Ong-Bak - The Thai Warrior
|
List Price: Our Price: $6.75 You Save: $8.23 (55%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.23 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
Movie Reviews of Ong-Bak - The Thai Warrior
Movie Review: A welcome return to realism in martial arts cinema
Summary: 5 Stars
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior bucks the trend of modern films featuring martial arts as an art form as much as a fighting style. I happen to love films like House of the Flying Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, but it's still a real treat to watch a martial arts film built on realistic moves and violence. There's nothing artistic or beautiful about the action in this film; it's just direct, efficient, sometimes brutal violence intended to take a given opponent out as quickly as possible. This particular style of fighting is significantly different than that of most films I've seen, featuring great use of the knees, elbow smashes that make Dusty Rhodes' old bionic elbow look practically harmless, and some incredibly aggressive jumps from a standing position that usually result in some seriously powerful blows. It's really in-your-face stuff, and it's just terrific. Tony Jaa is an amazingly fast, compactly devastating fighter with all manner of slick moves that make him as impressive in retreat as he is in the proverbial fighting ring.
The story itself isn't all that complicated. Tony Jaa plays Ting, a student of the Muay Thai fighting style, who puts the fate of his small village on his own back after a thief steals the head of the local Ong-Bak statue. Already suffering, the village believes that doom will fall upon it if the sacred head is not restored. Once in Bangkok on the trail of the thief, Ting meets up with Hum Lae (Petchtai Wongkamlao), a former resident of the village who survives in the city by conning others out of their money. Despite a written plea from Hum Lae's father, the con man is almost no help at all, only warming up to Ting when he discovers the guy is an incredible fighter. Ting had been taught not to use his skills, but there was little choice if he were going to recover the villagers' money that Hum Lae stole from him. Once he starts fighting, he can't really stop because all sorts of unsavory types are after him, including the guys he is after himself. Indefatigable in his cause, Ting is more than willing to sacrifice his own life for that of his village, and he may have to pay that ultimate sacrifice as his pathway to the stolen head of Ong-Bak leads through increasingly dangerous men in great numbers.
While pretty basic, it's not a bad story at all - but clearly Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is really all about the fighting. You'll find no lack of action over the course of this film, each scene more intense than the last. Ting isn't a superhero who just saves the day; he takes a pretty good beating over the course of his quest. One unusual thing about this film is its proclivity to show slow-motion instant replays of much of the action. This is a little disconcerting at first, then it becomes pretty cool, and then by the end it starts to become a little annoying. Still, some of the moves are worth a second look, so I'm not going to quibble with the chosen style of directing.
Clearly, this is a film for martial arts fans. If you don't enjoy movies featuring martial arts action and plenty of it, Ong-Bak will not win you over. If you like a good fight, however, and want to see realism rather than wires and CGI pull it off, Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a breath of fresh air you will definitely want to check out.
Movie Review: Action Masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
When first I heard of Ong-Bak I thought of movies like Bloodsport and Kickboxer, where the stories of these movies were permanently sidetracked for the action, and a lot of the action was so heavily coriagraphed that it failed and was given moments of slow motion to add drama to the scenes. And, in many ways, I don't think I was wrong to compare Ong-Bak in such a way. This movie, however, is the best of those two, but with something added that makes it one of those all-time best action films. What this movie had that other martial arts movies don't is pride. Let me explain.
The action in the Ong-Bak feels and look real. Though it's obviously coriagraphed to keep the long fight scenes from growing chaotic, the actors really take the blows that are coming their way. These actors bled to make this movie. From the start, when the warriors of a village are playing a game of capture the flag, which is at the top of the tree, you see just how hard these men were willing to work to make Ong-Bak a great film. They fell from the tree, bounced off branches, and slammed, hard, into the ground (which was padded with dirt). Later, during fight scenes, you see heads banging against walls and tables, feet connect squarely with chins, and bodies flying through walls. The realism of these scenes takes away the feeling of heavy choreography, and the fact alone that these men were so willing to take a beating earns this movie my respect.
