Paksa wayu (2004)

User Rating:

4.5/10   

Director:

Monthon Arayangkoon

Writer:

Monthon Arayangkoon (writer)

Release Date:

1 April 2004 (Thailand)

Genre:

Fantasy

Plot:

In 2005, Bangkok begins the second phase of building their city subway system. But they accidentally discover something more...

Cast

Sornram Theppitak	...	Tan
Sara Legge	...	Leena
Dan Fraser	...	Tim
Chalad Na Songkhla	...	Krai
Yani Tramod	...	Wichai
Phairote Sangwaribut	...	Tan's Boss

Also Known As:

Garuda (International: English title)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai

Color:

Color

Certification:

Malaysia:U

Company:

R.S. Film

Trivia:

The title 'Garuda' refers to a mythical being with the body of a man and the head and wings of a bird. In Hindu mythology, the king of the Garudas became the ride of the God Vishnu.

Winged beastie attacks Bangkok in disappointing monster movie.

A garuda, for those who do not know (and I didn't, before I watched this film), is a supernatural being, part man and part bird, which features heavily in Thai mythology.

When one of these 80,000-year-old winged creatures is discovered hibernating beneath Bangkok and then accidentally revived, a pretty archaeologist, Leena (Sara Legge), and a special forces colonel, Tan Toschai, risk life and limb to defeat the ancient monster.

Garuda, a giant monster movie in the tradition of Godzilla, is a brave attempt by director/writer Monthon Arayangkoon to create a distinctly Thai movie which might appeal to an international audience. Unfortunately, the lame and rather predictable script, coupled with some pretty poor CGI effects means that the project really stood little chance of success outside of its own country.

The first 45 minutes of the film are rather dreary, at first following the heroine's father as he attempts to find proof of the mythical beast in Pakistan, and then showing the discovery of the monster deep beneath Bangkok and the subsequent involvement of Leena and her colleague Tim (Dan Fraser, who puts in a truly dreadful performance).

Once the creature is brought back to life, the film mimics James Cameron's Aliens by having a team of military hard-cases picked off one-by-one by the winged behemoth. Repetitive and unexciting attacks ensue, until the creature emerges from its subterranean hiding place and wreaks havoc in the city.

From this moment on, the film slowly but steadily improves and heads towards a fairly exciting climax atop a skyscraper. However, it is a case of too little, too late and the film as a whole is a disappointment.