OngBak

Ong Bak (2003)

I fondly remember the first time I ever heard of Tony Jaa and his breakout film, Ong Bak. It was 2005, though the film had already been released in Thailand two years prior, and I was spending a Saturday as I usually did, talking comics and movies at the local comic book store. In addition to comic books, they also had a fairly good selection of imported martial arts and foreign action films, and most of the guys were talking about a film they had watched the night before, and how amazing it was. After some questions regarding the nature of the movie, I was simply handed a copy and told to watch it. I promptly went back home to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t disappointed.

We open on Nong Pradu, a small village in Thailand. The young men are gathered around a giant tree with a flag on top, and a race to retrieve it begins. You get a very small taste of what’s in store for the rest of the movie here, as the men climb and fall from some distances that just look downright painful. There isn’t any evidence of padding or wirework to break the falls, and it’s a pretty ballsy way to open, even though there isn’t any real martial arts going on yet.

Ting (Tony Jaa) is scaling the tree with apparent easy, which also gives the excuse to showcase his agility and speed, and quickly retrieves the flag. After he makes his descent, he is rewarded by being named ‘Ong Bak’ (at least according to the official subtitled domestic release). Ong Bak is also the name of a festival the village holds only every 24 years, and the statue they worship and brings them rain, food, and the things they need to live happy and prosperous lives.

As this is going on, we meet Don, an outsider who is very interested in purchasing a scared amulet from an elder who refuses to sell. Frustrated, Don leaves and night falls on the village, and we’re treated to a scene where Ting gets to show off a little more, revealing some of his stances in the art of Muai Thai. In typical martial arts movie fashion, however, Ting is asked to never use his skills because of how dangerous they are. A tiny part of me would like to someday see the film where the protagonist is sworn to never use his particular brand of martial art, and doesn’t do so even though the movie would be boring and he’d get the snot kicked out of him on a regular basis. Sorry, back on topic.

Later that night, Don comes back and steals the head of Ong Bak. Naturally, the villagers are upset by this, and someone has to go find the head, or they’re all going to suffer drought, famine, and eventually death. Ting volunteers, and he’s given money and provisions before he heads off to Bangkok.

Bangkok and Nong Pradu are almost two separate worlds. Drugs and other illicit activities run rampant in the big city, and our two supporting cast members don’t have any qualms about running scams and trying to make a quick buck. Those two characters are George/Dirty Balls (depending on which version of the film you get, the domestic version he’s George, the import version I first watched he was Dirty Balls, I’m totally not kidding) and Muay. George is almost a lovable rogue, but doesn’t quite know how to swindle the crooks he’s dealing with. Muay is the spunky college girl who talks a little too fast and has a high pitched voice.

As it turns out George is from Nong Pradu, but left for the big city in hopes of finding fortune and glory. Ting finds him in poverty and stealing to place bets at the local fighting ring to get money to pay off debts owed to his landlord and a thug he swindled earlier. That culminates in an amazing parkour chase in the streets of Bangkok, and here Tony Jaa is doing stunts and manipulating the environment in a way that would make Jackie Chan proud.

Ong Bak isn’t littered with fight scenes, and the first time you really get to see Tony Jaa showing his martial arts skills is 45 minutes in. This movie teases you several times into thinking you’re going to see some action, then it’s a one kick knock out or the above mentioned parkour chase. But when the time comes, it delivers the fights and makes the wait worth it.

Prior to this film, I’ve never seen a man who can literally leap and connect his knee to a man’s upper torso or face. Moves like that shouldn’t exist in real life, only in video games. Jaa can do them, and he did all of his own stunts with no wirework or CGI. His ability is stunning, and my jaw was on the floor once things really got going.

Now, if a martial arts film is going to make me wait 45 minutes to actually see martial arts, there had better be enough to keep my attention. The acting and pacing are excellent, even though the plot itself is a retread of many films in the genre. George and Muay are very likeable characters, and it’s fun to see their relationship together. When George realizes it’s time to stop running from who he really is, you’re on board 100%. He’s also played for laughs from time to time, which give this film a lighter tone.

Ting is a typical hero archetype of the genre, but Jaa has charisma and gives humanity to the character that wouldn’t add to the overall movie if he were just a pretty face that could fight. It’s really great to see him fly in from off frame and take out four bad guys in quick succession who just moments before were meandering about.

Basically, watch the movie. It’s worth it. And Tony Jaa only gets better from here.

3 out of 4

reviewed by Seth Moore