The Amazing Psycho Per
04-19-2008, 06:19 AM
Just finished watching this recent Thai film and I thought it was pretty good...
If you want to know what to expect, think of what would happen if you put Crying Fists, Goodfellas and Thai Boxing in a blender... The result would be something like Muay Thai Chaya.
First, let me just say I suck at making synopsis so there you go:
The movie revolves around three childhood friends, who have been trained in the art of Muay Thai Chayia in a remote fishing village, trying to make it big in the Muay Thai world of Bangkok. Unfortunately, two of them will end up in the underground world eventually serving as hitman, while the other one will continue his rise as top fighter under his father guidance.
What we are given here is a very odd blend off sport, martial arts, gangster drama movies. The movie shifts frome genre to genre fairly well and boasts some stylish direction, both in terms of editing, camerawork and cinematography. Every trick from the book is used: split screen, slow motion, steady cam, etc...
The photography is worth noticing also, the colors are pretty vivid throughout the movie and the images at the fishing village early on are particularly stunning.
All this shouldn't come as a surprise since Wisit Sasanatieng, director of Tears of the Black Tiger and Citizen dog, serves as art director on this project.
Taken appart all the elements making this movie aren't original at all, but put together, they offer something fresh that looks genuinely Thai.
As for the action, it's nothing like what we have been used to see in recent years from Thailand. It's a much more grounded Muay Thai choreography that is presented here, and one that relies more on editing and sound, then on actual physical prowess.
However two parts in the movie don't seem to quite fit with the rest... One is when one of the main protagonist, Biak, enters a underground fighting rink. The tone of the movie seems to shift to something a little bit, I don't know how to put it but, exagerated... The second one being part of the ending I won't give it away. Don't get me wrong, it does deliver some very entertaining pieces, and some violent ones I might add, but you know, it felt at odds with the tone set by the rest of the film.
Overall a very satisfying movie, with a solid screenplay containing a few twists and turns, at least compared to what Tahiland action movies have been putting up lately. Don't expect an action fest a la Tom Yum Goong, but there are some good action pieces here and there to complete the drama that should satisfy most viewers.
If some of what I wrote don't make sense, well remember that english is not my native language ;).
If you want to know what to expect, think of what would happen if you put Crying Fists, Goodfellas and Thai Boxing in a blender... The result would be something like Muay Thai Chaya.
First, let me just say I suck at making synopsis so there you go:
The movie revolves around three childhood friends, who have been trained in the art of Muay Thai Chayia in a remote fishing village, trying to make it big in the Muay Thai world of Bangkok. Unfortunately, two of them will end up in the underground world eventually serving as hitman, while the other one will continue his rise as top fighter under his father guidance.
What we are given here is a very odd blend off sport, martial arts, gangster drama movies. The movie shifts frome genre to genre fairly well and boasts some stylish direction, both in terms of editing, camerawork and cinematography. Every trick from the book is used: split screen, slow motion, steady cam, etc...
The photography is worth noticing also, the colors are pretty vivid throughout the movie and the images at the fishing village early on are particularly stunning.
All this shouldn't come as a surprise since Wisit Sasanatieng, director of Tears of the Black Tiger and Citizen dog, serves as art director on this project.
Taken appart all the elements making this movie aren't original at all, but put together, they offer something fresh that looks genuinely Thai.
As for the action, it's nothing like what we have been used to see in recent years from Thailand. It's a much more grounded Muay Thai choreography that is presented here, and one that relies more on editing and sound, then on actual physical prowess.
However two parts in the movie don't seem to quite fit with the rest... One is when one of the main protagonist, Biak, enters a underground fighting rink. The tone of the movie seems to shift to something a little bit, I don't know how to put it but, exagerated... The second one being part of the ending I won't give it away. Don't get me wrong, it does deliver some very entertaining pieces, and some violent ones I might add, but you know, it felt at odds with the tone set by the rest of the film.
Overall a very satisfying movie, with a solid screenplay containing a few twists and turns, at least compared to what Tahiland action movies have been putting up lately. Don't expect an action fest a la Tom Yum Goong, but there are some good action pieces here and there to complete the drama that should satisfy most viewers.
If some of what I wrote don't make sense, well remember that english is not my native language ;).