The Legend of Thai Films

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"The Legend Of Thai Films"

            According to the survey conducted by Thai film insight (www.surveymonkey.com), we have gathered and analyze the result from fifty different people and questionnaires come up with the following result:

            Most of the survey is conducted on the 16 to 25 age group ranges; therefore all the results will only take this particular age group into account.

           Top five Thai favorite film genres shows Adventure/action, Comedy, Romantic/Drama, Fantasy/Animation and Crime/Mystery. Result indicates that this age group watch movie at least once a month and the 5 most favorite Thai films are:

5.) Shutter /ชัตเตอร์ กดติดวิญญาณ

          Shutter, 2004, is a horror film produced by Banjong Pisanthanakun and Parkpoom Wongpoom. Movie starred Ananda Everingham, Natthaweeranuch Thongmee and Achita Sikamana. The plot focuses on mysterious images that is developed and create a mystery. With a ghost story as prerequisite to the whole story, the film takes on the subject of spirit appearing in a photograph with mysterious appearance of spectral images caught by an amateur photographer.

         The highlighted scene shows a wounded Tun(Ananda Everingham) slumping in a hospital bed while Jane(Natthaweeranuch Thongmee) is visiting him. As the door swings sharply behind Jane, the glass reflection of Tun features Natre(Achita Sikamana), the ghost, sitting on his shoulder. This scene was captured by the eyes of every audience and remains in the audience though even after the movie have ended.

           After the released, the movie recieved a good response and was named the most thrilling movie during the time. Today, Shutter still remains one of the most favorite horror movie and named the scariest films of all time in Thailand. The movie end up with a total revenue of 107 million Baht.

4.) A Crazy Little Thing Called Love/

 First Love / สิ่งเล็กเล็ก ที่เรียกว่า...รัก 

           This 2010 romantic comedy film directed by Putthiphong Promsakha na Sakon Nakhon and Wasin Pokpong.

          The story focuses on the love of Nam (Pimchanok Luevisadpaibul) is an ugly girl who is secretly attracted to Chon (Mario Maurer) to the eye of young people who first experience crush on her senior at school and how it affects their lives and their inspirations.

         The film got the good impression and positive reviews from critics and audiences, despite being filmed with an average budget. At last count, First Love had earned around 80 million baht, which higher than expected. Demonstrating that Thai romance films have strong appeal in other Asian markets.

3.) Fan Chan/ My Girl/ แฟนฉัน 

           This 2003 romantic film portrays a nostalgic look back at a childhood relationship between a boy (Jeab, Charlie Trairattana) and a girl (Noi-nar, Focus Jirakul) that is growing up in a small town in Thailand. The creation of this movie is accompanied by six young screenwriter-directors, Vitcha Gojiew, Songyos Sugmakanan, Nithiwat Tharathorn, Witthaya Thongyooyong, Anusorn Trisirikasem and Komgrit Triwimol.

           The plot attacted the audience with its sweetness of a childhood relationship as well as the added humour of the film which certainly flashback the memory of the audience. Fan Chan was the biggest hit in Thai box office during the year 2003 with a total revenue of 140 million baht.

2.) Guan Muen Ho/ Hello Stranger 

             This romantic-comedy film also known as "anti-romantic" film produced by Banjong Pisanthanakun in 2010. The movie was inspired by the book called "Two Shadows in Korea" by Songkalot Bangyikhun. Actors in this movie includes "Ter" Chanthawit Thanasewi and new-face actress "Noona" Neungthida Sophon. Guan Muen Ho is released in Thai cinemas on the 19th of August 2010 and rated for over 15. The plot of the story is basically a love story where a guy and a girl met coincidently on a vacation to South Korea. They decided to travel together while keep their name secret. The filming of this movie was done in South Korea on locations known to be famous tourist attraction spots that appeared in many Korean dramas that were broadcasted in Thailand.

         It is because the couple have bonded and went through an outrageous advanture throughout the movie that plotted this romatic commedy films. This genre usually feature a couple that went through a conflict that entertains the audience and finally end up falling in love with each other. In this film, both characters do not give out their names and so get to known each other namelessly which gives an impression to the audience whether the romance between the two will ever get off the ground.

