Let's start with the positive aspects of this film : Firstly the baseline is rather unique and very strong. A village is opposing an invading army. Where profesionnal soldiers run, ordinary villagers are determined to make a stand, to the last man if need be.Secondly the potential of the characters is very strong. Instead of trained soldiers we see ordinary people and their family. Instead of one hero, there are several protagonists.Thirdly the final act is simply grand. The fact that heroes appear mortal ads to the realism and the emotional impact of the film.Finally the film has some very good ideas and strong images like the guard ignoring command and leaving his post, the burning of the dead or the explosion of a self forged canon.Continuing with the downsides however : The viewer doesn't get a clear view of the map of the village and its defences. It is also unclear how the birmese army command is composed and what their soldiers geographical position is in respect to the village. This makes the attack on the village difficult to follow.The characters of the main villagers should have been more developed. It would have been very interesting to see them in their everyday life before the war.The actors are all rather plain, without great facial expression or gestures. Their foreign names are hard to remember and all but the protagonists look the same. The English dubbing obviously also spoils part of the emotional impact.At first the fighting scenes are rather clinic. People are hacking away at each other but there is hardly any close up or blood and guts flying around. Mostly in the final act we see actual butchering and gore.The storyline is meandering and sometimes chaotic. Direction is not very tight and straight forward.In conclusion the film certainly has a lot of merits. However, a western remake in a medieval setting with a straighter storyline, more development of character and a better geographical picture would take this story to the absolute triumph it deserves.

Siam, 1765: All that stands between the Burmese army and the city of Ayutthaya is the village of Bang Rajan, which refuses to surrender to the might of the savage invaders. The brave village warriors of Bang Rajan successfully repel the attackers time after time, but with their numbers dwindling and their leader injured, they must look to others to help them defeat their foe. Employing the help of the impressively mustachioed Chan and his jungle fighters, can the people of Bang Rajan survive one final attack by the Burmese imperial forces? Well, no they can't, but they give it a damn good try!This epic movie from Thailand is a stunning and captivating tale of the indomitable spirit of man (and woman) in the face of adversity. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the courageous villagers of Bang Rajan, facing certain death, continued to fight rather than be taken as slaves; this movie celebrates their bravery and ultimate sacrifice.Between the impressively vicious battle scenes, we get to know and admire the memorable individuals that battle so hard to protect what is theirs, and the likable cast portray these 'heroes' convincingly, making us care about their plight. And the bad guys are just as impressive, sneering evilly as they string up innocent victims and march into war carrying their enemies' severed heads on sharpened poles.The early battles, although action-packed, tend to imply the violence rather than ladle on the gore, although, as the film progresses, the bloodletting becomes increasingly graphic. By the end of the movie, body parts are flying all over the place! Occasionally director Tanit Jitnukul gets out of his depth trying to weave complex personal drama with epic battle scenes, but, on the whole, he does an impressive job. The film looks great and there are plenty of moments that will stay in your memory after the end credits have rolled.A deserved winner of 11 top accolades at Thai film awards, Bang Rajan should be seen by any fan of war movies, and those who love Asian cinema.

I have to say I enjoyed the film even though I am one of those 'Evil Burmese' :). I am a big fan of Asian cinema being originally from the region. I am happy for the Thais for their world class cinematography and western style action films. Bang Rajan is truly a good action film. One which gets you in the spirit of their struggle and determination to fight off invading foes. However it is a dramatised, one sided, modern day 'propaganda' film. Comparisons to Brave Heart I understand. Like Brave Heart this would have inflamed past bitterness towards the neighbouring country men (and women). May have even resulted in some public disturbance and crime. Film makers should be more responsible in what they make as films do influence the way people think. I have seen this with many historical genres in films such as 'American Indian Wars' , 'The Vietnam War', 'WWI and WWII' etc. Where film makers start off with seeing the other side as the complete epitome of savagery and evil, but later films view them as humans as well. I hope that some Scots and Thais rise up from their past bitterness and see that the people who oppressed them are humans too and things have moved on since those medieval times.The action here is relentless and blood-thirsty. It does not glorify war. You will see war as it is. Crime against humanity with civilian loss and suffering and not the televised clean stikes against enemy targets like some computer game that you see today .The characterisation is however lacking. If the director had spent a little more time for the audience to get to know the main characters better the overall impact of their courage and sacrifice would have been greater. Where Brave Heart is a drama set in the background of the Scottish struggle against the English Occupiers, Bang Rajan is a merely an action film about Thai villagers bravely defending their homeland and died free against a much larger superior Burmese invading force. Ordinary Thai citizens stood their ground while the proper Thai armies ran away without even protecting their own Capitol Ciy. Ony if they had such courage as these ordinary folks. A little reminiscent of the Alamo or The Seven Samurais as someone said but not as well polished.

I had the privilege of watching this on its release in Pattaya Thailand, What can i say? William Wallace, pack your bags and go home! This film makes Brave Heart look like Noddy in Toy Town. The choreography of the fight scenes was Fantastic-probably the best I've seen! And funnily enough i didn't understand a Bloody word! The buffalo in the fights is allegedly a genetic throw back to prehistoric times and died shortly after filming, its horns are supposedly over 12feet long! It is now in the Thai National Museum. Thats the History lesson over! Anyhow shortly after i was so bedazzled by this Film i received a VCD copy from a friend in Thailand, Since then I've been amazed by the fact it wasn't released in the UK with subtitles, lets face it we've got Bloody Bollywood and its Crap, we've got some super Gangsta Brit Flicks, the Japs some Fantastic Action-Gangsta movies & the Germans some pretty cool Hardcore! So having seen a number of Thai films inc 1 serious funny comedy about the army--Why Why Why don't we have a movement for Thai movies! After all Hollywood seems to be churning out the same old drivel time after time and with the exception of a few directors, & would do well to watch some of these movies- Super films low budgets and good story lines! As opposed to the same old formulae time and again with Budgets that could wipe out 3rd world debts!(Mr Spielburg)So if anybody knows where i can get an English subtitled version you'd make this 'Tingtong' a very happy man!Keep smiling guysG