Opapatika
Encyclopedia
Opapatika is a 2007 Thai
fantasy
-action film
. It is directed by Thanakorn Pongsuwan and stars Pongpat Wachirabanjong, Leo Putt
, Somchai Kemklad, Chakrit Yaemnam, Ray MacDonald
, Athip Nana, Nirut Sirichanya and Khemupsorn Sirisukha
belief the evolution of birth can be divided into three forms:
Then there is a fourth form, Opapatika, which goes against Buddhist beliefs because it involves suicide
: a class of supernatural beings who are born out of suicide. However, the powers that they gain also have a negative effect.
The narrator, it is revealed, is Thuwachit (Pongpat Wachirabanjong), the loyal mortal henchman
for the elderly Sadok (Nirut Sirichanya), an Opapatika who is quickly decaying and needs to feast on the flesh of other Opapatikas in order to sustain himself. He sends Thuwachit out to capture others.
Four Opapatikas remain:
Investigating the Opapatikas is a private detective, Techit (Leo Putt
), whom Sadok transforms into an Opapatika. Techit has the psychic
powers of a mind reader, but his power costs him the use of his five senses.
Techit is teamed up with Thuwachit, who leads a vast paramilitary army against the four Opapatika. The four immortals are also mysteriously drawn to a woman, Pran (Khemupsorn Sirisukha
).
Bangkok Post
film critic Kong Rithdee characterised the film as dull and overly violent, summed up as "an ambitious film that ends up merely an exercise, and not a very memorable one at that."
The Nation
was more upbeat, saying the film had a strong ensemble cast and compelling story, but was undermined by poorly framed action and inadequate lighting. "If it hadn't been so dour and serious all the time, and had better presented action sequences, Opapatika could have been a contender," the newspaper's reviewer said.
The film review blog Asian Cinema - While on the Road was harsher, calling Opapatika "loud, pointless and witless ... this has a body count that could fill a football stadium ... but not one of these myriad of corpses would evince even a slight care from you – just fodder for the threshing machine of CGI death."
.
The title is derived from the Pali wording for the Tripitaka
, the Buddhist
scripture.
Cinema of Thailand
The cinema of Thailand dates back to the early days of filmmaking, when King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by Francois-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, where it was exhibited...
fantasy
Fantasy film
Fantasy films are films with fantastic themes, usually involving magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. The genre is considered to be distinct from science fiction film and horror film, although the genres do overlap...
-action film
Action film
Action film is a film genre where one or more heroes is thrust into a series of challenges that require physical feats, extended fights and frenetic chases...
. It is directed by Thanakorn Pongsuwan and stars Pongpat Wachirabanjong, Leo Putt
Leo Putt
Putthipong Sriwat , born April 1, 1976) is a Thai singer and actor. His films include Fake, Dynamite Warrior and The Sperm.-Filmography:* Goodbye Summer * Fake * The Story of X-Circle * Dynamite Warrior...
, Somchai Kemklad, Chakrit Yaemnam, Ray MacDonald
Ray MacDonald
Ray MacDonald is a Thai actor of Scottish descent. He won Best Actor awards at the Thailand National Film Association Awards in 1997 and 1998 for his roles in Fun Bar Karaoke, the debut feature by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, and O-Negative, which co-starred Tata Young...
, Athip Nana, Nirut Sirichanya and Khemupsorn Sirisukha
Khemupsorn Sirisukha
Khemupsorn "Cherry" Sirisukha is a popular Thai actress. She has acted in a number of dramas, including Kaew Tah Pee and Thur Kue Duang Jai...
Plot
A narrator explains that according to BuddhistBuddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
belief the evolution of birth can be divided into three forms:
- Sangsethaca: To be born amongst rot and decay, as a worm or maggot.
- Anthaca: To be born from an egg, in the various forms of birds.
- Chalaphucha: To be conceived in the womb as a human or other mammal.
