Sombat Metanee Movies

A crucial moment in the history of Thailand comes to life in this epic-scale historical drama, written and directed by Chatrichalem Yukol, a member of the Thai royal family. In 1528, Ayuthaya (the nation which would become Thailand) was divided into two kingdoms, north and south, and beautiful Suriyothai (M.L. Piyapas Bhirombhhakdi), a member of the southern kingdom's royal family, loves Piren (Chatchai Plengpanich). Early in her life, however, Suriyothai comes to the realization that her duty to the people of Ayuthaya outweighs her personal needs, and she instead weds Prince Tiren (Sarunyoo Wongkrachang), whose father is the ruler of the northern kingdom. After the death of Tiren's father, the king of the southern nation makes a bid for power by seizing control of the North, but he has chosen as his consort Srisudachan (Siriwimol Charoenpura), a woman with nefarious alliances, and soon the king and his queen are battling for control of Ayuthaya. As chaos reigns at home, the ruler of neighboring Burma, King Tabinshweti (Suphakit Tangthatswasd), sees this as a perfect opportunity to conquer Ayuthaya, and he soon leads his armies in a bloody invasion. With the leadership of the twin nations in tatters, Suriyothai bravely commands Ayuthaya's troops from atop an elephant in a final battle for freedom. Filmed on a budget of 11 million dollars, Suriyothai was the most expensive film ever produced in Thailand, and went on to become a massive box-office success in that country. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In this action film, a bumper opium crop forces rival drug lords in the mountains of Burma, Thailand, and Laos to fight for dominance. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi

The enormously popular Thai actor Sombat Metanee is both the director and the star in this love story, some parts of which take place in England. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In order to really see justice done, Mai (Sombat Metanee) leave his work as a lawman, and funds his activities with some thievery of his own. Many elephants serve as co-stars in the action, as he achieves supremacy in crime but cannot escape his status as a wanted man. Eventually, pursued by criminals and the police alike, he takes his wife and children to Cambodia. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

This Thai comedy is partly an homage to the film genre of American westerns, as evident in the storyline itself, and in the opening and closing music. Rem, the police chief of a small town, is an understanding and gentle fellow. It is usually understood that a man's son will follow in his father's profession, but Rem's son Reung is too hilariously effeminate for anyone (including his amused father) to take that notion very seriously. When a gang of smugglers kidnaps one of the town's schoolteachers, it is up to one of the town's more masculine fellows, Tong, to come to the rescue. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Natural disasters, romance and tragedy combined to make this Thai family feature (starring Sombat Metanee as Han and Petchara Chaovarat as Malai) a very popular film at the time of its release. The main romantic story concerns the thwarted romance between Han and Malai, who glimpse one another just before Han is imprisoned for a long time. After his release, they understand that they have been attracted to one another, but natural disasters require that they focus their attentions elsewhere. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

There is an ancient Thai custom that the son of a wealthy man is entitled to two wives: one, his "major" wife, is the one he usually sleeps with and who generally provides heirs to the family; his second or "minor" wife is someone he sleeps with when his first wife won't have anything to do with him. Sometimes, the two women in this arrangement are able to live peaceably under the same roof. In this comedy, a happily married Anochai (Sombat Metanee) attempts to cope with two neighbors of his, sisters, who wish to bring that custom to life. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Top Thai comedy producer Dokdin Kanayaman is responsible for this movie, The Sensitive Lion. It stars the ever-popular Sombat Metanee and Mayura Tanabut, as well as the canny Dokdin himself. One of the story elements concerns a woman who will not "go all the way" with her boyfriend until they are married. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In this movie, Thailand's major film star Sombat Metanee, who is also the director, plays a man threatened by a gang of women who wear black-panther costumes. After a series of chase scenes and lovemaking interludes, one of the panther-ladies comes to a bad end. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Three young boys living in Thailand get into scrapes and scamper around in their home village. One of them is an American, but race is no barrier to boyish mischief. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

In this actioner, an adventuresome mercenary teams up with a government anti-drug agency to find a huge cache of stolen gold. If he succeeds, the hero will earn a cool $5 million. With his crack commando team of Vietnam vets, plus a couple of curvy, scantily clad and super tough women, tears the jungle a part in search of the drug lords behind the robbery. The film contains plenty of sex and violence. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

When Santi (Somboon Sukinai), a likeable but otherwise very spoiled rich boy, demonstrates to everyone he knows that he needs to experience the other side of the tracks and know something about poverty, fate steps in to polish his character. Fortunately for him, the infinitely wiser Klurabia (Pisamai Wilaisak) is on hand to guide him through his ordeal. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

Camouflaged by the baby he has rescued and has been carrying, Kem (Sombat Matanee) is able to cross through a war-torn country (probably Vietnam or Cambodia) to safety in Thailand, all the while carrying firearms. In a parallel story, Chiengdao (Mayura Tanabut) has been trying to kill Wittoon (Prachuab Leryamdi), though she doesn't know that he is actually her father. When Wittoon becomes a monk, she is finally unable even to attempt to kill him, though her ignorance of his true meaning in her life continues. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi