The Legend of King Naresuan Part II

This is simply the best Thai film I have seen in years. And I must say this is a terrific war movie for it didn't only depict the spectacular battle scenes but also the war strategies and the ambivalence behind it.

In fact, I am not a fan of war movies. And I have to say that I am not impressed with Suriyothai, the epic movie also directed by MC Chatrichalerm Yukol. But King Nasesuan is terrific. It has lots of smart action-packed scenes, light-hearted moments and romances.

First of all, unlike Suriyothai, King Naresuan is a movie that will drive the audience cheer for the lead characters.

Watching Suriyothai is like reading a textbook with tens of characters. But the plots of Naresuan evolve around a few key characters, and the war tactics that Naresuan applied in the process of reclaiming the independence.

The movie is not about the war ifself but the integrity of the warriors and their ambivalence. Monk Khan Shong, played by superb Sorrapong Chatree, was there at the battle scences to remind of the dark side of the war.

Compared to the first one, the sequel is better such as in terms of cast and editing. In the first episode, I have some trouble with actor Sompop Benjathikul playing Hongsa's King Bayinnaung, especially when he lost his cool when meeting with Princess Suphankalaya, Naresuan's older sister. This is despite the fact that I think by letting the three child stars telling the heavy story of the political intrigue has made the first episode more interesting. (It also reminds me of Harry Potter's three lead characters.) The cock-fighting was intense and symbolic. But the battle scene in the first one is no where near Naresuan Part II.   

In part II, the children are grown up to develop their own characters. Boonting, Naresuan's best friend and his army commander, tends to let his emotion out while the Black Prince is more subdued. Boonting's romance with Lekin spiced up the movie, even though historians still cannot confirm if Thais already learned to lock their tongues in 1577. There's not much to say about Maneechan in the second film. 

The Black Prince applied different tactics to win his enemies. The movie depicts him as a strategist who lets Boonting to be the man of action. The characters of these two warriors are also different.

The characters of the other two young lords serve the movie quite well as the sidekicks to bring several light-hearted moments. Their friendship may imply their sexual orientation. But who cares? At least, the various groups of people under Naresuan show his open-minded attitude and the golden days of Ayodhya.

Capt Wanchana Sawasdee, the actor who plays Naresuan is quite a cinematographic presence. He convincingly plays the Warrior King. And his presence makes a big difference between Naresuan and Suriyothai. We all root for him because we could connect with this guy while the actress who plays Suriyothai is robotic.

I got the goosebumps when the Black Prince lifted up the decanter as a symbol to reclaim the sovereignty of Ayodhya. Wanchana pulled it off with conviction. Then, the crowds were cheering "Naresuan" all over. The scene was powerful. It was the first time that we have heard of "Naresuan", the name that most of Thais call Our Warrior King. I am not sure if non-Thai audience would have the strong impression with the scene in the same way as I did.

The cinematography captures the spirit of the movie. One of the early scenes where the Black Prince and the other two Burmese princes were discussing the warfare against the rebellious Khang State reminds me of Rashomon.

The movie didn't only glorify Naresuan but also showed how some, a blind old woman who lost her son to the war, didn't fully agree with his strife for victory. The movie shows that Naresuan is just a human. He couldn't tolerate disobediene. He refused to be sympathised with his sister's decision not to leave Hongsa kingdom and he told his brother his order was the rule.

The battle-scenes where the warriors were trying to outsmart each other were of course the movie's highlights. Here, we saw real people engage in the ancient warfare, while the visions in a number of Hollywood films have obviously gone digital.

Thirty minutes to the end after Naresuan let Boonting take over the action scene, Naresuan came back with the fully heroic act to save all of his subjects, to be the last to cross the bridge over Satong River which was about to fall all over.

And when Naresuan pulled the trigger of that legendary three-metre-long sniper rifle, time stopped. The theatre was silent until the bullet hit the target. Then, the audience couldn't wait any longer to see the final episode.