Artwork by Tongdee
Don’t ask why for this seminal post on Thai Poster Blitz (TPB for those in the know) I chose to go with DIE HARD. I’ve been drinking heavily, so that might have something to do with it. But there’s logic beyond the booze, and I think it has something to do with the general accessibility of this poster, painted by Thongdee Panumas for the Thai release of the film. Everybody knows the DIE HARD franchise, so if you’re not familiar with the poster art of Thailand, you’ll at least have an easy access point and soon start to get the drift.
In a nut shell, old school Thai movie posters are over-the-top, especially when it comes to the horror, action, thriller and exploitation genres. Sex and violence were played way up, sometimes beyond the point of good taste. Even more sedate types of films were often given explosive graphics for the most visceral of visual effects. Case in point, look up the American version of the DIE HARD hard poster. It’s a snoozefest compared to the Thai version; Bruce Willis looking slightly Asian and all.
Above all, the majority of artists employed in the Thai poster art industry were incredibly talented. Even if the content offends you, there’s no denying the skills of the artists.
As for the Thongdee Panumas, the artists behind the DIE HARD poster, you can expect to see a lot of more of his name on here, as he was an icon of the Thai movie poster art scene from the 70′s through the 90′s.
And lastly, as a tepid speaker of Thai, I will end every post with my own translation of the Thai name of the film. Real Thai speakers are encouraged to correct me.
DIE HARD = Hell in the Sky
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