L-MK Reviews

Alone (I) (2007)

Another decent suspense horror

[8/10 · 6 June 2007]

This film made tons of buzz from Thai media before its release, given the fact that it is a film of the director of "Shutter" (which became a blockbuster in Thailand a couple of years ago) and stars one of the most famous Thai actress, Masha Wattanapanich. As a result, it did surely not disappoint anyone.

The film provides some familiar moments of horror, that can't help but remind me much of "Shutter". It contains, of course, twisted plot at the end, though one might have not expected it since the first half of the film gave no clue that there would be a twist at the end. The twist is a lil bit shocking, but predictable. The set is familiar: the hospital, Thai semi-traditional two-story wooden house, and so on. The film gave audience enough shots of creepy graphic, series of haunting moments and a room to breathe for next scary scene.

The plot has some thing to do with myths about Siamese twins, which happen to have vital links to each other. Masha and her co-star did a good job, but they deserved better dialog.

I can't say that this one is better or worse than "Shutter", since the film didn't take its audience further than "Shutter" had done (except that it took you as far as South Korea at the first 10 min). There is no originality to talk about here. So, if you like "Shutter", "Alone" will give you kinda rekindle feelings with another casts and stories.

Lyubov-Morkov (2007)

A light Body-switch comedy from Moscow...

[7/10 · 6 June 2007]

Just watched this body switch comedy this morning and it made my day. I didn't expect much before watching it. But I've got to tell you that this film is really entertaining.

I happened to watch all 3 of Strizhnov film. And came to conclusion that this director did a decent job in portraying how new-new Russian middle class in Moscow would look like. And in this film he still stick to what he knows best.

Its lead star should get most of the praise here. Yuri Kutsenko and Kristina Obrakaite did a real great job. Without them it is hard to imagine how this film would look like. Kutsenko makes me boring every time he tried to repeat how bad Russian mafia could be (just watched "derzkiye dni" yesterday and "posledniy weekend" a couple of weeks ago). But with this role, he reminded me of Mel Gibson turning to be a comedian in "What Women Want". And Obrakaite also made a great return to the big screen. Together they provide a lot of chemistry this kinda film would need, revealed their talent of being comedian. Impressed! The plot may not new, dialog in the film is not that sharp. But if you';re looking for a light comedy, let Lyubov-Morkov make some laughs out of you.

Sagai United (2004)

It's time for Sagai boys to make you laugh.

[6/10 · 6 June 2007]

"Sagai United" takes you far to the place where no other Thai films have taken you to before, the southern mountain part of Thailand (though not the southernmost). The film should have been blamed for making fun of minorities, who can find it offensive, since lots of their habits portrayed in the film is inaccurate. Still, the plot itself corrects much of the blame.

The plot is that one gamble con, in an escape from Bangkok mafia gangster, throw himself from the train (which in the film depicted the western part of Thailand) and found himself in rural South (!), where he met with Sagai boys who have talent in playing football, and decided to train them to make some bucks. At the same time, the tribe was in need for medicine to cure its people from deadly disease. The football championship was mistaken to be the way to help them out of the disease. So, the boys decide to take the city, where they would clashed with city lights and humiliation. Their goal is to win the cup, but their trainer is now stick in between his moral and old habits...

The boys are funny and provide innocent looks, though the leading boy and some of them are not Sagai at all. Pongpat, a veteran Thai star, did his best by flowing with the (lame) story.

No politics here. If you skip all minority's right and humiliation, the film is OK, though may not worth watching in the big screen. Still, it's hard to imagine if non-Thai audience will find this film as hilarious as Thai audience would do.

Geroy nashego vremeni (2006– )

Another Russian costume drama based on great novel

[7/10 · 25 March 2007]

I've just seen this film on TV. Didn't even notice when this film hit theater. However, it went with different title - Knyazhka Maeri.

Based on Russian classic novel, the film doesn't go beyond it. It follows our Hero, Pechorin, traveling south, stuck in the middle of love and passion, and finally found mental test of his honor with close friend. Featuring beautiful scenario of Russian Caucasus, the film has no trouble depicting lives in the army and romance of our Hero and his lovers in 19th century. It's a pity that the duel and battle scenes don't carry the power that could have pushed this film beyond standard of Russian period series on TV.