The story is a simple yet effective one. A tiny village, devoted to Buddha and the statue representative of their god, Ong-Bak, is suffering from drought, and not only that but a thief has taken the head of Ong-Bak. Ting, the Thai Warrior, decides to use his skills as a fighter, something forbidden by his mentor, to try and find the head of Ong-Bak. He must travel to Bangkohk to do so, and once there he meets George, a man on permanent sojourn from his home village, and Muay, a part-time student and full-time hustler. With their help, Ting goes about his search, but during his search he finds himself embroiled in a gambling ring, and one he can only fight his way out of. Though it pains him to have to fight, he'll do anything to save the head of Ong-Bak.
The sheer amount of action in this movie makes it great. Just as you're getting your breath back from the last scene, here comes the next. Most of the fights just start, with very little emotional build up to try to add some generic drama to the scene, and once they start, they last for a long time. Though 20th Century Fox could have done a better job with the subtitles, it doesn't take away from the movie. I recommend this movie highly to anyone who loves action flicks and are tired of the generic American fight films that are coming out today.
Movie Review: No Stunts, No Wires, No CGIs, Just Actions; Just Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
You like Jackie Chan films? Or remember Bruce Lee? If so, don't miss this one from Thailand, where the film industry is thriving more than ever. And remember the name of Tony Jaa, stunt-turned-actor (incidentally, he was a stunt in the second 'Mortal Kombat' film, and his then co-worker was Ray Park, 'X-Men') Jaa's martial arts skills based on Muay Thai (Thai-style fighting) are simply astonishing.
[NO STUNTS, NO CGIs] Strangely titled film 'Ong-bak: Thai Warrior' is, as the title says, an exciting Thai actioner starring Tony Jaa (real name Panom Yeerum), who plays the hero Ting living in an apparently sleepy country in Thailand. Not exactly, you soon see. In this interesting opening scene, you see these scantily dressed guys climing up one big tree, and during the fighting, they fall one by one onto the ground. This is actually a kind of festival, or ritual, of the hero's village, but what you should realize is, the film uses NO CGIs, NO WIRES ATTACHED.
[FORGET THE STORY] Story? Need one? OK, Tony Jaa's hero has to track down the theives who cut off and stole the head of the sacred statue in his village. With this mission, he goes to town, where he meets one middle-aged man George, and his friend (perhaps girlfriend) Muay. Before you know it, they all got in troubles for the thugs start attack them.
[ACTIONS] Then, actions begin, which are simply eye-poping. One example: in the cat-and-mouse chase scene in the market, running away from the bad guys, Tony Jarr jumps over the tables, stalls, and cars (!) with Jackie's comic timing. And look how he slides into UNDER an RV! To add to them, he leaps through a ring of barbed wires (real ones, I suppose), and comes out unharmed, never stopping a moment!
Himself a Muay Thai fighter, Tony Jaa (or his character) joins in several illegal boxing bouts. You might say you have seen this kind of bloody, bone-crunching fight sequences in the past. Not Tony Jaa's high-kicking that strikes the opponent at the speed of lightening. This sounds like cliche, I know, but it is true, his agile movement reminds me of the deadly power of Bruce Lee and the ultra-fast speed of Jet Li.
And that's not the end, for Jaa does many, many other actions, which I refuse to write about here, for you should see them for yourself in theatres. Again, I say, Tony Jaa uses no stunts, no special effects or no strings. Of course, he will not win the Oscar for acting the hero of this film, but when he can fight like Lee, Chan, and Li, who cares?
My advice: 'Ong-bak' is a must for any fans who love action films. Watch it, and be surprised.
Movie Review: Blunt-force Trauma as High Art
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this movie recently at the Acadamy Theater in Pasadena, California. I was feeling a little under the weather. There were about 20 other somber people in the theater, including my five year-old daughter who I brought with me despite my concerns about the R rating.
