Pluskylang
Great Film overall
Intcatinfo
A Masterpiece!
Maidexpl
Entertaining from beginning to end, it maintains the spirit of the franchise while establishing it's own seal with a fun cast
BA_Harrison
Siam, 1765: All that stands between the Burmese army and the city of Ayutthaya is the village of Bang Rajan, which refuses to surrender to the might of the savage invaders. The brave village warriors of Bang Rajan successfully repel the attackers time after time, but with their numbers dwindling and their leader injured, they must look to others to help them defeat their foe. Employing the help of the impressively mustachioed Chan and his jungle fighters, can the people of Bang Rajan survive one final attack by the Burmese imperial forces? Well, no they can't, but they give it a damn good try!This epic movie from Thailand is a stunning and captivating tale of the indomitable spirit of man (and woman) in the face of adversity. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the courageous villagers of Bang Rajan, facing certain death, continued to fight rather than be taken as slaves; this movie celebrates their bravery and ultimate sacrifice.Between the impressively vicious battle scenes, we get to know and admire the memorable individuals that battle so hard to protect what is theirs, and the likable cast portray these 'heroes' convincingly, making us care about their plight. And the bad guys are just as impressive, sneering evilly as they string up innocent victims and march into war carrying their enemies' severed heads on sharpened poles.The early battles, although action-packed, tend to imply the violence rather than ladle on the gore, although, as the film progresses, the bloodletting becomes increasingly graphic. By the end of the movie, body parts are flying all over the place! Occasionally director Tanit Jitnukul gets out of his depth trying to weave complex personal drama with epic battle scenes, but, on the whole, he does an impressive job. The film looks great and there are plenty of moments that will stay in your memory after the end credits have rolled.A deserved winner of 11 top accolades at Thai film awards, Bang Rajan should be seen by any fan of war movies, and those who love Asian cinema.
ExpendableMan
Thailand is fast making a name for itself in the International film market thanks to the success of a certain Mr Jaa in a film called Ong Bak. If you are reading this review, I have no doubt in my mind whatsoever that you will know exactly what I'm on about and will be nodding your head in agreement, smiling to yourself as you recall the head-splintering chaos that that martial arts thrill ride provided us with but despite all it's successes, Ong Bak really was quite a low budget feature and it's limitations were plain to see. Bang Rajan however is an entirely different kettle of fish. It is not another martial arts movie but a war film set in the 18th century and having been made several years previously, was Thailand's first major attempt to secure its reputation as a movie-making rival to the likes of Hollywood and Hong Kong. And unlike the Tony Jaa star vehicle, it has the budget behind it to stand toe-to-toe with any of its rivals.Set just before the fall of Thailand's old capital city Ayuttaya to the invading Burmese army, the film tells the story of the people of Bang Rajan, a large village that despite insurmountable odds stood up to the approaching horde. With legions of soldiers marching on their doors, the untrained, poorly equipped and vastly outnumbered villagers still managed to give the Burmese a brutal lesson in Thai hospitality and their story has become a popular example of patriotism in their home country, so needless to say the transition to screen makes for a rip-roaring war film. To this end, director Tanit Jitnukul resists the urge to focus on solitary figures and instead concentrates on a small number of characters from various backgrounds to represent the Bang Rajan community. There's Taen; the elderly leader who is injured early on in the running time but still manages to be a significant player in the proceedings, Chan; the jungle warrior who succeeds Taen and becomes the figurehead of their resistance, Inn; a younger warrior who fights to defend his newly pregnant wife, Taeng-Onn; the village drunk whose slovenliness masks the highly-skilled axe man lurking within him and numerous other characters who all get plenty of scope, illustrating that it is not just the warriors who are effected by battle but the wives, priests, elderly and children as well. This is one of the film's strongest points and allows it to illustrate a whole patchwork of emotions and situations affected by the chaos. And it is difficult to pick a highlight because no actor ever really outshines any of the rest, you come to care about all of them and when the deaths inevitably occur, some are very sad to behold.But of course, emotional depth is one thing but what everybody really comes to Bang Rajan for is fighting and boy does it deliver. The opening ruck sets the tone instantly as the two opposing armies clash in the middle of a muddy field that soon becomes a mass of flailing limbs and blood-drenched bodies that is all watched by a steadicam that rolls and pivots with the warriors as muddy water splashes the lens. It may be a lesson in camera-work lifted straight from Saving Private Ryan but nonetheless, it is highly effective in taking you right into the heart of the maelstrom. Later skirmishes in the jungle lose none of the brutality as axes and swords are used in ever-more inventive ways to destroy human bodies and the whole thing climaxes in glorious fashion in the jaw dropping final battle. The last Burmese assault flings itself upon the walls of Bang Rajan, cannon fire erupting all around, blowing apart people and buildings as the people we've known for the last two hours contort and die in a hideous barrage of limb-chopping insanity.As far as action goes then, Bang Rajan is definitely an impressive romp and as an Eastern alternative to the bloated, over-stylised likes of Alexander or Troy, it is the far superior choice. Provided you are confident in your sexuality enough to put up with the sight of around two hundred half-naked men getting covered in mud and sweat for two hours, you'll find a good-old fashioned war story with a great big ruck at the end.
Garry Lamb
I had the privilege of watching this on its release in Pattaya Thailand, What can i say? William Wallace, pack your bags and go home! This film makes Brave Heart look like Noddy in Toy Town. The choreography of the fight scenes was Fantastic-probably the best I've seen! And funnily enough i didn't understand a Bloody word! The buffalo in the fights is allegedly a genetic throw back to prehistoric times and died shortly after filming, its horns are supposedly over 12feet long! It is now in the Thai National Museum. Thats the History lesson over! Anyhow shortly after i was so bedazzled by this Film i received a VCD copy from a friend in Thailand, Since then I've been amazed by the fact it wasn't released in the UK with subtitles, lets face it we've got Bloody Bollywood and its Crap, we've got some super Gangsta Brit Flicks, the Japs some Fantastic Action-Gangsta movies & the Germans some pretty cool Hardcore! So having seen a number of Thai films inc 1 serious funny comedy about the army--Why Why Why don't we have a movement for Thai movies! After all Hollywood seems to be churning out the same old drivel time after time and with the exception of a few directors, & would do well to watch some of these movies- Super films low budgets and good story lines! As opposed to the same old formulae time and again with Budgets that could wipe out 3rd world debts!(Mr Spielburg)So if anybody knows where i can get an English subtitled version you'd make this 'Tingtong' a very happy man!Keep smiling guysG
totalz
***SPOILERS*** ***SPOILERS*** zTagline: there are brave hearts but not the "Braveheart"...
It has good of its own, but don't compare it with "Braveheart". Braveheart does has much much more to offer. However Bang-Rajan is just war and survival, it may have something else but definitely not deep enough to deliver!! An disappointment if compare to Braveheart.Battle scenes are still "not-bad", a bit messy. Not as powerful, just chops & slashes. The camera angles are jumpy too. Nonetheless, i think they have done a serious job. Good enough for its own name.
***spoilerz***...till the last, even women will go to fight... There's a scene in the last battle i thought which COULD BE the very and the most powerful scene in the movie was when E Taeng Aon got shot on her chest, fell to the arm of her man, both wounded badly. As he was holding her close, also tried desperately to fought off the enemies around them, just sadly powerful. BUT the next second, where the disappointment came, camera changed to he was looking at her, dying, dead, he screamed her name!! That took a total of 10 seconds till he got a fatal sword slash on his back, he died. Personally, i think the 1st part is perfect, but the last part is just there to destroy the 1st, totally wasted. It could have been done in a much much better way, sadly wasted...
