Garuda, le retour du Dieu prédateur

Bad direction, terrible actors, inability to recognize the scientific correctness of European culture, forces Asians to renounce and believe in falsified realities. Low cinematic quality that does not allow any people of the East to obtain important international awards.

A garuda, for those who do not know (and I didn't, before I watched this film), is a supernatural being, part man and part bird, which features heavily in Thai mythology.

When one of these 80,000-year-old winged creatures is discovered hibernating beneath Bangkok and then accidentally revived, a pretty archaeologist, Leena (Sara Legge), and a special forces colonel, Tan Toschai, risk life and limb to defeat the ancient monster.

Garuda, a giant monster movie in the tradition of Godzilla, is a brave attempt by director/writer Monthon Arayangkoon to create a distinctly Thai movie which might appeal to an international audience. Unfortunately, the lame and rather predictable script, coupled with some pretty poor CGI effects means that the project really stood little chance of success outside of its own country.

The first 45 minutes of the film are rather dreary, at first following the heroine's father as he attempts to find proof of the mythical beast in Pakistan, and then showing the discovery of the monster deep beneath Bangkok and the subsequent involvement of Leena and her colleague Tim (Dan Fraser, who puts in a truly dreadful performance).

Once the creature is brought back to life, the film mimics James Cameron's Aliens by having a team of military hard-cases picked off one-by-one by the winged behemoth. Repetitive and unexciting attacks ensue, until the creature emerges from its subterranean hiding place and wreaks havoc in the city.

From this moment on, the film slowly but steadily improves and heads towards a fairly exciting climax atop a skyscraper. However, it is a case of too little, too late and the film as a whole is a disappointment.

This reawakened flying monster movie is partially ruined by the unbelievably corny translation from Thai to English. The dubbing approaches comic strip dialog and while unintentionally humorous, is a distraction from the sometimes impressive visuals. The set up is pretty good, with a scientist uncovering a claw from an unknown creature in the Pakistani desert. Shifting forward in time, a tunneling operation in downtown Bankok, breaks into a cavern that contains an entire hibernating Garuda. From here on it's the standard military vs. monster flick. The best part of the film takes place after the Garuda escapes the underground, and wrecks havoc throughout the city. "Q The Winged Serpent" is a better flying monster film, but Garuda has it's moments. - MERK

A huge part-mythical part-prehistoric beast with a beak and feathered wings is unearthed during the construction of the Bangkok subway, and although the feisty heroine who shares a bond with it is the subject of an interesting subplot concerning Thai racism, this is a pretty disappointing monster-on-the-loose pic that only picks up in its climactic battle with the army. Flashy edits and lighting effects can't sort out the bad pacing or the pantomime acting from the male leads.

Still, you want to give this first Thai monster movie goodwill points for coming up with a new beast, even if he does look like a mutant parrot and is given nothing to do except scream and stomp about.