Portrayal of Thais in The Beach

I hadn't seen this movie in ages and just caught some on TV again. I've spent an incredible amount of time in Thailand, and like anyone who has spent time in a foreign country portrayed in a Hollywood movie, I'm more apt to beING a bit more judgemental of it's portrayal.

To me, there was nothing really offensive about it, just way off-base. Even the accents on the Thais was way, way off. The way the Thai guy at the beginning coaxes Leo into drinking snake's blood by taunting him that 'he's just another chicken foreigner'. Hardly.

The Thais all seemed to speak amazing English, which for uneducated Thais outside the city is highly unlikely. I do know there has to be concessions made for Hollywood clarity, but they could have made an effort to have them speak pidgeon English.

The one aspect I would attest to is that if you were to *beep* with a Thais livelihood like the idiot stonerS were by walking through their pot-field, their *beep* would indeed get *beep* up (as it certainly did).

The best lesson I ever learned in Thailand is - DON'T *beep* WITH THE LOCALS!