Showing 1 - 10 of 14
Getting soft power right
Life, Published on 08/01/2024
» After three months in office, the Srettha Thavisin government has raved on about populist policies in the guise of digital wallets and soft power projects that will create income to boost our declining economy. With optimism, we learned that Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Pheu Thai party leader and head of the National Soft Power Strategy Committee (NSPSC), has drafted a budget of 5.1 billion baht to boost festivals and creative industries. It is welcoming news to hear this government is priortising art, music, literature, design, fashion, film, food, games, sports and festivals as essential sources for the creative economy. Where this enormous chunk of budget will come from, like digital wallets, remains to be seen.
New releases for your streaming pleasure: Nov 1-7
Guru, Nianne-Lynn Hendricks, Published on 01/11/2023
» Looking for a title to binge-watch this weekend? Here's our pick!
Stars learn to expect the unexpected
Life, Tatat Bunnag, Published on 03/08/2022
» Hollywood's two massive stars Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans battle each other for supremacy in The Gray Man, the Russo Brothers' action-packed film about the CIA's most skilled operative who accidentally uncovers dark agency secrets, setting off a global manhunt by international assassins.
Actress Jane Seymour to tour
News, Post Reporters, Published on 20/12/2021
» British-American actress Jane Seymour will visit Thailand between late December and early January as part of her global campaign to prevent future pandemics through better protection of nature.
The message of the medium
Life, Melalin Mahavongtrakul, Published on 28/08/2019
» When the chipmunks Chip and Dale sailed into the bustling floating market in the recent viral Disney short Our Floating Dreams, both the world and local people were fascinated by the images of Thai culture. Busy canals and pineapple fried rice brought about onscreen exoticism watched by millions around the world.
Thailand in film
Guru, Pasavat Tanskul, Published on 27/07/2018
» It has been a few weeks since the rescue of the Wild Boar soccer team from Tham Luang cave. With the successful and miraculous feel-good news of the rescue, it was inevitable that plans to dramatise the entire ordeal will be made into a movie. Reportedly, six film production companies are in talks with the Thai government and have expressed interest in obtaining rights to make a dramatic movie version of the events.
Modern-day creature feature
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 02/02/2018
» An eccentric love story between a woman and an amphibious creature, Guillermo Del Toro's The Shape Of Water has moved ahead to the front-runner spot in the Oscar's Best Picture, racking up the total of 13 nominations including the four acting categories. Del Toro's trick of turning B-movie grotesquerie -- interspecies sex, for instance -- into a darling of cinema bourgeois can still work wonders. And while this sweet and weird story isn't entirely unpredictable -- think mid-century beauty-and-the-beast flicks such as King Kong or, obviously, Creature From The Black Lagoon -- the director's imagination gives it an authentic vintage texture and enough doses of shocks and blood.
Toronto top picks
Life, Kong Rithdee, Published on 22/09/2017
» A showcase of Oscar hopefuls and world cinema highlights, the film festival which wrapped up last weekend is one of the most influential in the world. Here are our highlights
Understanding China's banks
Life, Chris Baker, Published on 26/01/2017
» Every couple of years now, a book appears predicting the imminent crisis, breakdown, collapse or disintegration of China. The professor Cassandra touting a recent example passed through Bangkok last week. Among such works there is a subset that focuses on finance, especially banking. These books and articles argue that China's banks are inefficient because of government control; that they are racking up debt, much of which is hidden; and that, unless they are quickly privatised, they will be the spark for the aforesaid crisis, breakdown, collapse, or disintegration. In the last month, I have twice been treated to this argument first-hand, once from an American and once from a Japanese.
Jackie Chan goes yoga
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 26/01/2017
» With over 200 films under his belt dating back to the 1960s, Jackie Chan needs no introduction. The popular stuntman, director and actor -- whose long career recently earned him an honorary Oscar for his "extraordinary achievements in film" on Nov 12 last year from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the first Chinese in history to receive the award -- is back with his latest film, Kung Fu Yoga, a Chinese-Indian production set for Thailand release today.