000-2003
The Beach (2000) – Environmentalists protested the film because the production crew altered the beach of Ko Phi Phi Leh. The beach was restored to its natural condition in the 2004 tsunami.

In the Mood for Love (2000) – Wong Kar-wai's love story starring Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung Chiu Wai is set in 1960s Hong Kong but exterior scenes were filmed in Bangkok.

City of Ghosts (2002) – Matt Dillon's noirish thriller was set in Cambodia and mostly filmed there, but some scenes were shot in Thailand, and many of the crew were Thai people.

Belly of the Beast (2003) – Steven Seagal portrays a former CIA agent who searches in Thailand for his kidnapped daughter. Co-stars Thai actors Sarah Malakul, Pongpat Wachirabanjong and Chakrit Yamnam. [2]

2004
Two Brothers (2004) – This family-friendly story about two tigers had some scenes made in Samut Prakan Province, at a tourist site called Mueang Boran (Ancient City), which has scaled-down replicas of many of Thailand's important structures. The tigers used in the film were from the Si Racha Tiger Zoo near Pattaya. The film was set in neighboring Cambodia, and many locations were used there was well.

Alexander the Great goes up against a war elephant.Alexander (2004) – Colin Farrell goes up against an elephant here. Part of Alexander the Great's eastern campaign were filmed along the Mekong in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province and in Saraburi Province. Royal Thai Army soldiers were used as extras. Thai actors Bin Bunluerit and Jaran Ngamdee portrayed an Indian king an Indian prince respectively.

Around the World in 80 Days (2004) – This Jackie Chan/Steve Coogan remake of the 1956 film was also filmed in Thailand, with scenes shot in Krabi that were meant to take place in a rural village in China. Sammo Hung makes an appearance as Wong Fei Hung.

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004) – Made in Bangkok and Phuket, including Bangkok's Soi Cowboy. Tabloid reports that Hugh Grant was chased by bargirls were false.

2005
Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (2005) – The approach to Kashyyyk, the Wookiee homeworld, was filmed around Krabi Province by Santa Film International. [3]

Stealth (2005) – Jamie Foxx, Jessica Biel and Josh Lucas portray high-tech US Navy aviators. Rest and relaxation scenes are set in Thailand and were filmed on The Beach island, Ko Phi Phi Leh. Neighboring Myanmar is the setting for a missile target, but those scenes were filmed in Australia.

2006
Rescue Dawn (2006) – Werner Herzog came to Thailand in August 2005 to direct this true story of pilot Dieter Dengler and his escape from a POW camp during the Vietnam War. Stars Christian Bale and Steve Zahn.

The Aftermath (2006) – The HBO-BBC joint production came to Phuket in April-June 2006 to film mini-series about the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the resulting tsunami that hit Phuket. The movie stars Tim Roth and Toni Collette.

thamks for that info i always am on the lookout for movies that are filmed in thailand or around it ,**** i never new the wookie homeworld was thailand awesome.

[jason_uk]

i was lucky ennough to arrive in bangkok every time tonys 2 new movies were realeased so saw them both there and i will arrange my ticket to coincide with the release of the sword his new movie out next year i can take a break from the awesome nightlife to see his movie with a girl one night im sure,if your interested in another awesome martial arts flick you will love born to fight also avalible in the uk its very very good it was the first thai movie i ever saw in bangkok.

Originally Posted by bayleaf

Just seen Warrior King, aka Tom Yum Goong (Tom Thumbs Gong) on play.com (UK) for £10.99 if anyones interested.

Got my copy in 7/11 on Samui last year for 119 THB, ahh memories. All in Thai of course, no sub-titles but a grunt, bif, thud is the same in any language plus I get the 'authentic' Thai experience watching it here in England eating my Tesco takeaway Thai ready meal.

Also got a film starring the lovely Mamee Nakprasitte at Big C in Phuket town for 35 THB, can't understand a word of it but again feel closer to Thailand trying to guess what's going on in the plot.

Otherwise there's Butterfly Man again with Mamee.

Has anyone any recommendations of other Thai films worth seeing? I'd like to see one that includes the rural landscape and people, ie not the tourist experience but closer to what a Thai living in the countryside might relate to.

[landofsmiles]

Here's a list of Thai films made in Thailand. Strange numbering system to the Eye movies!

