Introducing a Thai action hero
The hero of Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a modern-day country boy with a serious gaze and a strapping frame, an orphan raised by monks and schooled in the ancient martial art known as Muay Thai, or Nine Body Weapons.When his village's cherished Buddha statue is vandalized, and its head stolen, Ting (Tony Jaa) is sent to Bangkok to retrieve it. It's the quiet young man's first time in the city, where predators and lowlifes are ready to take advantage of him. But once Ting is forced to fight, well, look out: Feet fly, heads knock, fists snap, elbows pop, bodies tumble.
The hero of Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a modern-day country boy with a serious gaze and a strapping frame, an orphan raised by monks and schooled in the ancient martial art known as Muay Thai, or Nine Body Weapons.
When his village's cherished Buddha statue is vandalized, and its head stolen, Ting (Tony Jaa) is sent to Bangkok to retrieve it. It's the quiet young man's first time in the city, where predators and lowlifes are ready to take advantage of him. But once Ting is forced to fight, well, look out: Feet fly, heads knock, fists snap, elbows pop, bodies tumble.
A spirited chopsocky pic that mixes acrobatic combat and playful comic touches, Ong-Bak has been designed to highlight the extraordinary agility of its newcomer star. If Jaa lacks something in the charisma department compared to martial arts stars Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, his physical skills are at least on an equal plane.
One exhilarating set piece, in which Ting runs, rolls, leaps, flips and fights his way through a crowded street market, is a spectacular feat of timing and prowess. The filmmakers have said that no stunt doubles or wire work were used, and the way director Prachya Pinkaew stages and shoots the scenes seems to confirm the claim. It's all on the shoulders of Jaa.
Ong-Bak is fast, crazy fun.
Contact movie critic Steven Rea at 215-854-5629 or srea@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at http://go.philly.com/stevenrea.
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior *** (Out of four stars)
Produced by Prachya Pinkaew and Sukanya Vongsthapat, directed by Pinkaew, written by Suphachai Sithiamphan, photography by Natawut Kittikun, music by Atomix Clubbing, distributed by Magnolia Pictures. In Thai with subtitles.
Running time: 1 hr., 45 min.
Ting. . . Tony Jaa
George. . . Petchthai Wongkamlao
Muay Lek. . . Pumwaree Yodkamol
Parent's guide: PG-13 (action, violence)
Playing at: area theaters