I have been hearing nothing but bad things about this movie, that the story was awful, and that it only had good action. Well I am pleased to report that this is wrong. Sure it isn’t a complicated story, but the story is good enough, and better than many recent American action films. And the action is fantastic and amazing. Tony Jaa is amazing to watch, in some instances instances putting Jackie Chan to shame at his own game, and hopefully his acting ability will improve over time.

Tony Jaa plays Boon Ting, a Muay Tai fighter from a small village. He wins a village contest, where all the men are fighting on a huge tree to retrieve a red flag, and perfomr in the Ong Bak ceremony that happens every 24 years. Of course Boon Ting wins. An evil drug dealer Don (Wannakit Siriput) comes to the village to purchase a sacred religious artifact, but when he can’t get it he steals the head of the Statue Ong Bak, and Boon Ting must head the Bangkok to get it back. Ting has been changed byt he village priest in Muay Thai, and hooks up with an ex villager Humlae, who now calls himself George (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and his sister Muay Lek (Pumwaree Yodkamol) who helps him in scams. George is deep in debt, and steals Ting’s money, Tong follows him to a fight club, and of course ends up fighting and kicking some major ass, and gets on the bad side of the reel villain the wheelchair bound Khom Tua ( Suchoa Pongvilai) who is stealing all of Thailands artifacts to sell. Boon ends up fighting one of Khom Tua’s pain killer injecting fighters, and throws the fight, but doesn’t get Ong Bak,s o he must go for a final showdown in a cave where they are stealing a huge head that turns out to be filled with gold. There also seems to be something missing with the girlfriend of the drugdealer Don who ends up OD’ing, and George seems to know her.

Simple enough story, but the film all comes down to action with some set piece chases to show off Tony Jaa’s skills, such as jumping cars, sliding under trucks, and jumping up and running over the bad guys heads! Now that is something I have never seen! Also the matches at the fight club are a joy to watch. Jaa leaps around like you can’t believe, and always comes back into his Muay Thai stances. And some of those stuntmen really got the shit kicked out of them.

Sure Jaa doesn’t have the comedy of Jackie Chan, but he sure has the physicality down pat! He is amazing to watch, and it will be interesting to see him develop. Tom Yum Goong, Jaa and the director’s next film is scheduled to come out in Asia very soon. I can’t wait, and let’s hope the DVD has English subs this time!

I thought I would put this up, it was on the official web site, but isn’t there anymore, and I don’t think it is on the DVD, it is Tony Jaa demonstrating his skills at half time at a basketball game.

The Teaser has me salivating for more Tony Jaa action. IT is like Hong Kong action has returned in Thailand.

Just watched an uncut DVD of ONG BAK, and am scratching my head as to why the 2 scenes of the sister were cut from the US release? Maybe because she is selling drugs or something? It was really confusing without it, and much better with it in. What an enjoyable film, though the music does become a little grating at times.