Elephants, cannibalism and romance at the box office

Kantana Animation's Khan Kluay II was the No. 1 film in Thailand for the last weekend of March, earning US$707,105 (about 24.9 million baht), according to Box Office Mojo. The animated feature about a blue war elephant in 16th century Ayutthaya topped the Nicolas Cage sci-fi thriller Knowing.

The previous week's No. 1, Phranakorn Film's bloody cannibalism slasher Meat Grinder was at No. 3.

Still making a strong showing in fourth place was the GTH romance, Best of Times (Kwaam Jam San Dtae Rak Chan Yaao), which had debuted at No. 1 on March 5, topping Watchmen and Bolt.

The top five for March 26-29 was rounded out by another romance, A-Nueng Kidthueng Pen Yang Ying, from Five Star Production. It debuted at No. 3 on March 12, a week that saw Dragonball Evolution as the top film.

Here's a look at how other films have fared:

• The kiddie action drama Power Kids (5 Huajai Heroes) made a weak showing, peaking at No. 4 on its March 5-8 debut weekend.
• Luang Pee Gap Pee Ka-Noon (Sathu), a ghost comedy from Sahamongkol, debuted at No. 1 the weekend of February 19-22.
• Before Valentine (Konrak Mun Rob Tua Rao), an ensemble romance from Five Star Production, was at No. 2 on February 5-8, its official opening weekend. It had been in sixth place the weekend before in a sneak preview run.

Update: Khan Kluay II dropped to a distant second behind the car-racing powerhouse Fast & Furious the weekend of April 2. It was followed by Taew Te Teen Raberd (Sassy Players), a transvestite teen sports comedy from director Poj Arnon and Pranakorn Film.

And that catches me up from the end of January.