An action fantasy involving a child and mythical creatures seems like a sure-fire recipe for movie success. But will "Sudsakorn" ("The Legend of Sudsakorn"), this year's take on the magical adventure drawn from classic Thai literature, prove as popular as its earlier incarnation as Payut Ngokrajang's big-screen 2-D animated feature back in 1979?

The film, which opened on Thursday nationwide, uses the very latest in special effects and has cost more than Bt80 million to make.

Independent producer Mono Films, which invested three years in the project, has not had much success locally, although it has fared better on the international market.

Director Kraisorn Buranasingh is confident, though.

"I've never compared our movie with the classic version. I've just tried to make 100 pages of the poem come alive on film."

Kraisorn made his debut three years ago with action flick "Maha Aut", the story of a magical battle between good and bad Vedas.

The film bombed at the box office partly because of the loose plot, but mainly because the producer, Sahamongkol's Somsak Techaratanaprasert, had cut it so short that it was hard to understand.

But Kraisorn didn't give up and immediately got to work on "Suksakorn".

"Kids, animals and special effects are usually a no-no in the film world. But, we have them all in this movie," he says happily.

"Sudsakorn" is one of the best-known parts of the classic Thai legend "Phra Aphai Manee". Written by the late poet Sunthorn Phu in the 1800s, it depicts the adventures of a young boy in search of his father.

Sudsakorn (Charlie Trairat) is the youngest son of Phra Aphai Manee (Surachai Sangarkart) and his mermaid mother (Pemanee Sungkorn).

After Sudsakorn's father leaves in search for his brother, the young boy is raised by Prachao Ta (Suchao Pongwilai), a hermit who teaches him magic.

Sudsakorn leaves the island in search of his father astride Ma Nin Mungkorn, the half dragon-half horse who can even run over water.

Mandatory reading for all Thai elementary school kids, the popular adventure was made into an animation series by Channel 7 a few years back under the title "Ja Jing Ja".

While computer-generated imagery is used extensively throughout the film - for instance in the creation of Ma Nin, the ghost city filled with cursed souls, the mermaid and the shaman - Kraisorn has also relied on more conventional special effects, as well as on the actors.

Charlie, who made his debut in the 2003 hit "Fan Chan" ("My Girl"), was his first choice when he began casting.

"His acting experience helped a lot because he's capable of playing alone against a green screen," the director says.

Moviegoers familiar with the original 2-D animation or Channel 7's cartoon series will also notice differences in the costumes and locations.

Sudsakorn is traditionally known to wear tiger skin, but in this version, he's dressed in ordinary cotton.

"He grows up with the hermit, so it stands to reason that he'd be dressed like the hermit," reasons the director.

The island has long been interpreted as being Koh Samet, the island off Rayong, but Kraisorn has taken a new approach and located it in the Andaman Sea, as Phra Aphai Manee's story relates to the kingdoms of Langka (Sri Lanka) and Java.

"When I looked at the map, an island in the Andaman seemed more likely," he says.

However most of the story was shot on Krabi's Koh Hong and in Phuket.

Though Kraisorn is ready to welcome all feedback from audience, his real hope is that children will love the film and absorb the cultural treasures of this literary work at the same time.

"For kids who saw the original animated version, this film will help them imagine the story.

"I was lucky: I saw Payut's version and I've tried to keep as many details as I can. I hope they'll enjoy it."

Parinyaporn Pajee

The Nation