As Damas de Ferro

You all know the plot .. a team of dis-advantaged misfits takes on the reigning champs and triumph in an emotional demonstration of "heart" and teamwork over the talented, but ultimately flawed, defenders.

You've seen it a hundred times. You'll see it a hundred more times. And every time you see it you'll wonder why you bothered because, generally, these films suck like a black hole.

But not this one.

I can't tell you exactly why this one works .. you know how it will end before you even get to your seat .. but it stands head and shoulders above all of the also rans (see what I did there? A sports metaphor)

Let's be honest - it's a formula film and it's not going to make you think and it's not going to break down the boundaries of film. But it does deliver humour and some passable performances and it does NOT cram "teamwork" down your throat. It's fun.

My second favourite sports film after Slap Shot. And I only like two sports films.

What more can you ask for in a movie than campy characters, memorable performances, a happy ending and non-stop laughter? The Iron Ladies truly delivers on all accounts.

The true story of a Thai volleyball team made up mostly of gay men, drag queens and transgendered women ("katoueys") that wins the men's national championship, The Iron Ladies is sassy, funny and extraordinary.

Cross-dressing Jung (Chaicharn Nimpulsawasdi), make-up loving soldier Nong (Giorgio Maiocchi) and transsexual cabaret star Pia (Kokkorn Benjathikoon) are the standouts in this hilarious cast of characters who unite together to overcome the adversity they face on a daily basis, and take Thailand by storm. Shiriohana Hongsopon gives probably the best performance as Coach Bee, the glue that holds the often hot-tempered and always effervescent team together.

As we see the Iron Ladies through to the national finals, all the characters receive a touch of humanity from each other, and rally together to reach the top. This hilarious romp will keep you laughing, and it will definitely be a film you will never forget! For it's fantastic script, three stars...the amazing acting, one more star...and because it's a movie you'll want to see again and again, one more. 5 stars out of 5!

This film is not only hysterically funny, it's a true story. You will be cheering these kids on at every turn. I've seen it twice and it holds up and never disappoints! Comedy of course is subjective, but I sat in an audience of New Yorkers the first time I watched this and the laughter was amazing.

This film is funny. However, I found the portrayal of transsexuals and gays over the top. They played on the stereotypes that all gays must act feminine, which is not true. I thought that the way which the actors acted was very exaggerated. This is quite unfair, as this film perpetuates the misunderstanding towards the transsexuals and gays instead of clearing the misunderstanding.

Putting this aside, this film explores the issues of discrimination against the transsexuals and gays, and also the pressure that they are under. These people have to work extra hard in order to prove themselves. Not only is this a comedy, it gives people something to think about too.

I've heard about this movie for quite sometimes before actually manage to see it. It has been given very good reviews from the Media. In this movie, each character is interesting and been given their own special attention, starting from the important character like Mon & Chai, to the less important roles like April, May & June. It pretty much revolves around a bunch of drag queen playing volleyball , entering competition,sportsman ship, team work, relationship between transsexuals and real men, sexual discrimination. You will enjoy this movie from the start till the end, although sometimes in some scenes, the director didnt really make it clear why on earth that particular scenes is needed for. The actors and actresses made a good job as drag queen and gay people considering the fact that all of them (except one) claimed to be straight and most of them are in 'straight relationship', and also, you'll get to learn and see the wonders or Thailand, and also the way they made a movie about volleyball in thailand, considering that Volleyball is not a popular sports in Thailand, yet, this movie still manage to emerged as the 2nd highest grossing movie ever, in Thailand, behind the movie NangNak. Recommended to everyone, you wont regret it.