The actors give their solid performance. Petrenko did his best like in other period drama, like in "Voditel' dlya Very" - a man with painful past and complex character. The rest of the cast doesn't stand out over him, since the film didn't give a chance.

Zhara (2006)

Another guilty pleasure happened in one heck summer day in Moscow...

[7/10 · 29 December 2006]

V Yanyarya budet zhara... In January comes the heat...

I just watched this film this morning and I like it. From the trailer, I thought it would be more romantic, but turned out to be an above-average of Russian comedy. 4 good folks from schools got reunion in a summer café on the bank of River Moskva, and they had an unthinkable trouble to deal with check, though one of them is so rich. One by one, a friend left the table to find solution and everyone of them met with different stories. The rich one got caught, ended up in jail for a night with the help from other folks. Friendship never ends...

The film's idea is unique, given a try to bring out everything that happens in Russian cities right now, from possible street crooks and young "Novyi Russkij", to more serious ones, like problems with immigrants and skin-heads or racists. But the plot is somewhat too predictable and relies too much on coincidence. As you should know the slogan of contemporary Russia, "Russia - a country of possibilities"; so everything can happen and taking that into consideration, that makes this film not senseless at all.

However, I like it as another Russian guilty pleasure. As a foreigner studying in Russia, this film is good enough to entertain me and easily shows Russian young people's lifestyle (most of them are a part of "ribyata"(guys) from 9 rota). The soundtrack is quite impressed, given a combination of slow Russian "popsa" to Russian soft night-club-style hip hop, although. The ensemble, comprising of young Russian rising stars, did a great job. The director also did a fine job using every fantastic view of Megapolis Moscow that you can possibly think of.

It is hard to imagine if people outside Russia today would get the film, anyway (even babushkas who live in this territory for the whole life will have a hard time watching this one).

The Legend of Suriyothai (2001)

Is this movie that great?

[4/10 · 23 May 2003]

Don't be fool by the grace you've seen. It's not that memorable epic.

I have seen this movie twice since it was released in Thailand 2 years ago, the first time in theater and the second on cable (because there is nothing on TV that night and I can't sleep.) I didn't find it such a masterpiece or a kind of movie that Thai citizen should proudly present it as an OSCAR-quality movie.

First of all, the first version released in Thailand is too long, too complicated, too boring and too much overrated because of badly edited. If you are not Thai, you may not know that this movie represents some kind of foundational myth in Thai social and Thai politics.

Secondly, the storyline is dull. I'm quite agree that it's one-dimensional movie and I'm so sure that some matter of Thai history is distorted in Suriyothai. Like Anna and the King, which shows only Anna's perspective to Thai royal and was banned by Thai government, This movie shows only Thai perspective to the conflict event between Thai and Burma. I think that if Burma had its own version of this movie, it would be much different and probably unacceptable to lots of Thai citizen.

Even more, acting is something definitely to be blamed. I've never seen any expensive movies containing this much of bad acting. Top list Thai stars who play their part in this movie may never think that such a great movie like this could bring them down to the lowest point of their profile.

Moreover, this movie is not unique at all. If you watch lots of Thai masterpiece movie in the past, you'll see Suriyothai didn't bring any kind of new technique or any breakthrough development to Thai movie industry at all...

One thing to be praised is its costume and scenes. Well, if you know who the director is, you have nothing much to be praised.

Don't be surprised by the fact that this movie grossed around 12 million$, more than 3 times of Titanic tally, or more than 4 times of amount at the box office of Nang Nak, the second blockbuster in Thai movie industry of all-time. It's just a fever that lasts for 2-3 months, not forever. The gross compiled extra 20% cost more than ordinary ticket and there is no discount...like other movies. Actually, I'm not sure that this movie does profit because only production costs 10 million$, not to mentioned promoting cost that left unknown.

And, don't be too proud if this movie succeeds in USA box office or even gains OSCAR, the one to be praised is Mr. Coppala's version, not the original one, pals! Remind to Thai citizen that Mr. Coppala is AMERICAN filmmaker who had terrific filmography, including the film like The Godfather series, The Conversation and Apocalypse Now.

I think there are lots of Thai films produced by lower cost that are worth watching and not gonna waste your time like this one.

4 out of 10, only to its attempt to lure moviegoers.