Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
Rated 7+ IMDb · 70%+ RT Little-known finds Curated by humans
ICYMI
2003 Movie
Dir. Prachya Pinkaew · France, Hong Kong · English, Thai
Tony Jaa introduces the world to Muay Thai in this action-packed, insanely choreographed crime thriller
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior is, at first glance, an action-only movie that hopes to emulate something like Bruce Lee in Thailand. The Muay Thai choreography is memorable, the chase scenes are iconic, and the plot is scant in order to fit more fight scenes in it. However, the film feels electric precisely because it strikes at the fear of how local culture is erased, snatched, and forgotten for a more urban and globalized city lifestyle. With Tony Jaa’s amazing physicality, and the film introducing him and the art of Muay Thai to international audiences, Ong-Bak literally knocks out that fear, proving that local culture can survive, and maybe even thrive, on the world stage.
When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.
"In a genre, even in Asia, that's become overwhelmed by digital f/x, there's a real joy in seeing the back-to-basics action that Ong-Bak promotes."
— Derek Elley
When the head of a sacred statue in rural Ban Nong Pradu gets stolen, and the village suffers drought as a result, young martial artist Ting sets out to Bangkok’s underworld to get it back.
Ting in Ong-Bak was Tony Jaa’s breakout role, and it’s because of him, his skill, his choreography, and stunts that Ong-Bak became a prominent franchise in Thailand, and even gained him some acclaim internationally.
What do you mean the stunts are real?! They look so real!
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
I Love it action