Pee Nak 2

Personally I absolutely loved this movie. The first movie was already really good in my opinion, but I feel like the second movie was even better. (This is all opinion and even biased based review).

Story:
The movie basically follows after the first one, but now there are new characters.

There is still the ordained and disrobe curse. They try to figure out how to get rid of it for good. Balloon and First come back and get ordained again after running away the first time. There is also a new character Min-jun or Tho that comes in and has to get ordained because his mom made a promise at that temple. Throughout this movie, it is revealed why Balloon and First are actually cursed.

This time the movie was about friendships, everyone is actually working together which I liked about the movie. I think this time the plot is more centered around sticking by your friends even if the situation is bad. Tho could've just left, but he stayed and got ordained.

Even though it is labelled as a horror, it isn't really a horror movie at all. In my opinion this movie was TOO funny to be a scary/horror movie. I literally lost count of how many times I had to pause the movie because it was so funny. If you don't like horror movies, but still want to watch something "scary" (which this really wasn't scary) and A LOT of comedic relief I REALLY recommend this movie. I just enjoyed it so much.

Even though the plot was very straightforward, it's so good and entertaining.

Acting/Cast:
I absolutely love the casting of this movie. The chemistry between everyone was just so organic and hilarious.

I've seen more than half the cast before. I've also seen most of them in the previous movie so I knew I would love this movie. I love August, Pond, Puwado, and the rest in the first movie. Maybe it's just me, but the chemistry between everyone was just amazing and apparent in this movie.

When I heard and initially watched the trailer for this movie, I was not expecting to see Mean. I was already looking forward to seeing this movie, but when I saw him I wanted to know how himself and his character contributed to the story. And it was beyond my expectations. Honestly, I feel like characters that are more on the comedic side fit him best.

Again, I just wanted to restate that the cast was just amazing.

Overall:
I just think this movie was really amazing. On a side note, I didn't think the OST was gonna be that good. The song really just fit the tone of the movie (this is the link for the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4QxV5HuwVg ). I might be really biased because I love watching these types of movies, but either way I think it was a really good movie to watch. Like I always say though, everyone's taste is different, so you might like it more or less than I did. Overall, I give this movie a 9/10.

Read More

A better executed sequel

I don't usually hold much expectations of sequels, because they either mess up the plot of the prequel or feel like an attempt to capitalize on a story that doesn't require a sequel. This was one of the instances where a sequel, although not really necessary, surpassed the quality in all aspects of the original.

The second movie in the Pee Nak franchise follows the leads from the prequel, Nong, First and Balloon, haunted by yet another spirit in the same temple they were all ordained, but this time, the spirit seems to be even more vengeful than the last, and seems to hold a special grudge towards First and Balloon. They are joined by K-Pop idol Min Jun, who is to be ordained at the temple, and several novice monks and people who live at the temple to solve the new mystery.

The story flowed much more seamlessly this time around, the plot was still rooted in mythology and could have been explained better because I had a hard time connecting it to the actual story, but the main narrative itself was written without being too fragmented.

The horror.. it was still not quite scary but I'll forgive them because I don't come for the scary, I'm not a huge fan of the scary.

What I do come for is the comedy, which was also better in this movie. The same absurdist, dark comedy, but a bit more well written and enhanced by the fact that we had some established characters and could read into how they would behave during certain situations.

The sequel does have connections to the first movie, so be sure to give that one a watch before this. It's actually alright if you don't as well, there a few details that may be confusing if you haven't watched the prequel, but this is a brand new plot and the biggest connections to the first movie are the characters. I would recommend this over the first one, but I would also recommend watching that one if you want continuity.

Overall, this was a decent horror comedy, nothing too brilliant but it gets the job done, much like Pee Nak.

Read More

PEE NAK COMES BACK WITH ANOTHER CURSE N ANOTHER ROUND OF HILARIOUS RIDE !! :)

Like PN 1, this too, is Not Scary.
And is MORE HILARIOUS n CHAOTIC than PN 1 😂

As said in my PN 1 Review:
Thai Comedies (Horror or Rom-Com), as usual, are always CHAOTIC ! :)
(If U are aware of Thai comedies, only then, U can enjoy this.
Bcz Every Country has its OWN TONE OF COMEDY, especially Japan or Thai comedies are not for everyone)

***
A Good Mix of Horror + Comedy + serious stories of the ghost's past and the main story.

Here, the TWISTS in the Main Story are Interesting to watch.

