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Thailand 2003
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Cast: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao,Pumwaree Yodkamol
Release Date: January 21st 2003
Running Time: 1 hour 46 minutes
Distributor: Sahamongkol Film International
Review of the Movie
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Ong-Bak:
MUAY THAI WARRIOR |
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Whow...! Awesome...! Tsk..tsk..tsk....! Ouch, that's gotta hurt...! Heck yeah! Totally Superbbb...! Kick his a$s...! Get him! Get... get him!! ....Those are the lines that I uttered over and over when watching this absolutely great movie, Ong-Bak! Perhaps the same excitement (with different words) that I had when watching final match of soccer world cup!
Let me catch my breath first before reviewing this movie for having watched this breath-taking masterpiece in the movie world! Okay, but first let me tell you a bit about several milestones in the movie world.
Alright, in 1970s there was a man named Bruce Lee who has become a legend ever since his appearance in his first major film, The Big Boss, a guy well known for his strong fist/kick/taunt as well as his personality, known also as the dragon.
And there is also an actor named Jacky Chan who comes from Hong Kong and often do the stunt scenes on his movies by his own, and I'll say those were a set of daredevil/totally insane stunts.
And there was a movie released in the 1988 entitled Bloodsport and headlined by the now-famous Van Damme about a fighting tournament where the rules are...there are no rules! This movie has now become a cult classic.
And there is a group from French called the Yamakasi, who masters the art of movement. A bunch of guys who could get from one spot to another in a relative short time, and in very cool ways, we could see them through their film released in 2001, Yamakasi.
And now there is a movie from Thailand headlined by a future Asian star Tony Jaa (or Jaa Panom Yeerum). A movie that is so exceptionally and remarkably and unbelievably a combination of all those great factors I've mentioned above from different legends! Yup yup yup! Just imagine that! An action movie headlined by an actor who has his own strong personality, doing some great stunts (read: dangerous and cool), running with great agility and performing Superb martial arts skills in a street fight-type fighting scenes! And I told you once again, Superb martial arts skill, from Muay Thai ancient discipline, the Muay Baron! And you know what? No stunt doubles! and with no help whatsoever from Visual effects or Computer generated imagery! Duh....What a bunch of daredevils. The movie boasts itself as No Stunt Doubles, No Computer Graphics, No Strings Attached. See it with your own eyes and admire those brave guys in Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior.
Opened with already an astonishing scene, Ong-Bak tells the story of an orphan named Ting who live in Nong Pradu village. Ong-bak itself is a name of the buddha statue situated in the heart of the village, in a sacred temple where the villagers worship the statue. A guy named Don tries to buy the statue for his boss in Bangkok, but when rejected by the town elder, Don cuts off the head of Ong-Bak and takes it with him to Bangkok. The panicked villagers are worried that their village will be cursed for this incident and Ting volunteers to bring Ong-Bak back with him. Ting sets out to find Humlae or better known as George in bangkok (Petchtai Wongkamlao), a hedonistic person who actually also comes from Nong Pradu. Ting however, only get himself involved in a never-ending problems that arisen from his arrival at the fighting arena where Humlae and his friend Muay Lek (Pumwaree Yodkamol) are gambling to make a living.
As is highly common in a movie showing martial arts skill of its actors, the storyline is onion skin thin. However, Not now, not this time, Ong-Bak is already a great action movie but it's also intertwined by a meaningful storyline. A storyline that makes Ong-Bak a movie with quality, a storyline that's not merely an excuse to show the martial arts moves. And with inspiring and accomplished directing from Prachya Pinkaew, with great angles in capturing the fighting scenes, all that just make Ong-Bak even more astounding.
You might probably wonder if the actors are just great in fighting but awful in acting? Nope, the acting quality from all the actors and supporting actors fit their characters nicely! No over-the-top and almost none wooden expression. And although Ong-Bak is about action, the filmmakers didn't forget to put some light comedy with the presence of Humlae, a good side-kick to Ting. And...you might probably also think that this movie shows only action in terms of fighting? Nope, there is a scene where Ting and Humlae are riding Tuk-Tuk (local transportation mini-bus in Thailand, similar to Bajaj in Indonesia and India) while being chased by a bunch of thugs riding their own respective Tuk-Tuk! Okay, now forget Nascar or Ferrari or whatever those aerodynamic cars offer you, this Tuk-Tuk has its own class, and riding Tuk-Tuk with acrobatic style....? Hmmm...once again a delicious treat for action lovers!
Fast pace, superb Muay Thai moves, good acting, brilliant directing, highly talented and brave actors, and absolutely, I mean Absolutely awe-inspiring awesome fighting scenes.
---Start of Spoiler Possibility Alert---
Watch Tony's pants on fire and he still is kicking some ass, watch Tony accepting all kinds of things being thrown at him while fighting at the illegal boxing match, watch him fly through the glass kneeing his opponent from the second floor, watch him avoiding and slipping into many obstacles while being chased, and of course enjoy his Muay Baron skills.
---End of Spoiler Possibility Alert---
Ong-Bak deserves perfect critical acclaim and five stars all the way! Tony Jaa, kudos for you. And I'll be waiting for your next movie for sure! Because watching Ong-Bak reminds me a lot of the fun I had when I watched Bruce Lee's first major film for the very first time...
This movie and most notably its actors and actresses deserve appreciation for having given the audience pure action entertainment by risking their own lives! To entertain us. And with the action grows more and more intense by the scene then finally reaching the grand duel finale scene, Ong-Bak is surely a non-stop entertainment coming from Thailand and a definite must to watch!
© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com
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