          This film touches the heart of many Thais which earns a great sum of revenue to the maker. It is estimated that the revenue in total reaches 125 million with 40 million on the openning week. This movie have undoubtedly become the highest money making film of the year 2010. Lastly, Guan Muen Ho will surely remain talk of the town for the next decade and this success set Banjong, the producer, as the new generation producer.

1.) The Legend of King Naresuan (ตำนานสมเด็จพระนเรศวรมหาราช)

            This film is a biographical historical drama film about King Naresuan the Great (1590 – 1605), who ruled Siam which directed by Chatrichalerm Yukol. It consists of five parts of film.

Part I: Hongsawadee's Hostage (2007)

             The film concerns the childhood of King Naresuan, when he was taken hostage by Burmese King Bayinnnaung. He became acquainted with sword fighting, skills of war and became a threat to the Burmese empire

Part II: Reclaiming Sovereignty (2007)

            The second part is about Naresuan as a young adult prince, who already become a head mility and leads his army on exploits against breakaway kingdoms for King Bayinnaung's successor, King Nonthabureng, and eventually breaks away to declare sovereignty for Siam.

"It's not over yet, there is more work for us to do!"

Part III: Naval Battle (2011) 

           Naresuan's military and leadership skills and the expansion of the Siamese kingdom.

Part IV (2011)

Part V (2012)

           The fifth part of the film focuses on the great attempt of King Naresuan who determined to free Siam from the Burmese rule. During his reign numerous wars were fought against Burma, and Siam reached its greatest territorial extent and influence.

            In production for more than three years, the project has an estimated budget of 700 million baht, making it the most expensive Thai film made. The huge production of the film and historical heroic plot attract huge amount of audience which the total revenue of five parts of The Legend of King Naresuan is absolutely over 1 billion baht.  

Survey For Thai Film Insight:)

In order to provide you with the best insightful and knowledgeable information about Thai films, we would like to know about you, some of your opinion and suggestions about Thai films.. .... 

> Click here to complete this insight survey <

Thank you, ^^

QUIZ.... Check it out!!!!!!!

"Quiz"

How well you know about Thailand and films?

1. Which James Bond movie was filmed in and around Thailand?

A.)  “The Man with the Golden Gun”
B.)  “The Golden Age of the Man”
C.)  “The Bond in Thailand”

2. Who is the director of 2003 film “Tropical Malady” (สัตว์ประหลาด), depicts a romance between Thai army soldier and a local small-town boy.

A.)  Nonzee Nimibutr

B.)  Poj Arnon
C.)  Apichatpong Weerasethakul

3. What is this Thai film?

A.) Shutter

B.) Three

C.) The Eye

4. Another 2007 film, ______________, directed by Poj Arnon, was critically hailed as a departure from the stereotyped view of homosexuals as transvestites and transsexuals.

A.)  Beautiful Boxer (บิวตี้ฟูล บ๊อกเซอร์)
B.)  Bangkok Love Story (เพื่อนกูรักมึงวะ)
C.)  Cheerleader Queens (ว้ายบึ้ม! เชียร์กระหึ่มโลก)

5. What is the title of the controversial film starring Leonardo de Caprio that was filmed on the island of Koh Phi Phi?

A.)  “Love Island”
B.)  “The Beach”
C.)  “Sex on the Beach”

6. Who is the director of this Thai film?

A.) Tony Jaa Phanom

B.) Wisit Sasanatieng

C.) Nonzee Nimibutr

7. Graceland, a film by Anocha Suwichakornpong, about Elvis impersonator, was featured in the Cinefondation competition at the ______ Cannes Film Festival.

A.)  2003
B.)  2006
C.)  2009

    

Nudity allowed in Thai Films????

Film Ratings and Censorship in Thailand

 THAI RATING SYSTEM

        
         Traditionally, if a film contains nudity, extreme violence or culturally offensive material, producers must cut and edit the film under the control of Film Censorship Board (FCB). The FCB, 200 police personal and other government officials, has overseen film screening and censoring process. All of Thai films will be rated by a committee that consist of 7 people from state agencies that are involved in all kinds of media and only 3 more people will come from the film industry.

