Limitless Cinema in Broken English

I didn’t have enough time to write down the titles of the films I saw. I want to write about my feelings for each film, but I don’t know when I will have time to do that.

FILMS SEEN BETWEEN 16-29 APRIL 2007

(The grades given here depend on how much I like the films. This always involves how handsomeness the actors are and how stupid I am. Hahaha. There’s nothing serious here. I always change my mind later.)

1.FIREFLIES (Chawit Waewsawangwong, A+)
Short film, Thai

2.INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME (1954, Kenneth Anger, A+)
Dvd, short film

3.EAUX D’ARTIFICE (1953, Kenneth Anger, A+)
Dvd, short film

4.BY THE RIVER (2006, Sathit Sattarasart, A+)
Short film, Thai
http://www.fishlicence.net/

5.THREE DOLLARS (2005, Robert Connolly, A+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0391493/
You can read Robert Connolly interviewed on THREE DOLLARS here:
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/05/36/three_dollars.html

6.IMAGINARY HEROES (2004, Dan Harris, A+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373024/

7.BREEZE (2006, Sathit Sattarasart, A+)
Short film, Thai
http://www.fishlicence.net/
>> Digital short video deals with the age of information, time differences, conflict and uncertain future. The idea of ‘breeze’ is to question the morality issue about concerning the social situations. It presents in a form of a letter to the audiences, which consists of facts and fiction<<

8.FIREWORKS (1947, Kenneth Anger, A+)
Dvd, short film

9.PAN’S LABYRINTH (2006, Guillermo del Toro, A+)

10.THE PROJECTIONIST (2002, Michael Bates, Australia, A+)
Short film

11.PEACHES (2004, Craig Monahan, A+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0347755/

12.THE MYSTERIOUS GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORATIONS OF JASPER MORELLO (2005, Anthony Lucas, Australia, A+)
Short film, Animation
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469146/

13.VOLATILIZE (RAHEI) (2007, Nontawat Numbenchapol, A+)
Thai short film
http://thaiindie.com/wizContent.asp?wizConID=85&txtmMenu_ID=7

14.ME…MYSELF (2007, Pongpat Wachirabunjong, A+)

15.GLASSHOUSE (2005, Aaron Kim, A+/A)
Korean short film

16.THE RAGE IN PLACID LAKE (2003, Tony Mcnamara, A+/A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305999/

17.PUCE MOMENT (1949, Kenneth Anger, A+/A)
Dvd, short film

18.THE NUMBER 23 (2007, Joel Schumacher, A+/A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481369/

19.PASS-YEAR-BYE-DOC (LA TEE PEE MAA) (2007, Suracharn Munkongwongsiri, A+/A)
Short film, Thai, Documentary

20.MISS POTTER (2006, Chris Noonan, A+/A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482546/

21.PAI NAI NGAO (IN THE SHADOW) (Sutthipong Prempree, A+/A)
Short film, Thai

22.AJINTAI (Suracharn Munkongwongsiri, A+/A)
Short film, Thai

23.KRASOB (2007, Nitipong Thinthubthai, A)
Short film, Thai
http://thaiindie.com/wizContent.asp?wizConID=78&txtmMenu_ID=7

24.SLEEP OF DREAM (2004, Sathit Sattarasart, A)
Short film, Thai
http://www.fishlicence.net/
>>Video installation displays dreams and conscience in the uncontrollable, falling and sleeping state. In general, we all dream to archive something. Sometimes, however, we might ignore or forget those dreams just like our sleeping conscience.<<

25.RABBIT’S MOON (1950, Kenneth Anger, A)
Dvd, short film

26.PAINLESS SEX (Narumon Jaisa-ard + Chukiat Wongsuwan, A)
Thai short film

27.SHOOTER (2007, Antoine Fuqua, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0822854/

28.YEAR OF THE DOGS (1997, Michael Cordell, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133282/

