The Protector (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
by Prachya Pinkaew
List Price:
Our Price: $9.49
You Save: $3.46 (27%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.85 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Bongkoj Khongmalai, Nathan Jones, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Tony Jaa, Xing JingDirector: Prachya Pinkaew
Brand: WELLSPRING/GENIUS
Writer: Prachya Pinkaew
Producer: Kevin McGrath
Producer: Piyalak Mahathanasap
Writer: Joe Wannapin
Writer: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee
Writer: Napalee
Writer: Piyaros Thongdee
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Thai (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Vietnamese (Original Language); English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.66:1
Running Time: 81 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2007-01-16
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Weinstein Company
Movie Reviews of The Protector (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: Absolutely phenomenal fight scenes!
Summary: 4 Stars
The fight scenes in 'The Protector' are absolutely amazing! I'll just repeat what everyone is saying: the continuous shot of Jaa going up the spiral stairs in the restaurant is without doubt the best martial arts fight scene I have ever viewed. The scene is so amazing because it solves the key challenge of martial arts films: the fact that they have to do cut-to's and slo-mo's just so you can see what's happening. The approach in this scene and Jaa's athleticism allow you to feel like you are really right there watching him totally kick ***. I can't say enough about this scene, and there are plenty of other amazing fights as well.
Most of the reviews claim the plot of 'The Protector' is too thin, but I disagree somewhat. I saw the international release and, if anything, I think the plot tries to do too much. There are so many characters and subplots that the film has no time to develop them and things come off a little convoluted and half-baked.
For example, why did Johnny want to please Rose so much? Was he in love with her? Why'd he kill the white guy she was mashing with instead of the Thai cop? Why does the call girl help Jaa? Why does the cop let the crackhead go? Dropping a few characters and subplots would have given the movie more time to build key characters, and that would have helped.
There's probably also subtext in the movie that partially escapes me since I do not entirely understand the significance of elephants. The voice over at the end mentions they are a national symbol of Thailand. If so, then there's definitely a lot of imagery in the film relating to them (they save Jaa's character in a very surprising way). However, I have no idea if it's a good subtext about traditions and national pride or if it's just overwrought histrionics.
In the end, if you like martial arts films, then this is a must see. If you require a great plot, then this one will dissapoint a bit as the story is too scattered to have maximum impact. But one thing is for sure: when Jaa is doing his thing, 'The Protector' is pure martial arts magic.
PS: Hats off to the sound effects people! The sound of bones breaking in this movie is used really well. Pretty high ick factor in a couple scenes. Loved it!
Summary of The Protector (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
Thai martial arts virtuoso Tony Jaa stars as Kham, who travels to Australia to take on a gang and rescue a kidnapped elephant.Thai-born martial artist Tony Jaa, whose gravity-defying stunts wowed American audiences in Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, returns in an equally eye-popping stunt fest that should thrill all but the most jaded action fans. The very simple plot has the soft-spoken, mild-mannered Jaa as a young man from a rural community dispatched to Australia to recover a pair of sacred elephants. Once there, he discovered that a female crime boss (played by transgendered actor Jing Xing) is behind the missing pachyderms, and Jaa pulls out all the stops to recover the animals for his village. As in Ong-Bak, the appeal of The Protector is watching Jaa unleash his muay thai skills on a host of villainous types, and he gets several astonishing showcases in this film, most notably a nearly-unbroken take in which he dispatches some 50 goons as he makes his way up a four-story structure. Those looking for the depth of story or character found in the best of Hong Kong action cinema won't find it in The Protector, but the rewards for action fans are plentiful and thoroughly entertaining. The two-disc Collector's Edition of The Protector includes a wealth of extras, most notably the original Thai version of the film (titled Tom Yum Goong), which runs approximately 30 minutes longer than the American version. Commentary by martial arts writer and fan Bey Logan is featured on the American edit, along with a deleted scene, a featurette about Jaa with Logan and rapper/producer The RZA (who scored the American version and, for some reason, is described as a major force in bringing Asian entertainment to the States), making-of featurettes on both the English and Thai versions of the film (the latter features a subtitled Thai-language commentary track with Jaa, director Prachya Pinkaew, and stunt coordinator/mentor Panna Rittikrai), and three fair short films that were produced for a promotional tie-in contest. -- Paul Gaita
Action & Adventure DVD Video
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Movies most talked about in Favorite Kung Fu and Martial Arts movies
Kung Fu Hustle (Axe-Kickin' Edition)Sony; Release date: 2007-07-31; DVD
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
The Protector (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)WELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2007-01-16; DVD
Best price: $4.47
Price in other shops:
Ong-Bak - The Thai WarriorRelease date: 2005-08-30; DVD
Best price: $5.09
Price in other shops:
Shinobi - Heart Under BladeFUNIMATION PRODUCTIONS, LTD; Release date: 2007-02-06; DVD
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
Fatal ContactWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2008-01-22; DVD
Best price: $4.17
Price in other shops:
Tai Chi IIRelease date: 1998-07-28; DVD
Best price: $8.98
Price in other shops:
Drunken MonkeyLION'S GATE ENTERTAINMENT; Release date: 2007-08-14; DVD
Best price: $6.32
Price in other shops:
Ip Man Dual SubtitledRelease date: 2009-03-12; Published: 2009; DVD
Best price: $8.11
Price in other shops:
Dragon Tiger GateRelease date: 2007-11-27; DVD
Best price: $11.45
Price in other shops:
Flash PointWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2008-04-22; DVD
Best price: $6.28
Price in other shops:
Similar DVD Movies
HeroLI,JET; Release date: 2004-11-30; DVD
Best price: $7.70
Price in other shops:
The 36th Chamber of ShaolinWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2007-06-19; DVD
Best price: $6.38
Price in other shops:
Born to FightWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2007-04-24; DVD
Best price: $2.97
Price in other shops:
The Forbidden KingdomLions Gate; Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $7.37
Price in other shops:
Battle WarriorRelease date: 2007-11-13; DVD
Best price: $7.00
Price in other shops:
Seven SwordsWELLSPRING/GENIUS; Release date: 2007-01-16; DVD
Best price: $11.57
Price in other shops:
FearlessDVD
Kill ZoneGenius; Release date: 2006-09-12; DVD
Best price: $3.39
Price in other shops:
Spirited KillerBCI ECLIPSE LLC; Release date: 2006-09-19; DVD
Best price: $6.90
Price in other shops:
Ong-Bak - The Thai WarriorRelease date: 2005-08-30; DVD
Best price: $5.09
Price in other shops: