Pirates de Langkasuka

Calling this an Asian PotC rip off would not be fair, since this movie clearly stands on it's own.

THe movie takes place in Malaysia somewhere (I think) around 1800. The main protaginist is a young amn named Pari who wants to be taught in the magic art of Du Lum, a sort of sorcery that uses water and the sea as it's ain element. At the same time the coast is threatened by a pirate named Black Raven (his English name is used througghout the movie, no idea why). He as well as the defending army are searching for a mighty bronze cannon that sunk to the sea many years ago.

While by no means bad, the script is sometimes extremly messy and confusing, switching from persons and scenes too many times. Especially in the first half I didn't know who was attacking who and for what reason. It's a shame really because the props and production values are amazing.

Watch this movie if you are into nautical adventure movies but don't expect a master piece.

This is not a real review, it should be understood more as a collection of impressions on the film.

This film wants to be a huge fantasy colossal full of action and beauty but it is so packed with stuff that it is ridiculously too confusing, so much so that the viewer loses interest in following the whole film and therefore pays less attention and this only makes things worse because then he finds it even more difficult to follow and ultimately arrives at the end of the film having practically understood absolutely nothing. In conclusion, the film must be followed with extreme attention but honestly it is really an effort to follow it and it's not too worth it.

This film is meant to be serious and that is probably a drawback. It is not funny in the Pirates of the Caribbean sort of fantasy way, yet it has similar characteristics and might even be considered a rip off, if Pirates wasn't already a rip off of a cheesy Disney ride. So put all that aside. The story is epic and full of holes, based on a magical type of martial art where you fight with fish. OK, you don't actually fight with fish, but you use fish as part of your power. Got it? This is serious stuff, fighting with fish. Anyway, people breathe underwater, make sonic screams, and hang out a lot with fish. Just saying, if you like bizarre Thai martial arts films, this is certainly one of the more bizarre. Oh yeah, there's one guy with a sword that really kicks some serious ass.

If you prefer your bizarre Thai martial arts films to be less fantastical, may I recommend "Chocolate?"

Awefully bad film...The plot is all over the places and too naive, childish. The special effects are not good, look so much digitalized and some are really looked like toys. The melodrama of the characters are funny, staged, lacks of depth. Even the name of the pirate is Black Raven makes us think about Black Pearl in the Pirate of the Caribbean...come on, can you come up with a better name than that or you just want the audience to think this is a Thailand version copycat of Pirate of the Caribbean?

If i would compare this one with another Asian epic war film like Red Cliff of John Woo, well, this one deserves a generous 2/10. I rented this film in the video club because it was in the Fantasia festival in Montreal last year but i could not attend. I would not, definitely not recommended this film to anyone because i cant find any good thing to say about this film.

THIS MOVIE IS AWESOMEEE.... THe scenery and feeling is very much like Pirates of the Caribbean, although the characters of the movies are a bit more special.The special effects are not that great but i don't think Hollywood could have made it better anyways. The scenes looked very good, The photography is very much different from other Thai movies. The soundtrack annoyed me abit, well so did other action movies soundtrack. Ananda Everingham was great as always. I absolutely loved it. its really shows what Thais are capable of. This movie has lots of action scenes. Non-stop action. Some of the scenes reminds me of movies like Troy, etc. The romance is really cute. The acting was good. Love it!!!