29.A PRAIRIE HOME COMPANION (2006, ROBERT ALTMAN, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0420087/

30.11:14 (2003, Greg Marcks, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331811/

31.UNTITLED (2005, Sathit Sattarasart, A)
Short film, Thai
http://www.fishlicence.net/
>> A video for Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Thailand. It is a very abstract idea for Bangkokians who look forward to see the Art Centre in Bangkok after waiting for over 10 years. The video depicts the actual site of the building which is now under construction. And the song describes how much beautiful Bangkok is.<<

32.MEET THE ROBINSONS (2007, Stephen J. Anderson, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396555/

33.HILDEGARDE (2001, Di Drew, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0268358/

34.HARMONIOUS SIMPLICITY (KWAM RIAB NGAI TEE PASOMPASARAN) (Narumon Jaisa-ard + Chukiat Wongsuwan, A)
Thai short film

35.HAPPY END (Narumon Jaisa-ard + Chukiat Wongsuwan, A)
A lesbian Thai short film

36.DANYA (2005, Beth Armstrong, Australia, A)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0478128/
short film

37.BOAT BUILDERS (1938, Ben Sharpsteen, A)
Short film, animation
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029930/

38.BLACK AND WHITE (2002, Craig Lahiff, Australia, A/A-)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0299547/

39.UNTITLED (GARBAGE) (2007, Suracharn Munkongwongsiri, A/A-)
Short film, Thai

40.REVERSE (Pathompon Tesprateep, A/A-)
Thai music video

41.DOOR (Narumon Jaisa-ard + Chukiat Wongsuwan, A/A-)
short film, Thai

42.THE REAPING (2007, Stephen Hopkins, A-)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444682/

43.BUS LANE (MAIL NAROK MUAY YOKLOR) (2007, Leo Kittikorn, A-)
Thai film

44.CONFESSION OF PAIN (2006, Lau Wai-keung + Mak Siu-fai, A-)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0834902/

45.DANNY DECKCHAIR (2003, Jeff Balsmeyer, A-/B+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337960/

46.PATHFINDER (2007, Marcus Nispel, A-/B+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0446013/

47.”2-29” (Rattikarn Jaojaidee + Sandusit Klin-iam, B+)
Short film

48.THE HARD WORD (2002, Scott Roberts, B+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280490/

49.BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE (2007, Katja von Garnier, B+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397044/

50.LUMP OF SUGAR (2006, Lee Hwan-kyeong, B+)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438986/

51.HANNIBAL RISING (2007, PETER WEBBER, B+/B)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367959/

52.PERNG MANG THE HAUNTED DRUM (2007, Natpeera Chomsri + Sarunya Noithai, B/B-)
http://www.siamzone.com/movie/m/4390

53.GREEN BUSH (2004, Warwick Thornton, Australia, fall asleep)
Short film
It isn’t the film’s fault that I fell asleep while watching it. It is the fault of my body. From what I saw, I think the film is very interesting.

54.CROOKED MICK OF THE SPEEWAH (2005, Philip R. Smith, Australia, fall asleep)
Short film
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808209/

REPEATED VIEWINGS LIST

1.HATE (Chawit Waewsawangwong, A+)
Short film, Thai, second viewing

2.ENOUGH (Chawit Waewsawangwong, A+)
Short film, Thai, second viewing

3.CONTINUE (Chawit Waewsawangwong, A+)
Short film, Thai, second viewing

4.SWALLOW MELODY (NGOO-KAI) (2003, Pathompon Tesprateep, A+)
Short Thai documentary
http://thaiindie.com/wizContent.asp?wizConID=85&txtmMenu_ID=7

5.LOVE ASSASSIN (2004, Pathompon Tesprateep, A-)

6.WARD 13 (2003, Peter Cornwell, Australia, A-)
Short film, Animation, Second Viewing
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379000/

