Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003/2005) (AKA
Ong-Bak: Mauy Thai Warrior, Daredevil)
Wow! Fuck an A! Wow! "Ong-Bak" is
the best martial arts stunt film to be released stateside
in many a year. This isn't a film about special effects
or CGI stunts but one that shows just how amazing
men can be when allowed to use their bodies to create
acrobatic tricks and incorporate them into a movie.
To be sure, the plot here is ridiculous.
A country bumpkin named Ting from a remote farming
village travels to the big city when vandals steal
the head of the town's religious icon statue. This
is just a tired excuse to get lead actor Tony Jaa
(aka Panom Yeerum) into a situation where he can show
his skills as an acrobatic fighter in an urban setting.
But it doesn't matter because when
Jaa does start working his magnificent body in the
film, the logistics of what allows him to do this
in the script is really insignificant. Watching Jaa
work and play for 90 minutes is remarkable to witness.
And there's probably 70 minutes of action in this
90 minute film, so the piece is jam-packed with fun.
You never get tired of seeing Jaa in action here.
The film is also filled with chase
scenes in addition to the fight scenes so the overall
effect in one of seemingly nearly non-stop action.
And since it is obvious that everything that is happening
here is "for real," it is nearly impossible to ever
take your eyes away from the screen. And, just in
case you do, filmmaker Prachya Pinkanew repeats many
of the best stunts two or three times in succession
from different angles so one can really see the amazing
work Jaa and his cohorts are doing.
This is one of the very best martial
arts action film one could ever hope to see. Even
with the silly script and the annoying (to American
ears anyway) vocalization of the language of the Thai
here by the stars, the film is fun to watch. This
is one of those films that will delight all audiences,
male or female, martial arts fans or not. Some of
the stunts here are so astounding that your jaw will
drop.
Notes:
In Thai with English subtitles.
The names of Luc Besson and Spielberg
appear in graffiti on the locales of the film in some
versions of the film.
Some of the music was changed for
the American release.
Filmed mainly in Bangkok Thailand.
Although the film appeared in early
2003 in Thailand, it did not show in America until
the Boston Fantastic Film Festival in October of 2004.
The official US run began in February 2005.
Viewed in Austin in February 2005