Suffice it to say that about thirty minutes into the movie the entire audience was visibly activated and energized by this stone-cold classic-for-eternity. My health had suddenly returned, I was pumped up on massive doses of epinephrine. Folks, this movie succeeeds on every level. I'm not a huge martial arts expert like many of the reviewers, but I was a kid in the late 60's when Bruce Lee (and Jimi Hendrix) ruled the world, and rightly so. This is the only fighting movie which I've seen since which even comes close to one of the better Bruce Lee movies. I will even contend, with some reservation, that it surpasses the Bruce Lee classics: there is humour, dramatic and sophisticated tuk-tuk chase scenes, foot-chase scenes, splendidly convincing archeological sights, and obviously, absolutely SAVAGE multiple fight scenes where good defeats evil with satisfying Dirty Harry righteousness. The fight scenes in this movie are certified artistic masterpieces and deserve their own special place at the Smithsonian. And, even the soundtrack is good, with a pulsating techno-style music that really builds the tension. This movie delivers the goods.
Having been to Thailand several times and loving that country, I was very happy that this movie pays such a fitting tribute to their culture, the Thai kickboxing sport as well as the gentle and happy demeanor of the Thai people.
I should mention that by the end of the movie I had nothing but pleasure in having had my daughter watch the movie and share this unique experience. Goodness prevails over evil. Bad guys die a deserved death. Disciplined boy saves his village through courage, honor, persistence and skill. Wayward soul (Ting's cousin who has gambling debts and other character...flaws) is reminded of his roots through observing the integrity of his friend, and he finds spiritual redemption through his efforts at becoming a good guy once again.Boy returns to village having honored his family and completed the mission...I'm afraid Sesame Street could not teach a better lesson about life and its struggles.
This movie will almost certainly become more famous as time goes on and people outside of the martial arts community learn about it. I left the theater stunned and enthralled. Just awesome.
Movie Review: Sizzling Martial Arts Action and Compelling Drama
Summary: 5 Stars
From a small Thai village the statue of the revered deity Ong Bak is vandalized ... his head is stolen. The film shows how the eight moves of Muay Thai are executed by Ting, the best maritial arts fighter in the village who is sent to the city to find and return this sacred object. The local priest admonishes Ting to use only peaceful means because the moves can be deadly. Ting is given money and valuables by the villagers who aresimple and poor but faithful he will succeed ... He is advised to seek the help of a cousin, who lives in the city. Ting finds his cousin who is less than enthusiastic to receive a visitor from his village. The cousin is ashamed of his village roots, he has taken on an American name and has a girlfriend whom he likes to impress that he is "cool" ... unfortunately, he also has a gambling habit that has gotten him into deep debt with the underworld bosses.
After the cousin stole Ting's money and gambled it away, Ting ends up fighting goons sent by the local gangster to put fear into his cousin, essentially pay up or risk permanent injury. Ting's fighting prowess impresses his cousin who gets the idea to have him fight at a local arena against the best fighters where betting takes place. The cousin is certain he will recoup his losses ...Ting agrees on the condition afterwards his cousin will help find Ong Bak. While the story line is basic, the fighting scenes captivate and capture the viewer's attention and hold it throughout the film.
The scenes where Tony Jaa jumps over several produce carts during a chase in the city while knives are thrown at him is astonishing. Another phenomenal scene involves a huge number of three wheeled taxis which are driven by Ting's would-be captors as he fights them off while he is riding in a moving taxi. When they come to the end of the freeway there is an unexpected drop off ... like the edge of a cliff, the freeway is under constructed and incomplete. There is an explosive ending related to the capture of the gangster boss and the *surprise* location of an unprecedented number of Buddha heads which were stolen. This DVD has great extra features, such as a live performance of martial arts by Tony Jaa on stage in Paris during the opening of his film. It also has a rap music video which incorporates phenomenal martial arts performed by Tony Jaa. Some behind the scenes footage features the creation of specific stunts within the film. Erika Borsos [pepper flower]