          Many critics also argued that such a biased system raises questions of constitutional rights and freedoms of expression.

The categories of the new film rating system are as follows:

- General Audiences: Films that are suitable for all age groups. (No sex, abusive language or violence)

- Support/Promote: Films that should be promoted on the basis of cultural or artistic merit.

- 13 plus: Films that are not recommended for anyone under 13.

(No violence, brutality, inhumanity, bad language or indecent gestures)

- 15 plus: Some violence, brutality, inhumanity, bad language or indecent gestures will be allowed.

- 18 plus: No exposed genitalia, crime or drugs.

- 20 plus: Sex scenes are allowed but no exposed genitalia.

- Ban: Films that offend or harm the monarchy, threaten national security, national unity, insult the faiths or religious, disrespect honor, challenge morals or contain obvious sex scenes.

"Rating Symbols designed by Culture Ministry"

        
       However, the ratings are only recommendations, not the serious prohibition. So, if a movie in Thailand is rated as 18-plus but you are 17 year old. You still can go and watch the movie, but only exception for the 20-plus category, where you actually have to be older than 20 year old. So, what is the point of "rating 18-plus" if under 18 year old can still be able to watch the film anyway?

        "I just walked up to the counter service and buy the movie ticket. No one ever ask about my age or my ID card and I just enter the theatre," said 17 year- old- girl who is a movie watcher fan.

             This banned issue seems to make all the filmmakers lose the confidence of creating their interesting idea. There is a majority of a very conservative state agency committee who are involved in rating system of Thai film and always come with double standards. The question raises in many film makers that the artists will have enough artistic freedom to make films the way they want to or not?

             Now, we are in capitalism world. The only thing that matter is MONEY. All film makers and the distributors are seen as business which create the idea for earning money in return. They would like to sell the ticket and promote in order to earn the money as much as possible! The problem of the rating system in Thailand is because of the profit oriented system of the distributor. 

           "Rating system is a must in Thailand, which is all kind all film needs to be adjusted and provided for the right group of audience," said Adisak Jarenantaseen, employee of GTH film production house. "Some underage children may not have enough potential to evaluate an analyze their cognitive and critical thinking of their own. These one kind of media that can create a huge influence and impact to human mind set."

           The media seem to be the major influence and impact factor, which play important role and shape up our behavior and our society. Our Thai culture is seem to be very sensitive with this rating issue because many of Thai people are conservative with the preservation of one's purity and would like to keep this tradition to the next generation. Even Japanese porn film is legal because it is rated and provided in the right place for the right people. 

          "The bureaucrats will still find ways to censor films if they feel justified that there was an offense to Thai culture, which is always biased,” said a film critic who wished not to be identified. 

The CASES in Thailand:

         A few years ago, many film watchers were surprised that the Thai government allowed the showing of raping, swinging and incest scenes in the movie Poo Ying Ha Bap, or “sin sisters”. 

However, when the VCD was released, the censorship board had cut some of the scene that are the most two provocative scenes (two girls kissing and a humorous love scene of a nurse lost her virginity to a mentally challenged patient) and the movie wasn't seemed to be the same without these two scenes.

          "Insect in the backyard" is another example.

The government seems to protect the image of the society but didn't try to protect and solve the issue, which everyone know that these kind of issue is occurred in our society! The movie maker just try to reflect the society in term of art film to the audience!

              The rating in Thailand is just made up for the reputation for good image of the country of great culture but in the reality the rating or protect doesn't really work in the proper way.

            In the country with a very sensitive culture like Thailand, it seems like we are protecting our youth from cultural flowing. Westernization play a very important role in our global culture. Even our Thai film are rated! The under-aging kids can still download it from the Internet or view it online! Because there is lack of or gap of law. 

The law doesn't seem to be strict at all !!!!

The History Of Rating System

More than 80 years ago, Hollywood's rating system was born.