A Bangkok Love Story: Movie Review

[TrongpaiExpat]

We went to opening night at the Esplanade in Bangkok. A pretty good attendance of mostly youngish Thai males. It's basically the Thai urban version of Broakback Mountain with more melodrama and lots of guns and shooting.

The central character is a hit man taking care of his mother and brother who have Aids. He falls in love with a married man that he was suppose to to kill. They hide out together on a roof top with a nice view of the sky train and make love in the rain. They both have issues with being gay and work out them over time and some typical Thai shoot-em-up scenes and kick ass.

The photography was excellent, the movie was well made technically. Very nice views of Bangkok. For a change, a Thai movie portraying gays as men and not flamboyant stereotypes should be applauded. It lags at times and gets typically overly dramatic (sad) but overall I enjoyed the movie. I recommend it.

[Smiles]

Has this movie been around for awhile, or has it just started playing?
We'll be in Bangkok for 5 days or so in late November, and I certainly hope it will still be floating around movie houses then. I much prefer the big screen to DVD movies on a TV.


" ... It lags at times and gets typically overly dramatic (sad) but overall I enjoyed the movie. I recommend it ..."
Well, it surely can't lag as much as Brokeback. I enjoyed it mostly, by definitely nodded off a few times as well.

Cheers ...

Thanks for the review. Sounds a lot less turgid than Brokebonk or whatever it's called. I really can't be arsed to drag myself to watching gay shepherds in denial of their sexuality. I'm sure that there's a lot of that in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.

I thought after reading "The central character is a hit man taking care of his mother and brother" it'd be witty to ask if they pay extra for relatives, but decided it's not really is it.

[fedssocr]

it just opened today. I doubt it will still be in theaters two months from now. I'm sure the DVD will be out eventually. Whether it will have English subtitles is another story.

Well.. any good bum action scenes?

A great evening at the Movies with this one. The handsome characters and a very good story line. Many twists throughout. I can highly recommend a viewing.
Times at the new Major Cinema are.....18.00; 19.10; 20.20; 22.40; 23.50

Thanks for the review. Sounds a lot less turgid than Brokebonk or whatever it's called. I really can't be arsed to drag myself to watching gay shepherds in denial of their sexuality. I'm sure that there's a lot of that in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.

I thought after reading "The central character is a hit man taking care of his mother and brother" it'd be witty to ask if they pay extra for relatives, but decided it's not really is it.

Dear 555,

In Kalasin there's no one up here except us cowboys!

[travelerjim]

A "must see"....
take your Thai friend to the movies...

Loved it!

Bangkok Love Story - passionate, sensuous, revealing and superb acting,
music score, photography... and of course - handsome Thai lovers too :-)

We will go see it again...and I have told my Thai bf - get it when it is available on DVD also...

IMHO - better than Brokeback Mountain..and should win some Oscars - it is that good

TravelerJim

[Smiles]

A "must see"....
take your Thai friend to the movies...

Loved it!

Bangkok Love Story - passionate, sensuous, revealing and superb acting,
music score, photography... and of course - handsome Thai lovers too :-)

We will go see it again...and I have told my Thai bf - get it when it is available on DVD also...

IMHO - better than Brokeback Mountain..and should win some Oscars - it is that good

TravelerJim
TJ ... sorry bud, but you'd love anything that had the word 'gay' attached to it ... no matter how remote or incidental the circumstances.

" ... Superb acting ... ?". Are you sure? Would you recognise it if you saw it? I suspect " ... handsome Thai lovers ... " are enough for you.
Frankly, some (almost 'many') of the most mundane and over-wrought films are those with gay themes. Guess I'll have to see it to believe it should 'win some Oscars' ... but without having done so I can easily surmise that your review is equal to most of your other flouncy renditions of all things gay.

On the other hand ~ I'm quite open to being proven wrong, insofar as movies are concerned.

Cheers ...

[krobbie]

Thanks for the review. Sounds a lot less turgid than Brokebonk or whatever it's called. I really can't be arsed to drag myself to watching gay shepherds in denial of their sexuality. I'm sure that there's a lot of that in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.

I can't speak for the gay shepherds in Scotland or Wales but I'm sure Barry, Harry, Garry and Larry in New Zealand don't get up to such behaviour. We're all very cultured and delightful "down under", as you can well imagine???????

Cheers
K.

[travelerjim]

A "must see"....
take your Thai friend to the movies...

Loved it!

Bangkok Love Story - passionate, sensuous, revealing and superb acting,
music score, photography... and of course - handsome Thai lovers too :-)

We will go see it again...and I have told my Thai bf - get it when it is available on DVD also...

IMHO - better than Brokeback Mountain..and should win some Oscars - it is that good

TravelerJim
TJ ... sorry bud, but you'd love anything that had the word 'gay' attached to it ... no matter how remote or incidental the circumstances.

" ... Superb acting ... ?". Are you sure? Would you recognise it if you saw it? I suspect " ... handsome Thai lovers ... " are enough for you.
Frankly, some (almost 'many') of the most mundane and over-wrought films are those with gay themes. Guess I'll have to see it to believe it should 'win some Oscars' ... but without having done so I can easily surmise that your review is equal to most of your other flouncy renditions of all things gay.

On the other hand ~ I'm quite open to being proven wrong, insofar as movies are concerned.

Cheers ...

Smiles...

Each to their own opinion...
I stand by mine and respect yours...
I believe the movie is exceptional,
both my Thai bf and I liked it....We will go see it again.

