Review: Kun Pan - Legend of the War Lord

• Directed by Tanit Jitnukul
• Written by Sarawut In-phrom, Kongkiat Khomsiri and Marisa Mallikamarl
• Starring Watchara Tangkaprasert, Bongkoj Khongmalai, Apichai Nipattahuttapong, Pimpan Chalaikupp
• Released in Thailand cinemas in 2002; available on DVD with English subtitles
• Rating: 2/5

Another disappointing Thai historical epic. This one involves an ancient Thai warrior with mystical powers. He could raise an army from the dead and had an evil spirit fetus that he could send out as a scout for his army and help him vanquish the enemy.

Kun Pan's powers also gave him an insatiable sexual appetite. He quit the monkhood to be with the beautiful Pim (Bongkot Kongmalai from Ai-Fak). But Pim had been coveted since childhood by the fat rich kid Kun Chang, thus setting up some dramatic tension with the ubiquitous love triangle.

To make matters more dramatic, Kun Pan can't keep himself to one woman, and he easily seduces Pim's maid and also finds himself married to a northern warlord's daughter. He also seduces a gypsy king's daughter, who then bears the fetus he uses as his evil ghost baby soldier.

There are many plot holes, so the story loses its thread a few times. There are some great special effects involving the use of Kun Pan's occult magic, but sloppy editing take away from what could have been a decent movie.