Thai food kicks ass too.
I was doing a search online for any info on when Ong Bak 2 was to be released. I've found little other than a really shitty teaser I won't even bother posting. I decided I would make a post to talk about the awesomeness of Tony Jaa and Prachya Pinkaew. Thai action films, specifically with Tony in them are quickly making me forget about Jet Li or Jackie Chan. I know it sounds trite when you hear a phrase like "the next Bruce Lee" as if it were a rank you can get and wear as a badge or something. So, I won't say it. What I will say is Tony Jaa is an amazing athlete and martial artist who is extremely entertaining to watch in fight and action set pieces.
What makes these movies so visceral is the stunt work. You can tell there is a lot more risk being taken when compared to what is done in the states.
Scene from "Born to Fight":
These guys are insane. Just stop reading and watch this scene from Tom Yum Goong [The Protector] which is one continuous shot with no effects/wires or edits and happens to be one of the best fight scenes ever put to film.
Now, I am not saying Tom Yum Goong or Ong Bak for that matter are great films on their own. The story lines range from "you killed my elephant..." to "you took my Buddha head...", but you don't watch these films for incredible storytelling. You watch them for the fights/stunts, and Prachya Pinkaew does NOT disappoint. If you haven't seen any of these films go rent them in this order:
-Ong Bak [just to get an idea of the brutality that is Mui Tha]
-Born to Fight [Prachya Pinkaew produced this and it isn't that great except for some insane death-defying stunts]
-Tom Yum Goong [The Protector in the U.S., with some of the best martial arts fights ever commited to film]
Then realize that none of these films use any wire work or CG. Hopefully, you will be as excited about Ong Bak 2 as me after watching these. Another Thai film in the same vein as these is Dynamite Warrior, which takes a more "Hong Kong" style approach to the Mui Thai style with wires and special FX. Also, very good.
What makes these movies so visceral is the stunt work. You can tell there is a lot more risk being taken when compared to what is done in the states.
Scene from "Born to Fight":
These guys are insane. Just stop reading and watch this scene from Tom Yum Goong [The Protector] which is one continuous shot with no effects/wires or edits and happens to be one of the best fight scenes ever put to film.
Now, I am not saying Tom Yum Goong or Ong Bak for that matter are great films on their own. The story lines range from "you killed my elephant..." to "you took my Buddha head...", but you don't watch these films for incredible storytelling. You watch them for the fights/stunts, and Prachya Pinkaew does NOT disappoint. If you haven't seen any of these films go rent them in this order:
-Ong Bak [just to get an idea of the brutality that is Mui Tha]
-Born to Fight [Prachya Pinkaew produced this and it isn't that great except for some insane death-defying stunts]
-Tom Yum Goong [The Protector in the U.S., with some of the best martial arts fights ever commited to film]
Then realize that none of these films use any wire work or CG. Hopefully, you will be as excited about Ong Bak 2 as me after watching these. Another Thai film in the same vein as these is Dynamite Warrior, which takes a more "Hong Kong" style approach to the Mui Thai style with wires and special FX. Also, very good.
posted by Dr Chaddius Feathermore III at
2:56 PM
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