Zero Dark Thirty: (Scheduled) US, Action/ Drama/ History/
Thriller – A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader
Osama bin Laden after the September 2001 attacks, and his death at the hands
of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 in May, 2011. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow,
Oscar-winning creator of The Hurt Locker. Nominated for four Golden
Globe awards. Rated R in the US for strong violence, including brutal,
disturbing images, and for language. Reviews: Universal acclaim, saying it’s
gripping, suspenseful, and brilliantly crafted, and dramatizes the hunt for
Osama bin Laden with intelligence and an eye for detail. Highly recommended,
and if it does really show up here, by all mean see it.
Silver Linings Playbook: (Scheduled) US, Action/ Crime/
Thriller – I really doubt that this will actually show, but Major Cineplex
has it on the schedule. If it does, see it. Though you’ve never heard of it,
it’s garnered an enthusiastic following with hopes of an Oscar. So far it’s
in the running for four Golden Globes. After a stint in a mental
institution, a former teacher moves back in with his parents and tries to
reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when he meets a
mysterious girl with problems of her own. Starring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer
Lawrence, and Robert De Niro. Rated R in the US for language and some sexual
content/nudity. Reviews: Universal acclaim, saying it walks a tricky
thematic tightrope, but David O. Russell’s sensitive direction and some
sharp work from a talented cast gives it true balance. “For all its
high-flying zaniness the movie has the sting of life, and its humor feels
dredged up from the same dark, boggy place from which Samuel Beckett
extracted his comedy.”
Wreck-It Ralph 3D: US, Animation/ Adventure/
Comedy/ Family – A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to
fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he
lives. Generally favorable reviews, saying it’s a clever, colorful adventure
built on familiar themes and joyful nostalgia, and equally entertaining for
both kids and parents old enough to catch the references. “A superbly
rendered, supremely creative effort that lovingly pays tribute to 1980s
arcade games.”
Jack Reacher: US, Action/ Crime/ Thriller – A
homicide investigator digs deeper into a case involving a trained military
sniper who shot five random victims. Mixed or average reviews, saying it’s
an above-average crime thriller with a smoothly charismatic performance from
Tom Cruise. Too violent and too much about guns for me at this time.
Life of Pi: US, Adventure/ Drama – I’d be very
happy if this won the Oscar for best picture of the year. I think it’s that
good as popular entertainment, and as an artistic achievement. I saw it in
2D and I would imagine it would be even more thrilling in 3D. Unfortunately,
Major is not showing it all that often in 3D, curses on them. This is simply
a superb film from start to finish in all aspects. Do see it! Among other
things it’s a deeply religious story about an Indian youth named Pi who is
raised a Hindu, but who as a fourteen-year-old is introduced to Christianity
and Islam, and starts to follow all three religions as he “just wants to
love god.” The core of the story has Pi, now a beautiful young man,
shipwrecked at sea for 227 days in the company of a fully-grown Bengal
tiger. Directed by Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain). I was immensely
impressed by the way the strange but fascinating book was brought so
faithfully to life, including such impossible sequences as the floating
island of meerkats. Generally favorable reviews, saying it’s an astonishing
technical achievement that’s also emotionally rewarding. Shown in both 2D
(English) and 3D (English) at Airport Plaza; Digital 2D (English) at Vista.
Don’t miss this.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey / The Hobbit:
Part 1: US/ New Zealand, Adventure/ Fantasy – Grand entertainment! I think
you’ll find this thoroughly enjoyable if you have liked any of the previous
Middle Earth fantasies. The filmmaking here is extraordinary, as is the
storytelling. Endlessly inventive and spectacular. I saw it in 3D and urge
you to do the same. The film acts as a prelude to J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord
of the Rings series. It’s meticulously, even gorgeously, photographed,
showing off the rich New Zealand countryside, and with a number of
innovations to produce the last word in digital 3D filmmaking. Generally
favorable reviews, saying it’s visually resplendent and features strong
performances from Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen, but the film’s deliberate
pace robs the material of some of its majesty. Don’t agree with that last.
At Airport Plaza shown in 3D (English) and 3D (Thai-dubbed) and regular 2D
(English). At Vista, digital 2D (English) and regular 2D (Thai-dubbed).