Then there is a fourth form, Opapatika, which goes against Buddhist beliefs because it involves suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
: a class of supernatural beings who are born out of suicide. However, the powers that they gain also have a negative effect.
The narrator, it is revealed, is Thuwachit (Pongpat Wachirabanjong), the loyal mortal henchman
Henchman
Henchman referred originally to one who attended on a horse for his employer, that is, a horse groom. Hence, like constable and marshal, also originally stable staff, henchman became the title of a subordinate official in a royal court or noble household...
for the elderly Sadok (Nirut Sirichanya), an Opapatika who is quickly decaying and needs to feast on the flesh of other Opapatikas in order to sustain himself. He sends Thuwachit out to capture others.
Four Opapatikas remain:
- Paisol (Chakrit Yaemnam), a ruthless assassin who must bear all the scars and wounds of his victims.
- Jiras (Somchai Khemklad), an immortal Opapatika, and the most powerful of them all. He considers his immortality a curse.
- Aruth (Ray MacDonaldRay MacDonaldRay MacDonald is a Thai actor of Scottish descent. He won Best Actor awards at the Thailand National Film Association Awards in 1997 and 1998 for his roles in Fun Bar Karaoke, the debut feature by Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, and O-Negative, which co-starred Tata Young...
), an invincible fighter by night, but weak in the daylight. - Ramil (Athip Nana), an adrenaline-fueled daredevil who can project a monstrous, ghostly creature to do his bidding.
Investigating the Opapatikas is a private detective, Techit (Leo Putt
Leo Putt
Putthipong Sriwat , born April 1, 1976) is a Thai singer and actor. His films include Fake, Dynamite Warrior and The Sperm.-Filmography:* Goodbye Summer * Fake * The Story of X-Circle * Dynamite Warrior...
), whom Sadok transforms into an Opapatika. Techit has the psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
powers of a mind reader, but his power costs him the use of his five senses.
Techit is teamed up with Thuwachit, who leads a vast paramilitary army against the four Opapatika. The four immortals are also mysteriously drawn to a woman, Pran (Khemupsorn Sirisukha
Khemupsorn Sirisukha
Khemupsorn "Cherry" Sirisukha is a popular Thai actress. She has acted in a number of dramas, including Kaew Tah Pee and Thur Kue Duang Jai...
).
Box office
Opapatika opened on October 23, 2007 in Thailand cinemas. It was the No. 1 movie at the domestic box office for two weeks, earning US$1,091,851 during that time.Critical response
The film was poorly received by critics in the English-language press.Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
The Bangkok Post is a broadsheet, English-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok, Thailand. The first issue was sold on August 1, 1946. It had four pages and cost 1 baht, a considerable amount at the time....
film critic Kong Rithdee characterised the film as dull and overly violent, summed up as "an ambitious film that ends up merely an exercise, and not a very memorable one at that."
The Nation
The Nation (Thailand)
The Nation is a broadsheet, English-language daily newspaper founded in 1971 and published in Bangkok, Thailand, and is owned by the Nation Multimedia Group.The Nation is a member of the Asia News Network...
was more upbeat, saying the film had a strong ensemble cast and compelling story, but was undermined by poorly framed action and inadequate lighting. "If it hadn't been so dour and serious all the time, and had better presented action sequences, Opapatika could have been a contender," the newspaper's reviewer said.
The film review blog Asian Cinema - While on the Road was harsher, calling Opapatika "loud, pointless and witless ... this has a body count that could fill a football stadium ... but not one of these myriad of corpses would evince even a slight care from you – just fodder for the threshing machine of CGI death."
Production
Production stills from Opapatika first surfaced in 2005, and the film spent much time in post-productionPost-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
.
The title is derived from the Pali wording for the Tripitaka
Tripiṭaka
' is a traditional term used by various Buddhist sects to describe their various canons of scriptures. As the name suggests, a traditionally contains three "baskets" of teachings: a , a and an .-The three categories:Tripitaka is the three main categories of texts that make up the...
, the Buddhist
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
scripture.