Limerculer A waste of 90 minutes of my life

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Caryl It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

tub82092 Beautiful Boxer is a touching and meaningful Thai movie by Singapore-based director Ekachai Uekrongtham. Nong Toom's life story is the main subject of the film which is playing by Asanee Suwan, a male kick boxer in the real life. Nong Toom was a Thai boxing champion before but she is a model in Thai today.In the movie, Nong Toom is a transsexual person who faces her real sexuality bravely. I like the film because I really admire her behavior and spirit. The fans of the genre would be satisfied since the impact of the story is really strong. It is difficult to imagine that a masculine man would choose to do a surgery in order to become a femininity lady. The storyline/ structure of the film are wonderful because it not only shows the life of Nong Toom to audience but also displays her internal talk and state of mind which is easy to understand. I can predict that the main character is a male transgender who wanted to become a woman in his childhood. However, it's still a good movie because it's fun to know how people with gender distortion are thinking and feeling. In the film, when Nong Toom was in the childhood, there are many shots about lipstick. Nevertheless, Nong Toom had interests to be a woman is not because of cosmetic but is mindset. He/She hates violence of Thai boxing but he/she loves the beauty of it. He/She joined the competitions was not because of gaining reputation but letting family to have a better life.Beautiful Boxer relates to the society. There are few people who have gender and sexuality problem. Also, these people usually got discriminated. But, we cannot say that being a transgender or transsexual is their fault since they are born this way. "Life will take you on many roads. But only when you look inside, do you find the strength to be yourself?" and "The most difficult thing is try not to forget what you really want to be." I really like these two sentences which Nong Toom mentions when she was interviewing by a western reporter. The film tells us that if you are comfortable with the opposite sex, there is no need to be ashamed of it. Although some people would laugh behind, being what you really are is more important.

bkoganbing Beautiful Boxer is the story of transgender kickboxer Noom Tong, born in a male body and feeling female in her soul, using the God given martial arts skills, to change her gender and become at one with herself. The Thai cast in this production is nearly perfect in presenting her story.Among the many issues facing transgender individuals is the staggering cost of reassignment surgeries and that even in the face of overwhelming medical and psychological evidence to the contrary, insurance companies still regard a sex change as elective cosmetic surgery. The same classification as they would give a rhinoplasty, nose job to most of you.As it turns out Thailand is one of a few countries where transgender people go for surgeries. It's expensive and therein lies the tale of Beautiful Boxer. Noom Tang uses the prize monies won in kickboxing to pay for her surgery. While transitioning, she faces a whole lot of evil, but she literally kicks her way out.Watching this film I was struck with the similarity of this film and Flawless. In Flawless Philip Seymour Hoffman plays a drag entertainer who by chance finds a drug dealer's stash after a shooting and keeps it to pay for her reassignment surgery. It would probably have taken her twenty years of drag shows in order to pay for what she needed. A marketable skill, but not quite marketable enough as kickboxing.I hope that those who watch the film think of the many who can't earn it, win it, steal it, or stumble on the funds needed. If Beautiful Boxer can make people think about that, it's a public service film.Or you can just enjoy it and be downright inspired.

cpdeek The movie gives a sad outlook on that of the Thai culture. It shows how difficult it is for a lower class family to escape from poverty. Very few means are introduced but the one that pays off is kick boxing. Toom, the main character, is initially disturbed by how violent the sport is but is forced into it in trying to save his family, as well as fulfill his wish of becoming a woman. Also, the movie shows a stark difference between that of the Thai countryside and the rapid life of Bangkok. He eventually helps his family and helps shed light to the country about transvestites. The film takes on a lot and tries to put it all in there, but would have been better in leaving some of the corny laughs out of it and sticking to the pace. Also, it tries to introduce to many subplots. All in all, it was a good story, but poorly done.

juliaah2 Beautiful Boxer a coming of age story about a man who wants to be female. In order to earn a living and save enough money, he starts to kick box on a dare at a temple festival. As time goes on, it shows how he is finally accepted by his group of friends who are also boxers. Yes, there were several missteps by his friends, but overall they accepted him for he is, and who they wanted him to be. It is refreshing to see a third gender represented in another culture, without the shame and stigma attached to it. In this culture we are so obsessed with being perfect and correct that we sometimes alienate ourselves from our friends and families.Jules