| You've found my Thai movie page! Thai movies are very different from what we are used to here in the US. In many ways they are much more "true to life" in that the good guys don't always win, and main characters die off as part of the story. Some of these movies can be found at your local video rental stores - the big chain stores have more of them than you realize, so check the foreign films section. One movie listed here (Shiri) is Korean, not Thai - but it is an awesome movie that will keep you wondering what will happen next. It also out sold James Camerons' "Titanic" as soon as it was released in South Korea. If you can't find these locally, they can all be found on E-Bay. Be aware that they may be Region 3 (the US is Region 1) so they will may not play in older DVD players, however they should play well in your computer. A region free version of Butterfly Man is available at www.amazon.co.uk Your results may vary. I think the absolute best modern Thai movie I have seen yet is Butterfly Man. I finally bought it on E-Bay as a VCD (Video Compact Disc - similar to a DVD, but they play in CD-ROM drives and newer DVD players) after looking at it several times but then passing it up. I think it struck me so profoundly because of the way the movie ends. Like many Thai movies, there is tragedy but in this case the tragedy is the cause of a huge life change. It also gives a great insight to the everyday life occurrences of Thai people. Seeing Adam and Em (the main characters) walking around Koh Samui (where the movie was filmed) shows the stunning surroundings that are typical of Thailand. One of the key scenes in the movie takes place at the Big Buddha. Seeing the scale of the temple and the Buddha (which is not housed in a building) and seeing the sheer beauty of this huge outdoor figure is not to be missed. |
| The official website is here. Pictures on this page are from the official website, and used by permission. |
Click these thumbnails for larger views:
Adam at sunset.
Back cover of the DVD
If you saw "The Beach" and thought it was anything NEAR an accurate representation
of Thai life, then you HAVE GOT TO SEE BUTTERFLY MAN!
of Thai life, then you HAVE GOT TO SEE BUTTERFLY MAN!
| Next on the list is "The Legend of Suriyothai". Unlike "The King and I" and even the very good "Anna and The King", this movie was actually Thailand. The significance of that lies in its accuracy. While the previous movies were Hollywood versions designed for Westerners, Suriyothai puts you right there in Thai history. This movie is on the scale of the old Cecil B. DeMille films, with sprawling sets and locations, accurate depictions of Thai royalty and life at the time (almost 500 years ago) and is probably the only movie you will ever see with battles that include war elephants. It seems that anywhere possible scenes were filmed at the correct historical locations, so you really are looking directly into the past. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this film is worth volumes! Click here to go directly to the Sony Pictures page for The Legend of Suriyothai! |
This image of the DVD cover is about
half a meg - so it's not a quick
download, but it's worth it!
half a meg - so it's not a quick
download, but it's worth it!
Shiri info soon to follow............
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Front cover of the DVD
From Wikipedia:
The Legend of Suriyothai is a Thai film directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol, telling the history of Queen Suriyothai, who died in a battle in 1548 against Burmese
invaders. Taking her battle elephant in front of the Burmese army, Suriyothai sacrificed herself to save the life of her King Chakrapat, and his kingdom.
The film follows the dramatic course of the life of Suriyothai from her adolescence to her death. It presents a young woman of minor royal standing who has
strong opinions and a great deal of self-determination. She loves Lord Piren, but is promised to Prince Tien, the son of the second king of the realm. In an
attempt to escape a marriage she does not want she runs away and is captured by the principal king who explains the possible problems her marriage to Piren
might cause to Siam. For the good of the kingdom, she marries Tien to keep peace in the royal families. From this point on she remains loyal to the man she
likes but does not love, and is far from being his puppet.
The principal king dies, and Tien's father inherits the throne. He has a young son whose mother is the principal consort. A few years later, small pox makes its
first appearance in Siam and the king is stricken with the disease. On his deathbed he extracts a promise of support for his young son from Chai Raja, his
nephew, and Tien, who was born to a concubine. Burma invades in the north and Chai Raja assumes the throne in order to protect Siam. He executes the
child king, which Tien protests but on Suriyothai's advice accepts his cousin as his ruler.
