Ong Bak 2: the begining (2008) Review
March 20th 2010 04:49
If there's one thing I like more than a good Obscure movie, it's a good kung fu film. Nothing like spending an afternoon with a frosty cool Yoo Hoo, watching Chinese guys kick each other through walls. Sadly, even the biggest blockbusters in Hong Kong can go unnoticed when their released in the states. Considering that, think of how tough it must be
for a movie coming out of Thailand!
Until the release of the original Ong-Bak in 2003 few people in America even knew Thailand made movies. It turns out, that the Thai people have been making fairly good movies for as long is not longer than Hong Kong. Thanks to Tony Jaa's amazing stunts and fight choreography Ong Bak got people more interested in Thai cinema, prompting a second Tony Jaa effort Toom Yum Gong (released in America under the name “The Protector”) and while it was somewhat less successful it was no less entertaining. I was so looking forward to Tony Jaa's next movie, when I heard of a government overthrow in Thailand in 2007 the first thing I thought of was “I sure hope Tony Jaa's next movie is okay!”
Turns out, it didn't. Ong-bak 2: The Beginning was released on schedule and was the highest grossing film of all time in Thailand. However, due to the poor box office numbers of Toom Yum Gong, Ong Bak 2 got a release in only in New York and Los Angeles to very limited promotion. While it did well in this limited market, even some hardcore Tony Jaa fans never knew the movie was released and unfortunately missed what may have been Tony Jaa's greatest film yet. Jaa directs, starts and choreographs this film all himself, a shows film making skills well beyond his years.
Unlike the first Ong-Bak, which took the form of a modern, gritty crime thriller, One Bak 2 is historical epic. It takes place in the turbulent times of 15th century Thailand. Jaa plays Tien, we we can only assume is an ancestor of the main character from the previous film. Tien is a young exiled noble who falls in with a group of bandits when his parents are killed by a mysterious masked warrior. From them, he learns to fight in many different martial arts styles and eventually becomes the leader of this rag-tag band of rebels. The story par for any revenge story but, like all Martial arts films, the story is really just a vehicle for the action, and the action is amazing.
Tony Jaa works with fight scenes like Michelangelo works with marble. While in previous films he used standard Thai fighting styles, this movie features everything from Japanese Kendo, to Thai Kwon do, to Brazilian Ju Jitsu. One scene even features Jaa own brand of Drunken boxing, a martial arts movie favorite since Jacky' Chan's classic “Drunken Master”. The fight scenes are some of the best I've ever seen in any film from any country. Smooth, fluid and exciting, you'll find yourself unable to believe some of the incredible moves Jaa pulls off with the help of his capable stunt team.
As for other stunts, Tony Jaa's lack of a self-preservation instinct once again is apparent as in a memorable scene, he jumps across the backs of a herd of stampeding elephants. I checked, and yes, Jaa really did do this this without the aid safety equipment, special effects or wires, even after production staff, stunt coordinators and his own family begged him not to. Now there's a man dedicated to his stunts.
With the limited release, my brother used his foraging skill to find a Malaysian, region-free copy of this movie before it was released in the states, though now it can be found on DVD and blue ray so no need to resort to E-bay or the bootleg market. The film's American cut isn't to far removed from the original cut, a few things were cut for time but nothing you won't miss. Some fans of Tony Jaa's first two films complain this movie is to story heavy, and lacks the madcap stunts that made the first two famous, but the stunning setting, fairy-tale like story and mind boggling fight scenes more than make up for it. Certainly, the best Thailand has to offer in way of cinema.
Tony Jaa, one bad mother
Turns out, it didn't. Ong-bak 2: The Beginning was released on schedule and was the highest grossing film of all time in Thailand. However, due to the poor box office numbers of Toom Yum Gong, Ong Bak 2 got a release in only in New York and Los Angeles to very limited promotion. While it did well in this limited market, even some hardcore Tony Jaa fans never knew the movie was released and unfortunately missed what may have been Tony Jaa's greatest film yet. Jaa directs, starts and choreographs this film all himself, a shows film making skills well beyond his years.
Tony Jaa works with fight scenes like Michelangelo works with marble. While in previous films he used standard Thai fighting styles, this movie features everything from Japanese Kendo, to Thai Kwon do, to Brazilian Ju Jitsu. One scene even features Jaa own brand of Drunken boxing, a martial arts movie favorite since Jacky' Chan's classic “Drunken Master”. The fight scenes are some of the best I've ever seen in any film from any country. Smooth, fluid and exciting, you'll find yourself unable to believe some of the incredible moves Jaa pulls off with the help of his capable stunt team.
Tony Jaa shows these Elephants who's boss
With the limited release, my brother used his foraging skill to find a Malaysian, region-free copy of this movie before it was released in the states, though now it can be found on DVD and blue ray so no need to resort to E-bay or the bootleg market. The film's American cut isn't to far removed from the original cut, a few things were cut for time but nothing you won't miss. Some fans of Tony Jaa's first two films complain this movie is to story heavy, and lacks the madcap stunts that made the first two famous, but the stunning setting, fairy-tale like story and mind boggling fight scenes more than make up for it. Certainly, the best Thailand has to offer in way of cinema.
| 35 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
