Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Life, death and rebirth
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 21/09/2017
» As any honest Thai person can tell you, Bangkok is a city of dualities. Walk down one street and you'll find the most serene parks, bombastic high-rises and venerable temples. Turn down the wrong soi, however, and you're suddenly in a seedy alleyway filled with drugs, alcohol and questionable "massage parlours".
Learning from history
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 28/08/2017
» I recently watched Netflix's Death Note adaptation, officially released last Friday on the streaming site. Based on a famous Japanese manga series, the film revolves around a young man's twisted crusade for justice after having received a special notebook -- the titular death note -- that has the power to kill anyone whose name has been written in it, provided the writer knows their face. Fed up with the many injustices in the world, the young man -- named Light -- uses the note to kill bullies, criminals and even corrupt officials from around the world under the alter-ego Kira, earning a cult-like following from those who agree with his extreme brand of justice.
Planes, trains and assorted thrills
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 29/06/2017
» Touted as an art gallery, theatre, cinema, co-working space, cafe & restaurant, design studio, exotic garden, vintage barber and private museum -- among several other creative things -- ChangChui has become the talk of the town in recent days as much for its artsy, hipsterish concept as its contribution to the massive traffic congestion in the Bang Plad area since its opening last Friday. Over the weekend it attracted thousands of visitors, shoppers, diners and selfie addicts who feasted on ChangChui's industrial chic backdrop. By last Sunday, the space suggested through its Facebook page for visitors to come by taxi, for the convenience of everyone.
And a child shall lead them
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 09/06/2017
» In 1989, the world was sent reeling following the horrifying massacre at Tiananmen Square, when the Communist regime of the People's Republic of China (as ironic today as it was all those years ago) ruthlessly mowed down hundreds of unarmed pro-democracy protesters. The massacre sent a stern message to the people of China as well as the entire world from the regime: the Communist Party will not be swayed by dissension of any kind, and will eliminate those standing in its way.
Putting financial catastrophe on display
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 15/03/2017
» Can you imagine, Thailand's economy was once recognised by World Bank as the fastest-growing in the world? As tough as it is for younger generations to comprehend, those older than 35 remember a better, more hopeful time for Thailand, tipped to become the Fifth Tiger of Asia, poised to join Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan as Asia's leading economies. Our national economy grew 8-13% annually for a decade between 1985 to 1996, and the income of the average Thai citizen was three times that of someone in China.
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.
It's fun but we deserve more
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 16/12/2016
» There are many things to like about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. For one, it's definitely a true-blood Star Wars film, bringing with it all the spectacle and grandeur the franchise has always been known for. Continuing the example set by the previously released Episode VII, the film's action sequences and epic dogfight scenes are a delight to behold, and are even more prominent here than perhaps in any Star Wars film before it. It benefits greatly from a superb cast of supporting characters, a couple of whom are even worthy of joining the likes of C-3PO or R2-D2 in Star Wars' pantheon of excellent sidekicks.
Stone on Snowden
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 07/10/2016
» Director Oliver Stone likes to tell stories of larger-than-life characters. Or not just characters, but real people caught up in the swirl of American history, which is sometimes to say world history: John F. Kennedy in JFK (1991); Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991); Richard Nixon in Nixon (1995); Fidel Castro in Commandante (2003); Alexander the Great in Alexander (2005); and George W Bush in W (2008). The fuzzy line between glory and shame of American policy is also his favourite subject, such as in the Vietnam War-set Platoon (1986), Wall Street (1987), Born On The Fourth Of July (1989) and World Trade Center (2006).
The stream becomes a torrent
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 14/10/2015
» Once movies were watched only in cinemas. Then came the revolution of home movies: VHS, laser disc, VCD, DVD, Blu-ray. But the present, and the future, seems to belong to VOD: Video On Demand, where tens of thousands of movies can be streamed to your devices, from televisions to phone screens.
Reasons for back-breaking
Life, Kanin Srimaneekulroj, Published on 11/09/2015
» Many would probably agree with me that watching Tony Jaa deliver righteous fury upon scores of bad guys is all good fun in and of itself. When we actually think about it, Jaa's past characters have committed untold absurdities to hundreds of people (who, to be fair, probably deserve it) for pretty minor reasons. The seminal Ong Bak is about a guy who wreaks havoc through the streets of Bangkok, probably causing millions of baht worth of damages, all for the head of a Buddha statue. In Tom Yum Goong, he was a guy who single-handedly brought down an international crime cartel because they made a fossil exhibit out of his favourite elephant. It's clear that as long as we are treated to Jaa's unmatched ability to bring the pain, the reasons why do not matter so much.