Chai Raja's wife, Queen Jitravadee, dies shortly after giving birth to the heir Yodfa. The king takes a new consort, Srisudachan, and has another son by her.
After several years of peace, Chai Raja leaves the capital Ayutthaya for a military campaign in the north. Soon after, Srisudachan, descended from the
deposed U-Tong dynasty, takes Boonsri Worawongsa, another U-Tong descendant, as a lover and starts plotting to take over the throne.
The king is wounded in battle and comes back to the capital to recuperate, where Srisudachan poisons him and attempts to blame the deed on Tien. Tien
saves his own life by becoming a Buddhist monk. Srisudachan proceeds by naming Worawongsa as regent and promptly poisoning young Yodfa, thereby
assuming power. Suriyothai then summons her old friend Piren, who was Chai Raja's troop commander, to help set things right. His troops ambush and kill
Worawongsa and Srisudachan, and Tien accepts the throne despite his monkhood.
Upon hearing this, Burmese King Hongsa invades again and lays siege to Ayutthaya. In a desperate attempt to boost the morale of their troops, both the un-
warlike King Tien and Queen Suriyothai join the battle. The queen is slain, falling in slow motion from the elephant in full uniform with her throat cut.
Queen Suriyothai (also known as Somdet Phra Suriyothai, Thai: สมเด็จพระสุริโยทัย) was a legendary queen during the 16th century Ayutthaya period of
Siam (now Thailand). She is famous for having given her life in defense of her king. The meaning of her name in Thai is "sunrise". (Suriya + Uthai, Suriya =
RISING Uthai = SUN)
Suriyothai was queen during the early part of the reign of King Maha Chakapat (2091 to 2106 Buddhist Era, with another reign from 2111 to 2112 B.E.). In
1548 A.D., barely six months into King Maha Chakapat's reign, the King of Burma invaded Siam with the intent of sacking the main capital, Ayutthaya.
As was the custom at the time, King Maha Chakapat led his troops in the defense of the city from atop his war elephant. Even though women were not
permitted to take part in battle, Queen Suriyothai was so concerned for her husband that she disguised herself as a man and rode into battle
on her own elephant.(I do not believe that this is correct, especially after watching the full 5 hour Thai release of the movie.)
During the battle with Burmese troops, King Maha Chakapat's elephant collapsed from wounds and he was in danger of being killed. Queen Suriyothai rode
her elephant to protect her husband and was killed by a scythe.
A memorial chedi to Queen Suriyothai, Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai, was built by King Maha Chakapat in her honor. The chedi is located outside Ayutthaya at
Wat Suanluang Sopsawan. There is also a memorial park to her at the location, featuring a large statue of the queen riding a war elephant.
The link to the site explaining her chedi is here.
The Legend of Suriyothai is a Thai film directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol, telling the history of Queen Suriyothai, who died in a battle in 1548 against Burmese
invaders. Taking her battle elephant in front of the Burmese army, Suriyothai sacrificed herself to save the life of her King Chakrapat, and his kingdom.
The film follows the dramatic course of the life of Suriyothai from her adolescence to her death. It presents a young woman of minor royal standing who has
strong opinions and a great deal of self-determination. She loves Lord Piren, but is promised to Prince Tien, the son of the second king of the realm. In an
attempt to escape a marriage she does not want she runs away and is captured by the principal king who explains the possible problems her marriage to Piren
might cause to Siam. For the good of the kingdom, she marries Tien to keep peace in the royal families. From this point on she remains loyal to the man she
likes but does not love, and is far from being his puppet.
The principal king dies, and Tien's father inherits the throne. He has a young son whose mother is the principal consort. A few years later, small pox makes its
first appearance in Siam and the king is stricken with the disease. On his deathbed he extracts a promise of support for his young son from Chai Raja, his
nephew, and Tien, who was born to a concubine. Burma invades in the north and Chai Raja assumes the throne in order to protect Siam. He executes the
child king, which Tien protests but on Suriyothai's advice accepts his cousin as his ruler.
Chai Raja's wife, Queen Jitravadee, dies shortly after giving birth to the heir Yodfa. The king takes a new consort, Srisudachan, and has another son by her.
