Stars: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Summary: Tony Jaa follows in the powerful martial arts footsteps of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li in ONG-BAK: THE THAI WARRIOR, one of the first films to centre on the ancient fighting system of Muay Thai, which utilizes the body's limbs to potentially devastating effect. Jaa stars as Ting, a quiet young man who lives in the peaceful village of Nong Pradu. As the village's special celebration approaches, a Bangkok villain named Don (Wannakit Siriput) steals the head of the Buddha statue Ong-Bak, which is said to protect the village from bad luck. Ting volunteers to go to the big city to bring back the head of Ong-Bak, but remembers what he was taught by sage monk Pra Cru (Woranard Tantipidok): he must not use his Muay Thai skills to harm people. However soon after arriving in Bangkok, Ting, a peaceful fish out of water, finds that the only way to recapture the village's sacred treasure is by using his arms, his legs--and his head. Influenced by the films of Thai action star Phanna Rithikrai, director Prachya Pinkaew hired the Muay Thai expert to serve as martial arts and stunt choreographer for ONG-BAK, resulting in highly effective and believable scenes between Ting and a multitude of criminals and evil boxers out to get him. Pinkaew adds a fun sense of humour to the serious story, not only in some of the crazy stunts but also in the character of George, played by Thai comic Petchthai Wongkamlao. Jaa is charmingly fearless in the lead role, performing all his own stunts without any special effects, computer enhancement, or ropes.

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Reviewed by: cooljimbop
Posted on October 7, 2005 8:29 PM

The story of this film is simple and works but no one has or will ever watch this for plot. This is one of the most impressive martial art films ever. The fact that no wires or cgi is used makes it even more spectacular. The fight scenes are breathtaking and the stunts make Jackie Chan look like he needs a zimmerframe. Watch this with mates and you'll all gasp and cringe together. Seriously if you like fight scenes you can't not see this. It is phenomenal. The extras are worth a look too.

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No computer graphic can ever surpass what a real human body can do--and what the body can do is on spectacular display in Ong-Bak, a Thai action movie starring the lithe and flexible Tony Jaa. When the head is stolen from a holy statue in Jaa's rural village, he goes to Bangkok to get it back. Of course, it just so happens that the thief is connected to a bar where criminal big shots gamble over bare-knuckle brawls, and Jaa is--despite his virtuous efforts--drawn into the game. But that's only the beginning; a chase through the city streets rivals the ingenious acrobatics of Jackie Chan, with Jaa leaping between panes of glass, over a bicycle in motion, and through a wreath of barbed wire. Jaa's fighting prowess has been compared to Bruce Lee, Jet Li, and just about every other martial arts master, but he has an equal degree of charisma as well. He won't win acting awards, but his engaging presence carries the movie. One word of warning: The numerous fights will make you wince as much as gape in astonishment. Ong-Bakfollows the action-flick tradition that the hero needs to be as battered as possible before he ultimately triumphs, and the battering is intense. --Bret Fetzer, Amazon.com

Aspect Ratio:	16:9 Anamorphic
Main Language:	Thai
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Feature Length Commentary By Bey Logan, The Road To Glory Making Of Featurette, The Art Of Muay Thai Documentary, From Dust To Glory Interview With Tony Jaa, Ong Bak On Tour Promo, Deleted Scenes, Alternate Ending, Visible Secret, The Bodyguard Interview With Do
Subtitles:	English
Release Date:	September 19, 2005
Runtime:	108 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	C T D 51078
Keywords:	Action, Martial, Subtitled, Two, General, Edition, Dubbed, Platinum, Adventure, Discs, Thai, Arts, Ong, Bak
Genre:	Martial Arts