Thanks for your posting....you have clearly made your thoughts known...
indeed I admit I am not the experienced movie critic.... as you appear to be...

If and when you see the movie, you may or may not agree with my comments.

The film is in Thai but English sub-titles are easily understood.
(ask your Thai friend to be sure the version your are to see has English sub-titles)

Here are some links to the movie...Enjoy :-)

The Official Movie web site...with trailer shown.

http://www.bangkoklovestorymovie.com/ .

Other sites:

http://www.adintrend.com/show_admovie.php?id=2001 .

Here is the movie theme song...beautiful!

http://www.adintrend.com/scoop/624bangkoklovestory.html .

http://www.mono2u.com/review/content/ba ... ove_story/ (http://www.mono2u.com/review/content/bangkok_love_story/) .

http://www.deknang.com/index.php?id=571 ... &task=view (http://www.deknang.com/index.php?id=571&option=content&task=view) .

and some of the photos...

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/travelerjim/BangkokLoveStory.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/travelerjim/BangkokLoveStory2.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/travelerjim/BangkokLoveStory3.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/travelerjim/BangkokLoveStory4.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/travelerjim/BangkokLoveStory5.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y64/travelerjim/BangkokLoveStory6.jpg

and...here is a clip of a love scene from the movie...

http://www.upload.th.la/?d=B40DE33C12 .

In any event Smiles - all in all - it is good to learn of your real opinions of me and my postings...

"I can easily surmise that your review is equal to most of your other flouncy renditions of all things gay."

Smiles, If I offend you, please place me on IGNORE...for your peace of mind.

Have a good day and weekend in Canada...and when in Thailand..
I still recommend you see The Bangkok Love Story.

TravelerJim

[TrongpaiExpat]

I mostly concur with Jim, the two central characters are good actors. The younger brother and the mother do ham it up a bit on the emotion but that's expected for as Thai movie.

I was most impressed with the photographic imagery and technique.

Bootleg copies will be on Silom in a few days, better copies latter.

Traveler.. waow.. thanks for the wonderful write up! What is the name of the theme song again? Am trying to find it for my iPod. Is the soundtrack out yet?

*I really can't be arsed to drag myself to watching gay shepherds in denial of their sexuality. I'm sure that there's a lot of that in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand. *


This deserves an oscar for best quip!

...watching gay shepherds in denial of their sexuality. I'm sure that there's a lot of that in Scotland, Wales and New Zealand.

Gay shepherds in Wales? - never - they're too much 'in love' with their sheep - they're not known as the nation of sheep-shaggers for nothing !!!.

Found this pic of one of the Boys in the movie 'Bangkok Love Story' amongst Wowpows collection.
Picture is not from the film.

Is it being shown anywhere in Pattaya ?

[travelerjim]

Is it being shown anywhere in Pattaya ?

YES... In many theaters..I think all 3 locations in Pattaya
including the newly opened one across from Marriott Hotel on Second Rd.

Hopefully it will be still playing when you arrive.

Look forward to seeing you again :-)

Traveler Jim

[PeterUK]

I fear that a misleading impression of this movie is being conveyed in this thread. Having just returned from seeing it at the new Major Cineplex on Pattaya's Second Road, I can say without hesitation that it is monumentally awful, though perhaps no worse than dozens of other Thai movies. There is the usual melodrama and gratuitous violence, a swirling soundtrack, laughably undeveloped characters (my favourite was the ever-wailing mother), inane dialogue, vaunting directorial pretension, and a lack of convincing detail at every level. The mere fact of a gay theme does not redeem this movie. The tears flow freely, never more so than at the end, which reaches new heights of sentimental absurdity. I looked around me at the scattered faces in the auditorium, searching for signs of grinning disbelief, but saw only solemnity and the occasional lump in the throat. There is clearly a market for this kind of cheap, exploitative schlock. But make no mistake, that is what it is. Someone asks above if there is any good bum action in the movie. In the sense he means the answer, unfortunately, is no - it might have raised the tone if there was. In another sense, however, there is loads and loads of 'bum' action. If you must see it, at least take a Thai friend with you, as I did - he'll probably love it. (Oh, and Smiles - Brokeback Mountain was a work of towering genius compared with this!)

[francois]

I did enjoy reading the film reviews by TJ and PeterUK. However the stabs by Smiles to TJ were somewhat gauche! But Smile's description of himself as, "Just One Of The Regular Board Pricks" speaks for itself.

We thought there was a good similarity of the Star of Bangkok Love Story and one of our Cabaret Boys. Pic attached.

[Geezer]

In my opinion PeterUKтАЩs evaluation of тАШA Bangkok Love StoryтАЩ is far too generous. I found it wretched in almost every respect. (The sound wasn't too loud.) I left after a little more than an hour.

I couldnтАЩt care less about the ending. Sorry for being so negative.

[Brad the Impala]

Dear Peter,

Thanks for the review, for providing the balance(or is it ballast), and for providing the sanity in this thread.

[bao-bao]

Yes, this is a thread from last September and yes, the movie's somewhat "old news" for many, but for those who haven't seen it and have the patience and/or a higher-speed line to download it and unpack it with WinRar, here are links:

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=Z27PP3XT

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=3O9SV36L

... not that I'd ever advocate doing so, mind you. :cheers:

[bedbugy1-old]

you can download the movie from
www.piratebay.org (http://www.piratebay.org)