–FAVORITE ARTIST FOR THE MOMENT — SPIRIT CATCHER

THIS BAND IS FROM BELGIUM. THEIR BLOG IS HERE:
http://www.myspace.com/spiritcatcher1

SPIRIT CATCHER GOT INFLUENCES FROM:
Chic/Nile Rodgers&Bernard Edwards, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Zapp, D-Train, George Duke, Skyy, Change, Larry Levan, Giorgio Moroder, Fabrice Lig, John Tejada, Jimpster, Titonton, Morgan Geist and All Detroit Techno artists…

MY FAVORITE TRACKS ARE “SWEET DEAL” AND “CAN’T GET AWAY”. You can listen to the songs in their blog. CAN’T GET AWAY seems like a song made in late 1970’s. I can’t believe this is a new song.

–FAVORITE SONG FOR THE MOMENT – SPRING IS HERE (sung by Nina Simone)

Spring is here

Why doesn’t my heart go dancing

Spring is here

Why isn’t the waltz entrancing

No desire no ambition leads me

Maybe it’s because nobody needs me

Spring is here

Why doesn’t the breeze delight me

Stars appear

Why doesn’t the night invite me

But maybe it’s because nobody loves me

Spring is here I hear

Somebody told me spring is here

This song is sung by Nina Simone. You can listen to the sample of this song in the album FOLKSY NINA/NINA WITH STRINGS in amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Folksy-Nina-Strings-Simone/dp/B000009QJK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-0230524-1967003?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1177847474&sr=8-1

I found this song in album FORBIDDEN FRUIT (REISSUE) which is sold in Bangkok and includes 21 tracks. I don’t know if the album FORBIDDEN FRUIT in other countries carries this track or not.

I got interested in listening to Nina Simone after reading about her in Memories of the Future’s blog. I have to thank him a lot for arousing my interest in her.
http://memoriesofthefuture.wordpress.com/

Listening to SPRING IS HERE makes me want to make a list of my favorite songs for four seasons. Here they are:

1.SPRING
– 1.1 SPRING IS HERE by Nina Simone
–1.2 SPRING by Saint Etienne
This song is in the album FOXBASE ALPHA
http://www.amazon.com/Foxbase-Alpha-Saint-Etienne/dp/B000002LS0/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/103-0230524-1967003?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1177849352&sr=1-3

2.SUMMER – SUMMER BREEZE by Nicki Richards
You can listen to the sample of SUMMER BREEZE in Nicki Richards’ blog:
http://www.myspace.com/nickirichards

3.AUTUMN – AUTUMN LEAVES (1993) by Coldcut. The song is remixed by Nellee Hooper
http://www.discogs.com/release/97064
http://www.discogs.com/image/R-97064-1100880357.jpg

4.WINTER – WINTER by TORI AMOS
You can watch the music video of WINTER here:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1d6jp_tori-amos-winter

So you can listen to these songs after watching ERIC ROHMER’S TALES OF FOUR SEASONS, or after listening to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Actually, one of my most favorite soundtrack songs of all time is SUMMER KISSES, WINTER TEARS sung by Julee Cruise in UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD (Wim Wenders, A+) soundtrack.

One of my most favorite clips of all time is TIME CROSS by Geert Mul from Holland. I found the clip on this website

http://www.commandn.net/atv2/3.html

I could watch the clip on that website last year, but when I try to watch it again today, I cannot. It seems that the clip cannot be played any more on that website.

So I try to search for some information about Geert Mul, and found a website http://www.geertmul.nl

I assume that the website talks about the same “Geert Mul” who directed TIME CROSS.

I browsed through that website, and think that GEERT MUL is very interesting. He seems to be a multi-talented artist. TIME CROSS shows how great he is as a video director. The website shows how great he is in many other ways.

A lot of film directors today are also great multimedia artists. While some film directors in the past were also great painters, I notice that many interesting directors today are also great sound engineers, or sound effects technicians, or something like that. They used to create ambient music in the past, and now they create entrancing “ambient movies”.