Apart from the Ghost's past n the main story, here a New Story of Rebirth / Past lives of some of the characters Aod, Noht, First, Balloon n the ghost, is beautifully blended into the main story.
This "Past lives" story is Interesting n Well Written .

***
Like in PN 1,
Even here, The ghost story n the main story depict religious process n rituals like "Ordaining to be a Monk", "Disrobing" etc in Buddhism and are Very Interesting to watch.

The Stories of Naga, boon of the Naga - "Nak" in the ordain process etc n the ghost's past life (how and why it has become a Vengeful Ghost), n how they are related to current main story, are Well Written.

The haunting scenes are funny n chaotic 😂
Even the scenes of the team trying to find solutions to the curses, the Buddhist Monks helping the team to ward off the ghost n to revoke the curses, are funny😂

***
Director Mike is known for Comedy genre!
Production, Screenplay are good enough.
Locations are cool.

***
Initially, there is a confusion whether there are 1 or 2 Curses, not only to the viewers but also to the characters too🤭

First Curse is the same as PN 1:
Whoever gets ordained at a particular Buddhist temple, dies.

Second Curse:
Whoever ordained in that particular temple, can't Disrobe (leave monkhood), else they die.

So the ghost keeps haunting, disturbing the process n not allowing anyone to be ordained /disrobed there.

Later, it is clear that the 2nd curse is the only curse in this movie n the adventure to find a solution to that curse, continues.

The confusion of the first curse is created bcz of Mean's character, who is trying to be ordained in that temple.
While the Disrobing curse n the related chaos is bcz of characters First and Balloon who are trying to leave monkhood, after getting ordained in PN 1.

The way how PN 1 n PN 2 are related with recurring characters, is well written.
The Naga hooded Buddha Amulet is just referred in PN 1, while it is the main story here.

***
Every Actor performed well.
Every Character is lovable.

The recurring characters n the cast, August, Aim, James, Pond n Tar are cool.

Aim n James as queer characters are hilarious n chaotic, as usual 😂

New cast n characters introduced here, are funny.
There are so many young Novice monks here, the boys look silly n funny.
First, Balloon, Noht n Aod with these young Novices are more chaotic😂

Mean is cool n plays a K-pop idol character.
Mean looks like KDrama actor Park Seo Joon ;)

Placement of that Insurance advertisement as a part of the story is funny.

***
In the end, the curse is revoked, the ghost is relieved / warded off peacefully and the ordain process of Mean's character n Disrobing of First, Balloon happens as planned n peacefully.

The movie ending gives a hint to next part /Sequel.

***
My RATING is 8.5 / 10

*** COMPARISON OF THE MOVIES IN THIS FRANCHISE:

Can't really Rank any movie as the most or the least favourite, in this franchise.
My Rating for all 4 is the same n liked all 4 equally bcz one with more comedy, another with subtle comedy but all have serious stories.
And so ALL 4 MOVIES ARE ENTERTAINING n FUN TO WATCH!

In terms of Comedy,
PN 4 < PN 1 < PN 2 < PN 3

In terms of Story,
All have Serious Interesting Stories.
Story of PN 1 is a simple one while the other three have twists n little complicated stories.

Also, Watched this franchise long ago n remembered these as STANDALONE n UNRELATED MOVIES n need to watch all, just to know the background and the relations of the Recurring Characters.

But now when I re-watched all 4, realised that all 4 movies are RELATED, may not be a Proper n Direct SEQUEL to each other.
But One movie's storyline is taken from a scene or concept from the previous movie. That's how they are related.

For eg;
1) PN 2's main storyline "One old Monk n Buddha with Naga hood Amulet" is discussed in 1-2 scenes in PN 1 n are elaborated in PN 2 as the main story.

2) PN 3's "Past lives, stealing Golden Anklets etc" is depicted in PN 2 n are elaborated in PN 3 as the main story.

3) PN 4's Naga n Plan's character is shown in two scenes in PN 3 n are elaborated in PN 4 as the main story.

And so Need to watch all 4 movies in the same order to understand n enjoy the franchise.

Also, it's fun to watch the recurring cast n characters in the franchise :)
Actor Tar, literally grew up along with this franchise, haha .

***
Give a try! Especially Horror genre lovers who love to watch every type n a variety of Horror concepts.

Read More