13 Beloved
A
The Adventure of Iron Pussy
The Adventure of Sudsakorn
Ahingsa-Jikko mee gam
Ai-Fak
Art of the Devil 2
B
Bangkok Dangerous
Bangkok Loco
Beautiful Boxer
Blissfully Yours
The Bodyguard (2004 film)
Buppah Rahtree
Buppah Rahtree Phase 2: Rahtree Returns
C
Chai Lai
D
Dang Bireley's and Young Gangsters
Dynamite Warriors
E
The Eye 10
The Eye 2
The Eye (2002 film)
F
Fake (film)
Fan Chan
February (2003 film)
Fun Bar Karaoke
G
Ghost Game (film)
H
The Holy Man
I
Invisible Waves
The Iron Ladies (film)
J
Jan Dara
Jom kha mung wej
K
Kerd ma lui
Killer Tattoo
King Naresuan (film)
The King Maker
Krasue Valentine
L
Last Life in the Universe
The Legend of Suriyothai
The Letter: Jod Mai Rak
Lucky Loser
M
Mah Nakorn
Mekhong Full Moon Party
Mercury Man (film)
Metrosexual (film)
Midnight My Love
Miss Suwanna of Siam
Monrak Transistor
N
Nang Nak
Noo Hin: The Movie
O
OK Baytong
Ong Bak 2
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior
The Overture
P
Pisaj
R
Re-cycle
Ruang Talok 69
Ruk Jung
S
SARS Wars
Sai Lor Fah
Shutter (Thai film)
Sung Horn
Syndromes and a Century
T
Tears of the Black Tiger
Three (film)
The Tin Mine
Tom-Yum-Goong
Tropical Malady
U
The Unseeable
Y
Yam Yasothon

[The Fish]

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

All these foreign films were made here

Alexander the Great goes up against a war elephant.Alexander (2004) – Colin Farrell goes up against an elephant here. Part of Alexander the Great's eastern campaign were filmed along the Mekong in northeastern Ubon Ratchathani Province and in Saraburi Province. Royal Thai Army soldiers were used as extras. Thai actors Bin Bunluerit and Jaran Ngamdee portrayed an Indian king an Indian prince respectively.

No surpsrises there then.

Fish

__________________
It's dangerous in there, don't attempt anything without the gloves!!

[Schmeen]

The location was extremely hard hit by a tsunami following the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

Nice bit of OOOOOH AAAAAH drama for the film industry, but completely untrue

[jason_uk]

Originally Posted by landofsmiles

Here's a list of Thai films made in Thailand. Strange numbering system to the Eye movies!

13 Beloved
A
The Adventure of Iron Pussy
The Adventure of Sudsakorn
Ahingsa-Jikko mee gam
Ai-Fak
Art of the Devil 2
B
Bangkok Dangerous
Bangkok Loco
Beautiful Boxer
Blissfully Yours
The Bodyguard (2004 film)
Buppah Rahtree
Buppah Rahtree Phase 2: Rahtree Returns
C
Chai Lai
D
Dang Bireley's and Young Gangsters
Dynamite Warriors
E
The Eye 10
The Eye 2
The Eye (2002 film)
F
Fake (film)
Fan Chan
February (2003 film)
Fun Bar Karaoke
G
Ghost Game (film)
H
The Holy Man
I
Invisible Waves
The Iron Ladies (film)
J
Jan Dara
Jom kha mung wej
K
Kerd ma lui
Killer Tattoo
King Naresuan (film)
The King Maker
Krasue Valentine
L
Last Life in the Universe
The Legend of Suriyothai
The Letter: Jod Mai Rak
Lucky Loser
M
Mah Nakorn
Mekhong Full Moon Party
Mercury Man (film)
Metrosexual (film)
Midnight My Love
Miss Suwanna of Siam
Monrak Transistor
N
Nang Nak
Noo Hin: The Movie
O
OK Baytong
Ong Bak 2
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior
The Overture
P
Pisaj
R
Re-cycle
Ruang Talok 69
Ruk Jung
S
SARS Wars
Sai Lor Fah
Shutter (Thai film)
Sung Horn
Syndromes and a Century
T
Tears of the Black Tiger
Three (film)
The Tin Mine
Tom-Yum-Goong
Tropical Malady
U
The Unseeable
Y
Yam Yasothon

im wanting to get
GHOSTGAME
SHUTTER
BUPPAH RAHTREE 1 & 2

I was gonna buy them in Bangkok last month but the regions codes are now installed to their dvd's so i didnt get them is there a site so i can buy thai movies like these for my uk region
and get them in english subtitles.