I’m a little bit busy right now. I hope I can write more in the future.

PHOTOS FROM ‘LED DISPLAY FOR INFORMATION AND DOGGEREL” BY GEERT MUL
http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/LED%20DISPLAY_files/Tiel%20toren%20frontaal.jpg

PHOTOS FROM “THE ORDER OF THINGS” BY GEERT MUL
http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/The%20order%20of%20things_files/P1030067_1010.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/The%20order%20of%20things_files/P1030054_1005.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/The%20order%20of%20things_files/P1030059_1009.jpg

PHOTOS FROM “4W” BY GEERT MUL
http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/Nederlands%20Fotomuseum_files/moviestar.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/Nederlands%20Fotomuseum_files/digital.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/Nederlands%20Fotomuseum_files/kazachstan.jpg

PHOTOS FROM “DATA ARCHITECTURE” BY GEERT MUL
http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/DATA%20ARCHITECTURE_files/window2.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/DATA%20ARCHITECTURE_files/Untitled-1.jpg

PHOTOS FROM “LOCAL SQUARE GLOBAL STARS” BY GEERT MUL
http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/LocalSquaresGlobalStars_files/PC220044_1_3.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/LocalSquaresGlobalStars_files/PC220028_1.jpg

PHOTOS FROM “BELOVED” BY GEERT MUL
http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/BELOVED_files/PC120034.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/BELOVED_files/IMG_6913.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/BELOVED_files/gouda.jpg

http://www.geertmul.nl/Geert%20Mul/BELOVED_files/PC120035.jpg

THE ARTICLE BELOW IS FROM THE NEWSPAPER “BANGKOK POST”

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/27Apr2007_news19.php

EDITORIAL

Laughable censors from another age

Cutting, banning, blurring, putting vaseline on strategic body parts _ these practices by a few men with power to make judgments for the rest of the country and to promote empty morality and decency must end, especially in a time when the new constitution is being hyped as a newfound paragon of freedom and democratic advancement.

Film censorship is a primitive manifestation of authoritarian exercise which not only does a great disservice to the improvement of our cultural environment, but also makes Thailand a laughing stock in the eyes of foreign communities, which have long adopted the more rational, though still not perfect, system of film rating. The gist of the embarrassment lies in the fact that the Thai legislation used to govern film censorship in 2007 remains the one written in 1930, two years before this country underwent its historic shift to a constitutional monarchy and before the concept of democracy was formally inducted in this land. Article 4 of the Film Act 1930 stipulates that no screenings should be permitted for films that ”may be detrimental to the state of peace, order and moral decency”. Such open wording has left an enormous gap for negative interpretations for 77 years, and the successive government agencies in charge of supervising film screenings have always cited this article in deciding what the audience can or cannot see. But it is getting increasingly difficult for the Censorship Board _ chaired by the police and including rotating representatives of cultural and academic bodies _ to justify their seemingly arbitrary decisions. The recent uproar over the acclaimed arthouse film Saeng Satawat (or Syndromes and a Century) exposes the inefficiency, if not complete bankruptcy, of the existing censorship regime. The censors are not happy with four scenes in the film _ a monk strumming a guitar; two monks playing with a radio-controlled flying object; a group of doctors drinking whisky; and a doctor kissing his girlfriend and a subsequent shot of his trousers in the area of his crotch.

For those who have seen Saeng Satawat, these images carry no defamatory ill-will to doctors and monks and are much less detrimental to ”decency” than the vulgar images and crude expletives dispensed gleefully in other Thai films that passed the censors, not to mention a shot of a woman dyeing her pubic hair in the Dutch movie Black Book, or the bloody decapitation in 300. By making this comparison, we are not saying that the dyeing of pubic hair or the gruesome beheading should have been scissored out. But it is imperative that the government open its eyes and get in touch with reality as reflected by an art form such as film, and to modernise the system that ensures both fairness and the right of artists to express their vision.

