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Movies / On DVD / Legend of Suriyothai
Legend of Suriyothai

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Legend of Suriyothai (2003)

53%
44%
100%
N/A
N/A
N/A
53 %
Reviews Counted: 57 Fresh: 30  Rotten:27 Average Rating: 5.6/10

How does the Tomatometer work?

The Tomatometer measures the percentage of positive reviews from Approved Tomatometer Critics for a certain movie.[-]

Runtime: 2 hrs 34 mins

Theatrical Release: Jun 20, 2003 Limited

Box Office: $277,562

Synopsis: A story of intrigue, romance and war set in a dramatic period of Thailand's history, "The Legend of Suriyothai" is based on actual events in 16th century Thailand. “The Legend of Suriyothai” begins during a peaceful era, but forces from both outside (Thailand's neighbor Burma to the... A story of intrigue, romance and war set in a dramatic period of Thailand's history, "The Legend of Suriyothai" is based on actual events in 16th century Thailand. “The Legend of Suriyothai” begins during a peaceful era, but forces from both outside (Thailand's neighbor Burma to the north) and within, conspires to test the strength of the nation. Filmed at spectacular locations throughout Thailand, with a true cast of thousands, this Cecil B. DeMille-sized epic chronicles the life of Suriyothai, a beautiful young princess, who must choose between marrying her true love, a gallant young warrior named Piren, or doing her duty to wed Prince Tien, the son of the "second king," in a marriage arranged by their two very powerful families. As the story unfolds, the Thai kingdom of Ayuthaya is enjoying a period of peace and prosperity, but the country's stability will be threatened by corruption and civil war. Colossal battle scenes with archers atop elephants, bare-breasted amazon fighters armed with spears, and invading Burmese legions firing cannons, are photographed on a scale not seen in the cinema for decades. Written and directed by Chatri Chalerm Yukol, a prince in the Thai royal family, the film was made with the support of Thailand's Queen Sirikit. Palace intrigues and deceptions abound, with memorable characters and plot twists: one king who takes the throne in a coup d'etat is then deceived by his beautiful new wife, a former high courtesan named Srisudachan. She plots her husband's downfall, pushing her lover Worawongsa to usurp the throne, and to restore her clan, the U-Thong in its claim to power. A band of loyalists joins Princess Suriyothai to assassinate the pretenders Srisudachan and Worawongsa, and to restore the monarchy in a daring sneak attack. Tien leaves the priesthood to become king, and to reunify Thailand. In a dramatic finale to the film, the Burmese invade Ayuthaya. Queen Suriyothai heroically rides an elephant into battle and dies in a valiant effort to save both her country and her husband's life. The life of Suriyothai has become a legend. -- © Sony Pictures Classics [More]

Genre: Foreign Films

Starring: M. L. Piyapas Bhirombhakdi, Sarunyoo Wongkrchang, Pongpat Wachirabunjong, Chatchai Plengpanich, Johnny Anfone

Director: Chatri Chalerm Yukol
Producer: Kamla Yukol

DVD Info

Release:

Nov 25, 2003

[DVD Details]

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Widescreen - 1.85

Audio:

  • Dolby Digital 5.1 - Thai

Additional Release Material:

  • Audio Commentary - 1. Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol - Director
  • Featurette - 1. Making Of
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Text/Photo Galleries;
  • Poster Artwork Gallery
  • Photo Gallery

Reviews

 
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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Ratings Image
3/5

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
Ratings Image
6/10

LEGEND OF SURIYOTHAI looks very much like the "larger than life" film epics of 1950s and 1960s

Full Review | comment Comment
07/18/05
Dragan Antulov
Draxblog Movie Reviews
Ratings Image
N/A

American audiences expect crouching tigers and hidden dragons in their Asian fare, so plodding elephants may be a little anti-climactic. This one is for the history buffs.

Full Review | comment Comment
05/21/04
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife
Ratings Image
2.5/5

With excellent acting, amazing sets and production standards as high as any I've seen, the movie has only one real problem: Once you're lost in the jungle, it's a very long way out.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/31/03
Orlando Weekly
Ratings Image
2/5

It is overlong, overproduced, overscaled and crammed with too many plots, subplots and digressions.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/31/03
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
Ratings Image
2/4

Without knowing what has been lost in the process, it would be hard to imagine the original film was any less repetitive or more dramatically engaging than what remains.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/24/03
Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
Ratings Image
2/4

What pieces of the story you do manage to figure out don’t carry any emotional weight.

Full Review | comment Comment
10/09/03
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Ratings Image
2/4

The film tells its story in the flattest manner possible, a story that could have been fascinating and enthralling.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/20/03
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Ratings Image
3/4

Enjoy the gorgeous and gaudy splendor of the sets, the locations and the spare-no-expense battle scenes featuring 3,500 extras and 160 elephants.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/19/03
Sean Means
Salt Lake Tribune
Ratings Image
N/A

[S]tolid and solemn [and] surprisingly dull...

Full Review | comment Comment
09/19/03
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
Ratings Image
3/4

always it is striving to be something special and substantial.

Full Review | comment Comment
09/10/03
Steven Snyder
Zertinet Movies
Ratings Image
C+

demonstrates Shakespearean themes of unrequited and true love, lust for power, and betrayal

Full Review | comment Comment
08/30/03
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews
Ratings Image
2.5/4

'Get the men and arm the elephants!' As that line indicates, 'Suriyothai' is at least unlike any other movie now in theaters...

Full Review | comment Comment
08/26/03
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
Ratings Image
3/5

Compelling enough that one wishes to be able to see the entire eight hours, with all the missing context filled back in. As it is, this short version seems even longer than eight hours.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/21/03
Richard Nilsen
Arizona Republic
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2.5/5

A project that is only intermittently involving.

Full Review | comment Comment
08/05/03
Jason Anderson
eye WEEKLY
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2.5/4

The bottom line is often leaden and redundant: There is quite simply too much to sort through.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/31/03
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Ratings Image
3/5

A delightful experience for Westerners to watch.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/27/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
Ratings Image
B

Visually ravishing and full of double-crosses and nefarious plots worthy of Shakespeare.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/25/03
Eric Harrison
Houston Chronicle
Ratings Image
C

Unabashedly sentimental and unambiguous, hailing the titular princess as a saintly hero at every opportunity, and painting good and evil characters without shades of gray.

Full Review | comment Comment
07/24/03
Eugene Novikov
Film Blather
Ratings Image
1.5/4

Click to read the article

Full Review | comment Comment
07/24/03
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly
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