After several years of peace, Chai Raja leaves the capital Ayutthaya for a military campaign in the north. Soon after, Srisudachan, descended from the
deposed U-Tong dynasty, takes Boonsri Worawongsa, another U-Tong descendant, as a lover and starts plotting to take over the throne.
The king is wounded in battle and comes back to the capital to recuperate, where Srisudachan poisons him and attempts to blame the deed on Tien. Tien
saves his own life by becoming a Buddhist monk. Srisudachan proceeds by naming Worawongsa as regent and promptly poisoning young Yodfa, thereby
assuming power. Suriyothai then summons her old friend Piren, who was Chai Raja's troop commander, to help set things right. His troops ambush and kill
Worawongsa and Srisudachan, and Tien accepts the throne despite his monkhood.
Upon hearing this, Burmese King Hongsa invades again and lays siege to Ayutthaya. In a desperate attempt to boost the morale of their troops, both the un-
warlike King Tien and Queen Suriyothai join the battle. The queen is slain, falling in slow motion from the elephant in full uniform with her throat cut.
Queen Suriyothai (also known as Somdet Phra Suriyothai, Thai: สมเด็จพระสุริโยทัย) was a legendary queen during the 16th century Ayutthaya period of
Siam (now Thailand). She is famous for having given her life in defense of her king. The meaning of her name in Thai is "sunrise". (Suriya + Uthai, Suriya =
RISING Uthai = SUN)
Suriyothai was queen during the early part of the reign of King Maha Chakapat (2091 to 2106 Buddhist Era, with another reign from 2111 to 2112 B.E.). In
1548 A.D., barely six months into King Maha Chakapat's reign, the King of Burma invaded Siam with the intent of sacking the main capital, Ayutthaya.
As was the custom at the time, King Maha Chakapat led his troops in the defense of the city from atop his war elephant. Even though women were not
permitted to take part in battle, Queen Suriyothai was so concerned for her husband that she disguised herself as a man and rode into battle
on her own elephant.(I do not believe that this is correct, especially after watching the full 5 hour Thai release of the movie.)
During the battle with Burmese troops, King Maha Chakapat's elephant collapsed from wounds and he was in danger of being killed. Queen Suriyothai rode
her elephant to protect her husband and was killed by a scythe.
A memorial chedi to Queen Suriyothai, Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai, was built by King Maha Chakapat in her honor. The chedi is located outside Ayutthaya at
Wat Suanluang Sopsawan. There is also a memorial park to her at the location, featuring a large statue of the queen riding a war elephant.
The link to the site explaining her chedi is here.
Born to Fight, Ong Bak, Tom Yung Goong (The Protector in the US), Mercury Man, the King Maker and Dynamite Warrior Ah, Thai martial arts movies! You haven't seen wild action, amazing stunts and exotic settings till you've seen some of these action movies! Ong Bak features Tony Ja, who does all his own "stunts". The commercials even say "No Safety Nets, No Computer Graphics, No Wires" Check out an original 30 second TV spot (5 meg QT movie) Tony is simply AMAZING! Tony also stars in Tom Yung Goong - check out the IMDB info here See a great trailer for Tom Yung Goong here. Here is a low res trailer for Born To Fight, another great action/Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) movie. Mercury Man is a Thai version of the comic book action here genre, with great effects, the usual comedy mixed in, and of course, great action scenes. There is even a bar fight scene where our hero is doused in flammable liquid and lit on fire WHILE STILL FIGHTING! Here is a link to a YouTube page with the trailer. The King Maker is another grand spectacle movie - not on the order of Suriyothai, but certainly up there. Here is a link to the IMDB trailer for it. Dynamite Warrior is another great movie, but you need to remember that belief in magic, powerful amulets, etc., is commonplace in most Asian countries, and Thailand is no exception. The link for this trailer is here. |
The Pang brothers have re-made their own 1999 movie Bangkok Dangerous for Western
audiences. The new version stars Nicolas Cage and opens this year. Click here for the
hi-res trailer. They've changed the story some (again for Western audiences) so it will be
interesting to see the differences.
audiences. The new version stars Nicolas Cage and opens this year. Click here for the
hi-res trailer. They've changed the story some (again for Western audiences) so it will be
interesting to see the differences.
