Ong Bak (2 Disc Special Collector's Edition) [DVD] [2003]

One night I was wandering around in the DVD section on Amazon and discovered this movie. Since I had been to Thailand and the reviews were great, I was curious enough to order "Ong-Bak." Now mind you, I am a retired English teacher, female, and not given to violence. However, I give this movie five stars for several reasons.First, of course, is Tony Jaa, an amazing Muay Thai martial artist. Other reviewers compare him with the greats, but I say he is unique, in a class of his own and still young, thus has opportunity to develop his art further. Let me repeat, Tony Jaa is amazing!However, in addition to Tony Jaa's talents, the movie itself is absolutely worth whatever you spend to get it. The action sequences, not including the martial arts fights, are so cleverly put together. The very first action is an rush by young men in a village to climb a huge tree to retrieve a scarf from its top. Because it is a Thai contest, a cultural thing, American audiences had to be agape at this action. I know I was. Ting (Jaa) wins.Here is a progression of other action scenes so entertaining:*Ting and Humlae running through the side streets of Bangkok, trying to escape bullies out to harm them. Hilarious and amazing.*The race of the tut-tuts. Those little three-wheeled carts are like horse and buggies in New Orleans, a tourist thing. To see them in a "car chase" and how they crash and tumble is also hilarious.*The fights: Some of the early fights are so funny. Big Bear (Australian?) with his Howard Stern hair, the quick-legged Japanese(?) fighter, and the incredible fighter(?) who uses accoutrements to attack Ting: picture frames, broken bottles, tables, chairs, a neon sign, an electric cord, a small refrigerator, a knife--and still loses.From this point the fights become progressively more dangerous. It is about mid-point in the movie when the serious stuff begins and all fights intensify. The viewer sees Muay Thai in life-threatening action.This is an incredible film with incredible action, humor, "car chases" unlike any you have ever seen, and a satisfactory ending. Highly recommended for its uniqueness all around!! Be sure to watch the Special Features section. It is worth the price of the video! And watch out for more of Tony Jaa!

The most successful movie in Thai cinematic history is also the best "real world" martial artist film in the past decade. With all the fantastic wire work in Iron Monkey, Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon it's nice to swing the pendulum back the other way toward what I grew up with, Bruce Lee style raw and powerful, full contact fight scenes. Tony Jaa is the next Bruce Lee and will surpass his predecessors Jackie Chan and Jet Li. He has Li's Technical skill and speed, Chan's stunt work and acrobatics and Lee's brutal style with no wires. Jaa is the real dealThis is his first film (staring role at lease, Jaa was a stuntman before this) and this movie rocks the entire way though. There are only four main fight scenes but they are so well done and with so much intensity it feels like a Bruce lee film or early Jackie Chan (serious Chan, not buster Kenton Chan). Jaa does all his own stunts, no CGI, no wires. Jaa incorporated Thai Boxing (Muay Thai) which is not well know but is jaw dropping and painfully brutal. You can see every bone crushing blow and truly believe it could inflict some real damage. The music is great and really ups the pace in these hard core action scenes. Like any good Jackie Chan movie this one also features Jaa is various, seemingly unbelievable stunts that are truly unique to Jaa. You just have to see it to believe he can do what he can do.The finally to this movie is amazing, the scene in the cave, raw and so brutal and is shot beautifully with just the right amount of diffused lighting that gives the dark yet visible fight scene and lets you get the mood and still see every blow, crisp and clear.Everyone likes to rag on the plots of these films; if you're watching this for the plot then you're an idiot. Sit back and enjoy seeing the beginning of the new king of movie martial arts, Tony Jaa.

Tony Jaa stars in this action packed martial arts fest that makes the Matrix shake in it's boots! THERE IS NO CGI IN THIS MOVIE BECAUSE IT DOES NOT NEED IT. You will swear you are watching a superhuman being in action when you watch Tony Jaa. IMPOSSIBLE body movement resembling Par Kour meets Muay Thai. I guarantee you you have never seen anything like this! Tony Jaa is a real life superhuman! The story goes that in a small town in the Orient stands a beloved statue of Buddha. Criminals steal the statue leaving the town without their prayer life. A young warrior stands up to the criminals and starts the hunt to get their beloved statue back from the scum who stole it. The young man goes to Bangkok, Thailand to fight the thiefs. Par Kour, Muay Thai, and acrobatics compared to Bruce Li, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan are the parts of this movie that will utterly AMAZE YOU! Tony Jaa is actually faster and more agile than any I just listed which sounds impossible but is actually true. As stated on the DVD case, we feel we must warn you. This is a VERY violent movie and IS NOT for kids! PREMIUM...VIOLENCE...PERSONIFIED. I cannot put into words or writing the level of gymnastics, acrobatics, and martial arts in this film! Mr. Jaa is a real...life...Spider-Man. See it to believe it!