Ong bak 2 : the Beginning

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Originally released as a motion picture in 2008.
Special features: HDNet: a look at Ong bak 2; "Behind the scenes: capturing a warrior" featurette; Ong bak 3: exclusive footage.
Tony Jaa, Sorapong Chatree, Sarunyu Wongkrajang, Pattama Panthong, Phetthai Wonckhami Ao, Primrata Det-Udom.
Set in the regal times of King Naresuan. Tien is a man who was born into nobility but had it stripped from him after his parents were brutally murdered. During his childhood Tien learned Khon, a form of dance which is usually reserved for royalty. Although he didn't know it yet, Khon would later prove to be an invaluable aide to him. When Tien was 10, he witnessed his parents murder. This forced Tien to live on the streets where he is eventually captured by a group of thieves who take him in and teach him how to steal and fight. Tien's expertise as a thief and fighter grows and it isn't long before he is made head thief. Then Tien sees something that makes his stomach churn. A competition is being held to find the best knights to serve under the very man who had killed Tien's parents all those years ago. Tien passes the tests easily and is made Lord Rachasana's 2nd Knight. Now, he has his opportunity to strike but he will have to use all his skill and ingenuity if he is going to get his revenge on the man who killed his parents.
DVD, region 1, widescreen (2.35:1) presentation; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround, NTSC.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Disappointing submitted by CasualTim on May 24, 2010, 7:08am I only vaguely remember a slight feeling of disappointment and general blahness about the original "Ong Bak." I will remember "Ong Bak 2" in roughly the same way, but at least twice as strongly.

The editing is pretty awful. The subtitles are worse (at least, heaven, I hope the script in its original language is more complex than that...). The story swung between predictable and making no sense whatsoever. Worst of all, though, is that the fight scenes do not contain the originality, excitement, suspense, or even impressive athletic achievements to make up for those issues. Even when "Ong Bak 2" reaches its excuse to have an exhibition of fighting styles - a very basic part of martial arts movies I can usually enjoy despite the worst plots - the displays are so short, acted with such obvious choreographed outcomes, and given no weight or consequence, that I found them boring.

I also found it pretty despicable that part of Jaa's character's "test" to become a man (and a hero we're meant to take the side of) is, essentially, to murder an 'old crazy woman' - one who could have gotten into the situation she was in by few ways other than being put there by force by Jaa's character's mentor.

Some of the things I didn't like or 'get' about the movie were clearly artistic renderings of cultural ideas I'm not aware of, i.e., what's with everyone growling like a big cat? Perhaps that old woman is a mythical witch I'm not aware of... And even some of the focus on fighting styles I found boring or impractical would clearly be more appreciated in a place where those styles have a long history and tradition. These things I can applaud, if that's the case; I hope filmmakers choose to create works for their own audiences rather than diluting their films to the lowest common Hollywood denominator. But Ong Bak 2 isn't exciting as a martial arts flick, and if it's an artistic statement about Thai history or culture, I simply don't get it.

3/10

This review is based on watching the first half, then impatiently skipping through the rest of the film, looking for a redeeming battle. semi-SPOILER: I didn't see anything that appeared to be worth sticking around for, but if you watch the whole thing, please let me know if there's some reason to end the film like it does *other* than because Braveheart went over really well in Thailand...