Ong Bak: Thai Kick boxer

[Cipherous]

Has anybody heard of this movie before?

People are raving like its the next genre of martial arts films and it could quite possibly have the best martials arts ever.

Also, they said that no wires were used in the stunts and action sequences.

Trailer for Japan (http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers/gaga/mach_large.html)

More trailers (http://www.apple.com/jp/quicktime/trailers/gaga/mach_large.html)

French site (http://www.ongbak-lefilm.com/)

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I think there was already an Ongbak thread earlier or something like that. But I forgot. My brother had it imported from Thailand about half a year ago. Good stuff. My only complaint was that all the fights were clearly unbalanced, with only the main character having any amount of measurable on-screen fighting skill. All that said, it's still a breath of fresh air compared to all this new age computer-generated kung fu shit we're getting out of Hollywood or even Asia nowadays.

[PropellerheadCP]

I saw the Hong Kong version and the DVD had a special feature of his promotional tour, in HK.
He did a lot of the crazy moves that was in the movie, in front of a live audience. I was in total awe. Tony Ja is a star!

[hooligan]

I thought they did somethign for a car comercial? Some of it looked like something I've seen something.

[Kennyb]

I seen the film a couple of months ago and I agree so much that it is THE best martial arts film to date.

Story sucked a lot in it though but the fighting in it is just sublime and out there that you wouldn't even thought a move like that could be pulled off!

Definately watch it for the actions people!!

[Napoleon Chynamite]

I seen the film a couple of months ago and I agree so much that it is THE best martial arts film to date.

Story sucked a lot in it though but the fighting in it is just sublime and out there that you wouldn't even thought a move like that could be pulled off!

Definately watch it for the actions people!!

Actually if you ask me the choreography and fighting wasn't that great. Yes Tony Ja is phenomenal in terms of his individual skill, but everything in the movie basically consisted of his attackers trying to hit him, failing, and then getting their asses kicked. Even the main villain was a joke. They had to use a double for him during like 75% of the last fight. People would also just kinda stand there while Ja did like 3 flips in the air to land a kick on their neck or to their heads. There is definitely talent going on here, but as an action movie overall it can't compare to most old-school HK kung fu films.

[Kennyb]

Actually if you ask me the choreography and fighting wasn't that great. Yes Tony Ja is phenomenal in terms of his individual skill, but everything in the movie basically consisted of his attackers trying to hit him, failing, and then getting their asses kicked. Even the main villain was a joke. They had to use a double for him during like 75% of the last fight. People would also just kinda stand there while Ja did like 3 flips in the air to land a kick on their neck or to their heads. There is definitely talent going on here, but as an action movie overall it can't compare to most old-school HK kung fu films.

Mate, that's what Martial Art movies are all about!!! Good guys win all the time - that's the basic of making a any martial art movie. Also martial art movies is about flare and style, along with a shit story.

:)

[Napoleon Chynamite]

Mate, that's what Martial Art movies are all about!!! Good guys win all the time - that's the basic of making a any martial art movie. Also martial art movies is about flare and style, along with a shit story.

:)

Oh yeah no doubt ^^, I totally agree that the basic plotline for a martial arts film is completely irrelevant, and of course the good guys always win. However, I'm talking about the hero actually being paired up with competent fighters instead of people who literally come across as moving flailing punching bags. Tony Ja has plenty of flare and skill...unfortunately I couldn't really say the same for any of his opponents (give or take 1 or 2, but even the primary villain was bland in his movements) in Ongbak. If you take note of many landmark martial arts films in the past (Jet Li's Fist of Legend, Jackie Chan's Drunken Master 2), with the exception of Bruce Lee movies, the highlights involved advanced or technically innovative choreography involving the lead and other talents (e.g. Ken Lo Wai-Kwong from DM2, Billy Chow from Fist of Legend, Benny Urquidez from Meals on Wheels and Dragons Forever, pretty much everyone from the Jackie Chan Peking Opera Seven, etc.). Superior technical skill doesn't necessarily lead to a great action movie~

[Martino]

Oh yeah no doubt ^^, I totally agree that the basic plotline for a martial arts film is completely irrelevant, and of course the good guys always win.

I heard a lot about this film, and couldn't wait for a Region 2 release. So I bought a Thai copy (eThaiCD.com I think) that came without subtitles, and followed the storyline quite easily. And enjoyed it.

Tony Ja has plenty of flare and skill...unfortunately I couldn't really say the same for any of his opponents

The character of a simple (minded?) country bumpkin in the Big Bad City was handled well; the lead didn't exactly have lead actor good looks but the supporting cast/comic support looked worse; the style of fighting was earthy, direct, brutal, and at times a little comic book (as was the head villain). The bad guys were a bit cartoony too - the Australian prize fighters, the guy with the two-handed saw, the tattoo'd bad guy, but that's what this sort of film needs. It's part of the recipe.

I think the director did a lot of good for the virtually dead action movie genre. The film itself is very polished, has very good production values, and was well marketed. I wish Iron Ladies 2 was one tenth as good as this.

http://pagesperso.laposte.net/tonyjaa/forums/html/emoticons/37_fighting.gif

[tint]

One of the best martial arts movie I've seen. Bruce Lee would be proud. The plot is simplistic, but no worse than most action movies. The street chase sequence rivals Jackie Chan if not better. This Tony Jaa's first movie and I hope to see more of his future movies. Some one teach Tony to speak Cantonese, so we can finally put Jackie in a retirement home.

[truMp]

Got to get this.