I often find it difficult to recommend a
film that is based primarily on a gimmick, as Ong-Bak seems
to be with the tagline, “No wires, no CGI, no strings
attached”, but somehow in this case I find myself
leaning more towards recommending than not. Just as Rumble
in the Bronx got buzz merely for the fact that Jackie Chan
had performed all of the stunts and even broken bones in
the process, Tony Jaa is receiving acclaim for the amazing
physical feats he is able to achieve.
The
basic premise of the film is centered around an orphaned
young man who sets out on a quest to retrieve the head of
a sacred statue, which has been stolen from his small village.
He travels to Bangkok where his skills of Muay Thai: ‘Nine
Body Weapons’, which he learned from a kindly monk,
help save him and also target him in an underground fighting
competition.
There
is no question that Tony Jaa is in fact amazing, able to
battle with speed and agility, and performs all sorts of
stunts within a chase through the streets of Bangkok, exhibiting
his talent rather than advancing the plot any further. That
is the main problem with this action packed film. Within
the action it is a great deal of fun, although very obviously
only about Tony Jaa, and he is certain to be the only thing
that anyone is sure to remember. I don’t even feel
that there is anything wrong with this. I’m certain
that not many people would put Jackie Chan’s first
film on any list of greatest films ever made, but it served
it’s purpose as a vehicle to display his abilities,
allowing him opportunities to make better films.
The
version of Ong-Bak opening in select theaters in the U.S.
today is actually a different version than the one released
in Thailand (and I’m sure pirated by many internet
users as well). This version was re-edited by producer Luc
Besson, with new music added as well. Without having seen
the original version, I’m not entirely certain how
much was changed, but there are a few editing techniques
which are aimed at displaying Jaa’s talent specifically,
rather than fitting with the actual film.
Just
because the focus is on Jaa, don’t think that this
isn’t reason enough to see the film. There are many
intense boxing matches, some great chase scenes (including
a chase using only the ‘tuk-tuk’, the three
wheeled Bangkok taxi), and even a fight in which Jaa’s
feet are engulfed in flame. If that doesn’t get your
blood pumping, feel free to skip this one. On the other
hand, if that sounds like your kind of action, plot will
probably be irrelevant to you and you will be sure to love
the film from beginning to end.
