Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior
Feb. 26th, 2005 09:16 amEver wonder where the next super-fast martial arts stunt actor would come from now that Jackie Chan is over 50?
Well, wonder no longer. Instead, get your ass to a theater showing Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and watch Tony Jaa do things that would leave you or I seriously injured.
The plot is straightforward, but sufficient: young village boy has to go to the big city to retrieve a holy relic stolen from the village. The important thing is that it is Done Well. Tony Jaa is making a bid to be the next Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan/Jet Li, and based on what I saw last night, I would say he has a good shot at it. Imagine a short, lithe, young Thai with the speed and agility of Jackie Chan, but without the goofiness. Humor, yes -- I laughed my ass off in parts -- but without the goofy mugging for the camera that Jackie does. That's Jackie's schtick, and while we love him for it, Tony Jaa doesn't need it. He has more of the Bruce Lee serious vibe.
The trailer says "No computer graphics, no stunt doubles, no strings attached." That's really him leaping, sliding, running and jumping his way toward stardom.
Well, wonder no longer. Instead, get your ass to a theater showing Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior and watch Tony Jaa do things that would leave you or I seriously injured.
The plot is straightforward, but sufficient: young village boy has to go to the big city to retrieve a holy relic stolen from the village. The important thing is that it is Done Well. Tony Jaa is making a bid to be the next Bruce Lee/Jackie Chan/Jet Li, and based on what I saw last night, I would say he has a good shot at it. Imagine a short, lithe, young Thai with the speed and agility of Jackie Chan, but without the goofiness. Humor, yes -- I laughed my ass off in parts -- but without the goofy mugging for the camera that Jackie does. That's Jackie's schtick, and while we love him for it, Tony Jaa doesn't need it. He has more of the Bruce Lee serious vibe.
The trailer says "No computer graphics, no stunt doubles, no strings attached." That's really him leaping, sliding, running and jumping his way toward stardom.