The censorship board has lost the moral authority from its many demonstrations of bias and mediocrity that it can no longer rely on the magic mantra that what it is doing is protecting the young from bad influences and safeguarding the glory of Thai culture. Such claims sound more and more ludicrous since what we see on television every day is much more shocking than any scene in Saeng Satawat, and since a number of Thai films thriving on rudeness can open without objection on 300 screens.

In an ideal world, nothing should be cut or banned and people should be encouraged to make their own judgment on the representations of virtue and vice as projected by any medium. In a less ideal world, a mode of semi-voluntary censorship like the film rating system should be applied. Film rating, which classifies audience access to screenings according to their age, allows a greater degree of artistic freedom and at the same time is a mechanism for preventing children from being exposed to sensitive material. True, we can imagine a long list of headaches that will arrive with the rating system _ the multiplex operators are likely to oppose it, for a start _ but it has proved workable in many countries; it is a system more in tune with the democratic spirit this country has long been paying lip service to. The current, unreasonable censorship practice must be abolished at once.

MY DVD WISH LIST

I just learned from Mubarak Ali’s blog (http://supposedaura.blogspot.com ) about this DVD website

http://www.malavidafilms.com/

It seems there are some very interesting DVDs with English subtitles.

The ones I would like to see include:-

1.THAT OLD DREAM THAT MOVES (1994, ALAIN GUIRAUDIE)
http://www.malavidafilms.com/com/filmmodel.php4?ID=122&type=1

A GAY FILM

http://www.slantmagazine.com/film/film_review.asp?ID=479

>>a tale of queer lust set against a greasy metallic environment that brings to mind Kenneth Anger’s Kustom Kar Kommandos.<<

http://www.malavidafilms.com/images/covers/REVE_c.jpg

2.DU SOLEIL POUR LES GUEUX (1997, ALAIN GUIRAUDIE)
http://www.malavidafilms.com/com/filmmodel.php4?ID=121&type=1
http://www.malavidafilms.com/images/covers/SOLEIL_c.jpg

3.DEUX FOIS (TWICE UPON A TIME) (1969, JACKIE RAYNAL)
http://www.malavidafilms.com/com/filmmodel.php4?ID=108&type=1
http://www.malavidafilms.com/images/covers/2fois_c.jpg
http://movies2.nytimes.com/gst/movies/movie.html?v_id=316108

4.LE REVELATEUR (1968, PHILIPPE GARREL)
A SILENT FILM
http://www.malavidafilms.com/com/filmmodel.php4?ID=107&type=1
http://www.malavidafilms.com/images/covers/rev_c.jpg

an article about LA REVELATEUR
http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/00/6/revelateur.html

–ALAIN GUIRADIE DIRECTED “NO REST FOR THE BRAVE” (2003). The DVD of this film has been available in Bangkok for many months. “Filmsick” has seen it, but I haven’t seen it yet.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0339553/

http://www.bioscopemagazine.com/smf/index.php?topic=212.0

FILMS WHICH WERE BANNED BY THAI CENSORSHIP BOARD MAY INCLUDE:-

1.MY TEACHER EATS BISCUIT (1996, ING K)

2.LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION! (1997, JOE MANTELLO, A)
http://xq28.net/wow/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=192

I just learned about the censorship of this film from “SARAKADEE” magazine. It was banned because it concerns homosexuality. But fortunately, and absurdly, the censorship board does not control the Thai television broadcast, so this film was shown in Thai cable TV. This is an interesting thing in Thailand: some films are banned from showing in theatres, but are allowed to be shown to Thai TV audience in every age group.

3.TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU (1999, GIL JUNGER)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147800/
The rumour said that this film was banned in theatres because the Thai censors don’t like some relationships between students and teachers in this film, but this film was allowed to be shown on Thai television. Hahaha.

