The strong of stomach will be rewarded with a Braveheart tale that feels truly brave.
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08/06/04
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Bang Rajan (2004)
69
%
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:29
Fresh:20
Rotten:9
Average Rating:6.1/10
Theatrical Release:Aug 6, 2004 Limited
Synopsis: Oliver Stone presents a beautiful and violent Thai film; the true story of a rural 18th century Siamese village that managed to battle an army of 100,000 invading Burmese soldiers to a standstill... [More]
Starring: Winnai Kraibutr, Jaran Ngamdee, Bin Banleurit, Teerayuth Pratyabamrung
Director: Thanit Jitnukul
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Reviews for Bang Rajan
Even without deep knowledge of Thai politics and history, fans of war pictures will be impressed by Jitnukul's achievement in creating a detailed and graphic, if overheated, account of this ultimate underdog story.
09/03/04
A powerful and beautiful war movie with an amazing score - but very violent battle scenes. Still, it connects on an emotional level.
09/24/02
The story suggests a more violent Seven Samurai, full of jungle mayhem and eloquently filmed action-movie suspense.
09/09/04
The noncombative scenes can be melodramatic and broadly acted, but that doesn't rob the movie of a certain inherent power.
09/03/04
Top CriticWhile co-writer/director Tanit Jitnukul's vision is unapologetically graphic and slightly marred by an artistic awkwardness, this is a rare and worthwhile glimpse into another nation's historical legend.
09/10/04
It's not easy to spend the better part of two hours with your heart parked in your mouth, but this roaring battle epic is worth the risk of your palpitations.
08/05/04
This Thai 'Alamo' story is superior to any of the Hollywood versions of the Texas battle and an exciting, effective film in its own right.
08/08/04
Jitnukul can direct action, and every slice of the blade, thwack of the arrow and the glistening of sweat on near-naked bodies makes Bang Rajan a mostly pleasurable diversion.
09/24/04
From the first battle to the heartrending climax, you will emerge feeling dirty and scarred.
09/24/04
It's a humid, rough-edged epic that occasionally finds startling beauty amid devastating carnage.
09/17/04
Jitnukul serves up heaping plates of history and entertainment with this tremendously exciting epic set on the eve of Bangkok's destruction by Burmese forces.
09/10/04
Not for a second does Jitnukul lose control of his complex and captivating epic, dynamically photographed by Vichien Ruangvichayakul and scored with a bold eclectic flair by composer Chatchai Pongprapaphan.
08/05/04
Top CriticClick to read the article
01/01/00
Emerges from the dank, Hollywoodized Asian jungle to be easily the equal of Braveheart, Troy, and King Arthur, but with a rough-hewn recklessness that carries the sulfurated scent of physical danger.
08/24/04
Top CriticJitnukul’s film canonizes sacrificial plight and serves as a stirring act of national self-definition.
08/24/04
The thuddingly blunt epic is obvious and intermittently clumsy... yet winning in its own charmingly naive right.
09/16/04
The filmmaking is top-notch, born more of a western storytelling sensibility than the meditative or exclusively action-oriented aesthetics of China and Hong Kong.
08/12/04
Features scrumptious-looking jungle battles, with a cast of thousands -- not to mention elephants and water buffalo.
09/10/04
Though the effort doesn't entirely pan out, it succeeds more often than not, raising hopes for even better Thai films to come.
09/04/02
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