Really long: 170 minutes. Nearly three hours, but I didn’t mind or notice
the length. I completely enjoyed it.
Chinese Zodiac: Hong Kong/ China, Action/
Adventure – Starring and directed by Jackie Chan, this is a sequel to “Amour
of God” and “Amour of God II: Operation Condor.” By all reports, this is his
last film, and he intends to go out in style. Chan reprises his role as
adventurer and treasure hunter Asian Hawk, who is a Chinese hero not unlike
Indiana Jones. This time, he has to bring back the bronze head statues of
the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, which were sacked by the French and British
armies from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860 during the Second
Opium War. The film is in English and Spanish but shown here only in a
Thai-dubbed version at both locations.
Countdown: Thai, Thriller – Looks dreadfully
violent. Three Thai teenagers, two boys and one girl, find themselves
sharing a hotel room in New York City during the countdown to midnight on
New Year’s Eve. Jack is a rich kid from Thailand who lies to his parents
that he’s in NYC to study, but in reality he is actually spending their
money on a daily basis just to have fun. Pam is a materialistic girl who
would do anything to impress others. Finally there is Bee, Jack’s
girlfriend, who has yet to reveal to anyone why she came to NYC in the first
place. The three friends want to have a New Year’s Eve party to remember, so
Jack calls a drug dealer by the name of Jesus, no less, to drop off some
stuff to their apartment so they can celebrate the end of the year in style.
They don’t know Jesus that well and don’t know his background. Not very
smart, and Jesus, turns out to have a vicious and sadistic streak in him,
and it turns out that they are counting down without knowing for sure that
they’ll ever see another dawn. The film is partially in English. Rated 18+
in Thailand. In 2D (English subtitles) at Airport Plaza, 2D (Thai only) at
Vista.
Together / Wan Tee Rak: Thai, Drama – The story
centers on a Thai couple who have been together for almost ten years. Their
long love for each other is tested when some conflicts and memories from
their past threaten their peaceful marriage, and when the wife’s father who
suffers from Alzheimer’s is brought into the home. The Bangkok Post calls it
“a surprisingly tender and sure-footed piece of filmmaking.” In 2D (English
subtitles) at Airport Plaza, not playing at Vista.
Rise of the Guardians 3D: US, Animation/
Adventure/ Family/ Fantasy – A strange and discomfiting film which just may
be one of the most brilliant animated films of our time. But it’s not a
barrel of laughs, instead quite the contrary — it is dark and forbidding
alternating with bright and enchanting. Maybe once moviegoers are over the
shock, its true qualities will be more appreciated. I know it will take time
for me to overcome my feeling that it’s just too creepy, with characters you
would not want anywhere near children. Mixed or average reviews, saying it’s
wonderfully animated and briskly paced, and full of delight and action and
charm and comedy, but only so-so in the storytelling department. I don’t
agree with that last. Showing now only at Vista in 2D (Thai-dubbed).
Hotel Transylvania: US, Animation/ Comedy/ Family
– A fun film and funny enough for me to enjoy, and with some excellent
purely serviceable animation. It’s the story of Dracula’s lavish five-stake
hotel, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the
monsters they are without humans to bother them. This particular weekend,
Dracula has as guests Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible
Man, a family of werewolves, and more – all to celebrate his daughter’s
118th birthday. With the voice of the world’s most unfunny comic, Adam
Sandler, as Dracula. He is not as obnoxious as usual (he’s definitely better
drawn than filmed), though he does manage, as is his habit, to introduce
several flatulence jokes that are huge and gross. Mixed or average reviews,
saying the proceedings have a buoyant, giddy tone which may please children,
but might be a bit too loud and thinly-scripted for older audiences. Shown
now only in 2D, English at Airport Plaza, Thai-dubbed at Vista.
Super Salary Man / Yod Manut Nguen Duen: Thai,
Drama – The daily life of office workers who struggle to balance their
personal lives with career goals. Only at Vista (Thai only).
Note: Everything at Airport Plaza is Digital.
Everything at Vista is in 2D, Digital only in Cinema 1, and all are
generally Thai only.
For updated movie information and reviews, check the
Chiang Mai Mail movie column online. It’s updated every Saturday!
