Bankgok Not So Dangerous

Well. I felt it my obligation being in Bangkok to check out the new Nicholas Cage movie, Bagkok Dangerous. I actual went the day it opened to no so backed crowds at the Imaxx theater at the Siam Center, the big upscale mall near my house. After standing in line I finally stood next to a American couple so I could ask the question of the day "Is it in English or thai". The woman nicely responded English. She told me to try to see it movies 1-4, those are the delux theaters. Hmm what is the definition of delux in an upscale mall selling High scale fashion, designer shops along with the stables of coach, docle, ferrari's on the 4th floor, a whole floor of golf stores and stuff. Well I decided to do the big deal. I laid down my 500 baht for the to scale theater and off I went.

I got a wierd look when I was escorted into the waiting lounge. I'm suppose to buy my drinks there and recline and get my popcorn cookies, liquor and what else here. How's a girl suppose to know. With the debut movie ready to begin, I's ushered to my seat. The seats are group in twos. Two recliners with sound barriers around them. There is a small table and can holder between each recliner. Yes I said electronic recliner. My usher hands me my silky blankie and pillow. A girl up, push the reclin button, the feet pop up and we're ready to go. Now this is living. A few minutes later a young teanage kid with too much cologne sits in the reciliner next to me. But he does not recline -- not yet anyway.

I just get situated in the recliner and then the music starts. All around me everyone is standing. The screen is filled with pictures of the queen being charitable. I can't figure out how to make the reclining foot rest go back. But I need to stand. I don't want them to think I am disrespectful. I don't want to go to chair. So I just straddle the recliner chair -- a bit uncomfortable -- for three months of singling and looking patriotic. But it worked. Okay Rule 1 is don't put the recliner in recline until after the national song is song and you've paid proper homage to king and queen. Whew that one is over.

Now for the show. I'd rate it about a 3. It had lots of drama, blood and gore juxtapoisitioned against a man attempting to refind his soul humidity thurhg human contact. An elephone with a trunk turned down similized that things are going to go bad and they do. Would I see it again-- well probably not. But I did like see all the places I see every day in the movie, the boots drug store, the MBK shopping center with the neon light, the night market with the neat jazz and music, a streets dimly lit with vegegation. I found like I was getting the lay of the land for my new hood. That was until I went to transparency internerationals webside and look up the transparency index for Thailand, or I though about the newest moves by the government to fire the Prime Minister because he appeared on a coiking show on TV and his party deciding not to renominate him. It's a crasy place in many ways.

Well anyway go see the movie if you want to see my daily huants. Most were shot very near my apartment hotel.
Momenets later I found out why. Before ever movie they play about a 3 minute tribute song to king and queen. Everyone must stand and show proper respect. It's a jail sentence to be disrespectful. I could figure out fast enough how to get the recliner foot cushion back up so I straddled it. Yeah I looked wiered, a lot wiered. But I told myself it didn't matter much because of the spacer between the seats. But the usher did look at me a bit funny.

Now for the movie. It one I would normally choose.It would be rock 'em off, bad guy show we'd go to on Michael's night to chooose the movie. But I was in Bangkok and it was filmed in Bangkok. I actually got off on figuring out where the scenes were filmed. There is one scene where he is up on the walk way or sky bridge. Bangkok has two sky trains to cross the busy streets you climb two flights of stairs and talk the walk ways which lead to the toerh side, major shopping malls and the sky train. One seen shows the big globwing MBK sign in the hight light. Heck that's about a 1/2 mile from my little apartment.

And the scene where he meets the lovely death pharmacist. Well thtt has to be Boot's pharmacy by the layout and colors. They are a cross between the old drug store and real time pharmacy. You can get many drugs you get in the U.S. in these stores weithou a prescrptions. They are conveniently located and have English speaking (to some degree) work personal who actual try to help you.

While I don't know which back dark streets he walks down, I feel like I have been there. There are many. Stores which may be printers become restaurants in the evenings. Tables pop out on the side walk. Some streets are very dark. Luckily the bridge I cross over to my hotel is well lit. It's anchored at each end by 3-4 tuck tuck drivers who will take you across the bridge for only 100 baht. A couple of times I have been tired enough to think about it but the price is too too high.

Oh yes, back to the movie. I think the movie captures the essences of Bangkok. The old traditions, the drak streets, the beauty of the monay people. The hard work for what every purpose. My masssage center stays open until 1 a.m. The corner store is open from 10 a.m. to midnight every day. These people work hard. Very hard.

Well A move theater with a blanky, a weaiter to bring popcorn and treats, drinks sure beats the regular theater. And all this for 600 baht. Count me in again.