Ong-Bak (2003)

Infusion of comedy elements keeps the story light, without dragging it into the cartoonish.

Strongly recalls Hong Kong kung-fu movies of the late '60s and '70s, with physical grit, over-the-top heroics and inventive fight choreography providing the entertainment.

The ferocious fighting moves (adapted from ancient Muay Thai manuals by veteran Thai martial arts director Phanna Rithikrai) that constitute Ong-Bak's money shots are often truly astonishing.

An effective martial arts film destined to leave mouths agape.

It's a display of phenomenal dexterity and nimble grace that's a joy to watch. That, friends, is entertainment.

So just do yourself a favor, get out there and see Ong Bak. You’ll leave the theater bruised and battered, but you'll be happy about it.

Ong-Bak (taken from the name of the sacred statue) is delivered raw, with an on-the-fly compositional approach from director Prachya Pinkaew that includes dim lighting and jumbled editing.

Pummeling, exhilarating.

However shrewdly he's been packaged, Tony Jaa is the real thing.

Mr. Jaa, blessed with astonishing muscle definition and a stoical, sensitive face, clearly has the potential to be an international action movie star, and Ong-Bak feels like the start of a scrappy, potent franchise.

Great action sequences and no CG. Tony Jaa is a great martial arts practitioner.

If I were to rate this movie just on the action, I'd give it a 10, but looking at the whole story line, it's a bit lame. Tong Jaa has some real talent, would be nice to get him to Hollywood someday.

Martial arts films don't come with more action than Ong Bak. Tony Jaa is by no doubt an astonishing fighter, and Prachya Pinkaew (director) & his cinematographer Nattawut Kittikhun do well in milking his talents for all their worth. The pair stun us with astonishingly detailed fight sequences, choreographed to perfection by Tony Jaa - the leading man himself. Cinematography is pin sharp, and the Thanat Sunsin-Thanapat Taweesuk editing team fly the banner of their craft high with jaw dropping cuts and manipulations - foremost being ingenious use of instant replays. All that being considered, Ong Bak falls far too short in an area arguably more important than technical mastery of filmmaking: the script is a piece of garbage. Gaps in the fighting sequences and landscape fills play out like a painful Jackie Chan overdub without the Chan. Suphachai Sittiaumponpan manages to produce a script which almost ruins this film; though it is difficult to place blame for this abhorrent piece of writing, as the story originated with Prachya Pinkaew - a director who should not be involved in story making! Kittikhun manages to stun us with majestic landscape cinematography - which does somewhat make up for the shocking script; though cannot ever restore the potential destroyed by the shoddy framework. Technically speaking, Ong Bak is convincing - it certainly lives up to its expectation as martial arts eye candy; though if story and depth are what you seek, then you can give it a miss. But if mindless thrills portrayed with majestic technical mastery are what you seek, then Ong Bak is for you.

This is a terrific action movie that was ruined by its sequels. The fighting and the action here are wonderful and the storyline doesn't get in the way of what people go to watch this movie for: The wonderful fight scenes. This movie is truly a delight when you're looking for something fun and exciting to watch. Definitely don't watch the sequels to this movie as it will lose alot of its luster if you do. Stick with the original and you can't go wrong.

One of those surprise films that re-invigorated the martial arts genre in the middle of the decade. It had a good story which helped it stand out from the pack. The stunts were top notch which helped it hang with some of the best martial arts films of all time. The acting is what you would expect but everything else, and it's re-watchability, make Ong Bak an instant classic.