4.RUN LOLA RUN (TOM TYKWER, A+)
I think it was banned because the leading male protagonist deals drugs.

5.BLOW (2001, TED DEMME)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221027/
The same reason as the above.

6.MOONLIGHT (2002, PAULA VAN DER OEST)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245294/
The Thai censorship board doesn’t like some behaviors of children in this film.

7.FRAILTY (2001, BILL PAXTON, A-)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264616/

8.FRIVOLOUS LOLA (1998, TINTO BRASS)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0174931/
I’m not sure about the banning of this film, but this film was promoted that it would be shown in Thailand, and then it disappeared without a trace.

I’m still waiting to see LITTLE CHILDREN (2006, TODD FIELD), and I hope that the behaviors of the characters in this film don’t resemble the behaviors of the Thai censors’ parents, because it seems that whenever the behaviors in any films resemble the behaviors of the Thai censors’ mums or dads, those films will be banned in Thailand.

THE ARTICLE BELOW IS WRITTEN BY KONG RITHDEE FROM “BANGKOK POST”. THE PHOTO IS FROM http://thaiindie.com

http://www.bangkokpost.com/240407_News/24Apr2007_news07.php

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION / CALL FOR END TO OUTDATED LAWS

Filmmakers rise against censorship

KONG RITHDEE

A group of artists, filmmakers and NGOs yesterday launched a movement for the abolition of outdated censorship laws and the introduction of a rating system.

The Free Thai Cinema Movement was initiated by the Thai Film Foundation, Thai Film Directors Association, Bioscope magazine, Thaiindie and Thai Short Film groups. It follows the controversial demand by the Censorship Board that four scenes be cut from Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s acclaimed movie Saeng Satawat (Syndromes and a Century).

“This is not just about my movie,” said Mr Apichatpong, who withdrew his film from commercial release and refused to cut the four scenes. “This is about calling for a new system that will protect the rights of the filmmakers as well as of the audience.”

“The law governing movie censorship is the Film Act of 1930, which was promulgated even before this country became a democracy,” said Chalida Uabumrungjit of the Thai Film Foundation. “What we’re trying to do is not only defend some movies, but to exercise our democratic rights, and it is good timing because a new constitution is being drafted now.”

Prachya Pinkaew, president of the Thai Directors Association and director of Ong-bak and Tom-Yum-Goong, said the charter drafters should define films as a form of mass media, which in effect would prevent any form of government intervention.

“Newspapers, television and radio are already free, but the cinema is still left out,” he said. “The drafters of the new charter must take this issue into account.”

On April 10 the Censorship Board demanded that Mr Apichatpong make four cuts to Saeng Satawat _ scenes showing a monk playing a guitar, doctors drinking whisky, a doctor kissing his girlfriend, and two monks playing with a radio-controlled aeroplane.

When the director refused to cut the film and confirmed he would not release the movie in Thailand, the censors refused to return the print of the film and insisted that, by law, it would have to make the cuts to the film itself.

This has sparked a widespread reaction from movie-goers and organisations seeing this as a form of oppression of free speech.

No representatives of the censors appeared at yesterday’s press conference to launch the Free Thai Cinema Movement.

“It’s time for the state to recognise the right of artists to create their works,” said Jiranan Pitpreecha, poet and Sea-Write winner. “A rating system for movies is the way to show that Thailand is ready to become a developed country.”

