Netflix Once Upon a Star: A Tribute to the Thai Film Industry

Once Upon a Star is a new film by Nonzee Nimibutr that pays tribute to the most captivating era of the Thai film industry. Set in the 1970s, the film follows a traveling pharma-cinema unit that travels around Thailand in a van, showing Thai films of the 1960s for communities.

The pharma-cinema unit is a unique part of Thai film history. These units would pack up a whole open-air cinema and drive it to remote villages, where they would show films to the locals. The films were often dubbed live by a team of actors, who would add sound effects, score, and dialogue from a panel of microphones.

Once Upon a Star follows the story of one such pharma-cinema unit as it faces challenges from a rival company with more expensive equipment. The film also explores the changing landscape of the Thai film industry, as modern cinemas and TV sets begin to replace the traditional open-air theaters.

The film stars Weir-Sukollawat Kanaros as the cinema leader Manit, Noona-Nuengthida Sophon as voice dubbing actor Rueangkae, and Samart Payakaroon as the unit’s driver Uncle Man.

In a letter for Netflix, the director wrote that Once Upon a Star “is a love letter to the Thai film industry.”

“Over the decades, the Thai film industry has gone through a lot and weathered many ups and downs,” Nimibutr wrote. “From silent films and noir classics to dubbed 16mm films in cinemas, it evolved into open-air theaters, traveling pharma-cinema units, and has now arrived at today’s streaming platforms.

“My profound love and strong bond with Thai films have shaped my entire way of life and continue to be an integral part of my life. Therefore, I wanted to make a film to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Thai film industry.”

Once Upon a Star is a heartwarming and nostalgic film that captures the magic of the Thai film industry at a time when it was on the cusp of change. The film is a must-see for any fan of Thai cinema.

The pharma-cinema unit was a popular way to bring films to rural areas of Thailand.
The films shown by the pharma-cinema units were often dubbed live, which added a unique layer of excitement and interactivity to the experience.
The rise of modern cinemas and TV sets led to the decline of the pharma-cinema unit, but the practice continues to this day in some parts of Thailand.
Once Upon a Star is a moving and nostalgic film that captures the spirit of the Thai film industry at a time of great change.

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The Jason Statham Action Thriller Leaving Netflix For Good

by George Mensah 2023-10-01

The Expendables, the ensemble action film starring Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, and a who’s who of Hollywood’s biggest action stars, is leaving Netflix on October 4th. If you’re a fan of over-the-top action, cheesy one-liners, and explosions galore, then you need to watch this film before it’s gone.

The Expendables follows a team of mercenaries who are hired to overthrow a ruthless dictator in South America. Along the way, they must battle hordes of enemies, dodge exploding vehicles, and even take on a few of their own former allies.

The film is a love letter to ’80s action cinema, with plenty of nods to classic films like Rambo, Commando, and Predator. The cast is all in on the fun, and they clearly relish the opportunity to ham it up and deliver some truly memorable one-liners.

If you’re looking for a mindless action film that will leave you entertained from start to finish, then The Expendables is the perfect choice for you.

Here are a few reasons why you should watch The Expendables before it leaves Netflix:

It’s a celebration of ’80s action cinema. The film is full of references to classic ’80s action films, and the cast clearly has a blast playing up the tropes of the genre.
It’s a star-studded cast. In addition to Stallone and Statham, the film also features appearances from Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke, and Terry Crews.
It’s over-the-top and ridiculous. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it’s full of over-the-top action sequences and cheesy one-liners.
It’s a whole lot of fun. If you’re looking for a mindless action film that will leave you entertained from start to finish, then The Expendables is the perfect choice for you.

So what are you waiting for? Stream The Expendables on Netflix before it’s gone on October 4th!

Cyberpunk 2077’s First-Person Talking: A Secret Sauce

by George Mensah 2023-09-28

In a sea of RPGs released in recent years, two that stand out are Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty and Starfield. Both games are first-person RPGs, but they tackle the challenge of first-person talking in very different ways.

First-Person Talking

First-person games don’t have the luxury of cinematic camera angles to keep a conversation flowing. First-person RPGs need to be engaging enough to keep players interested without constantly cutting away to something new, all while players can only see (and often hear) one side of the conversation.

Cyberpunk 2077’s Approach

Cyberpunk 2077 takes a unique approach to first-person talking by allowing players to move around during conversations. This gives players a greater sense of agency and immersion, and it also makes conversations more dynamic and interesting.

In one example from the Phantom Liberty expansion, the player character has a long conversation with Idris Elba’s character while moving around a disused underground safehouse. Elba’s character paces around, reroutes power, and eventually sits down in an old lawn chair. Another character enters the room before either of them notices, and they awkwardly change subjects.

This kind of scene would be impossible in a traditional third-person RPG, but Cyberpunk 2077’s first-person perspective allows for a more immersive and dynamic experience. Players can choose to listen to the conversation while moving around, or they can focus on the characters and dialogue.

Starfield’s Approach

Starfield, on the other hand, takes a more traditional approach to first-person talking. Conversations are typically held in a static environment, with the player character and NPCs standing still and facing each other. The camera cuts to close-ups of characters’ faces as they speak, and the player character is often unable to move or look around.

This approach to first-person talking is less immersive than Cyberpunk 2077’s, but it is more efficient and easier to implement. It also allows for more cinematic storytelling, with Bethesda able to carefully control the camera and framing of each scene.

Both Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield have their own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to first-person talking. Cyberpunk 2077’s approach is more immersive and dynamic, but it can also be distracting and less efficient. Starfield’s approach is less immersive, but it is more efficient and allows for more cinematic storytelling.

Ultimately, which approach is better is a matter of personal preference. Some players may prefer the immersion and dynamism of Cyberpunk 2077’s approach, while others may prefer the efficiency and cinematic quality of Starfield’s approach.

Additional Thoughts

In addition to the points made in the original article, I would like to add that Cyberpunk 2077’s approach to first-person talking also allows for more roleplaying opportunities. By allowing players to move around and interact with the environment during conversations, Cyberpunk 2077 gives players more control over how their characters behave and how they experience the story.

For example, a player might choose to pace around nervously during a tense conversation, or they might choose to sit down and relax during a friendly conversation. They might also choose to interact with objects in the environment, such as reading a book or petting a cat. This level of control over the roleplaying experience is one of the things that makes Cyberpunk 2077 such a unique and immersive game.

I also agree with the author’s point that Bethesda’s approach to first-person talking feels dated in comparison to Cyberpunk 2077’s approach. Bethesda’s zoomed-in camera transitions and static environments can be jarring and break immersion. I would be interested to see Bethesda experiment with a more dynamic approach to first-person talking in future games.

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