No Stunts No Wires No CGIs Just Actions; Just Amazing
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. More detail ...
