One thing I love to do when I go to Bangkok is go to the movies. Bangkok cinemas are properly sized temples within which one may worship the Gods and Goddesses of the Silver Screen. Some even have reclining chairs and a select few offer waiter service. Yes, you’re expected to stand at the beginning of each movie to salute the King. A small price to pay compared to the unpleasant shoe boxes that pass for “movie houses” in our little town.

So it was with high expectations that I opened today’s newspaper, looking to see what movies from my want list would be playing. No Country For Old Men? (yes, have seen it but on a big screen it would be even better) Nope. There Will Be Blood? fuggedabouddit. Charlie Wilson’s War? Not so much.

Instead it would appear that the entire city is having a Film Festival now, the theme being “The Worst Reviewed Western Films of the Year.” The choices are:

National Treasure 2
Aliens Vs Predators 2
Alvin & the Chipmunks
Elizabeth 2

The few that are of borderline interest to me are:

I Am Legend
Across the Universe
Bee Movie

But none enough to make me conform to a schedule, take a train, wait in line, etc.

Opening on January 10th is Mr Woodcock, a movie so bad that I couldn’t make it all the way through the DVD rip I’d downloaded off the internet.

Pirate DVDs here cost about 100 Thai baht (at least if you’re white). That’s about three times the price of the same thing in Shenzhen and even more expensive than if you buy from the fake deaf guy who circles the bars in Wanchai at night.

Hongkie Town
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