This is my comment in Elusive Lucidity’s blog:

http://elusivelucidity.blogspot.com/2007/04/broken-by-middle-class-dream.html#comments

I saw THE SEVENTH VICTIM (1943) a few years ago. I think it might be the best film of Mark Robson, though there are some personal reasons why I like those three films a little bit more than THE SEVENTH VICTIM on my first viewing. One reason is because my English listening comprehension isn’t very good, and I saw these Mark Robson’s films without any English subtitles. I have to admit I couldn’t quite follow the story of THE SEVENTH VICTIM. I could understand only 50 % of what the characters were talking. Another important reason may be because I tend to feel involved with a film in which the villains are people of the established religions or the authority. That’s why I feel involved with those three films more than THE SEVENTH VICTIM. Anyway, I think THE SEVENTH VICTIM is more atmospheric than those three films, while those three films are more “mainstream” than THE SEVENTH VICTIM. The scene that I like the most in THE SEVENTH VICTIM is one early scene in which the private detective is about to open a door, or something like that. That scene is very exciting.

I haven’t watched I WALKED WITH A ZOMBIE and THE LEOPARD MAN, but I have seen CAT PEOPLE (1942, Jacques Tourneur, A), THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE (1944, Gunther von Fritsch + Robert Wise, A-/B+), and ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON’S THE BODY SNATCHER (1945, Robert Wise, A-/B/+). All of which are produced by Val Lewton. I think CAT PEOPLE is very classic. Sonthaya Subyen, my friend, showed these films to me and other people. I guess one reason why he promoted these films is because these films show that horror and fear can be successfully achieved without loud music, gore, or “what you can see directly”. These films are quite the opposite of most current horror films. These films play with the imagination of the audience. However, I think I am too accustomed to current horror films, so I couldn’t help falling asleep a little bit while I was watching THE CURSE OF THE CAT PEOPLE and THE BODY SNATCHER. They might be too artful for me, I guess. Hahaha.

Speaking of those Val Lewton’s films always makes me think about the novel “FLICKER” by Theodore Roszak. I can’t remember exactly if the novel mentions Val Lewton directly or not. But the novel talked about some old horror films, and I guess the novel might be inspired by some Lewton’s films.

Ah, you watch Dolph Lundgren and Van Damme’s vehicles. Of all the Lundgren’s films that I saw, I like THE PUNISHER (1989, Mark Goldblatt) the most. One reason is because the film has very stylish villainesses. And hey, Boaz Yakin (the director of FRESH, UPTOWN GIRLS, A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES, REMEMBER THE TITANS) wrote the script. I don’t know which Van Damme film is to be recommended. But the last time that I saw him is in a French comedy film called NARCO (2004, Tristan Aurouet + Gilles Lellouche, B+), in which he did a brief appearance. I regret that Lundgren and Van Damme’s future might not be very bright. And I think it would be difficult for them to play in a dramatic role as the role of Stallone in ROCKY BALBOA.

“THE NATION” NEWSPAPER PRINTED TWO ARTICLES ABOUT THE CENSORSHIP AND “SYNDROMES AND A CENTURY”. YOU CAN READ THE TWO ARTICLES IN THESE LINKS.

1.Film censorship firmly under the spotlight
http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/22/headlines/headlines_30032392.php

2.First movie law in decades going to NLA

Critics welcome rating system but fear continued censorship

http://nationmultimedia.com/2007/04/22/headlines/headlines_30032394.php

PETER NELLHAUS WROTE ABOUT THE DVD “FILMS OF KENNETH ANGER, VOLUME 1” in this link:
http://www.coffeecoffeeandmorecoffee.com/archives/2007/04/films_of_kennet.html#more

This is my comment in his blog:

I just watched this DVD a week ago. It is my first time to see Kenneth Anger’s films, and I immediately fell in love with his works. I like INAUGURATION OF THE PLEASURE DOME the most. It is very crazy. I also like EAUX D’ARTIFICE very much, but I thought the film seemed like something familiar to me. It was as if I had seen it when I was a child, but I thought that would be impossible. How could EAUX D’ARTIFICE be shown on Thai television 20-25 years ago? But now I found the answer after reading your blog. I saw VOYAGE TO ITALY a few years ago. Though I can’t recall that scene in VOYAGE TO ITALY, I think Rossellini’s film is the reason why I felt EAUX D’ARTIFICE seemed like something I had seen before.