ONG BAK: THE BEGINNING
Thailand, 2008, 98 minutes, Colour.
Tony Jaa, Soropong Chatri.
Directed by Tony Jaa and Panna Riddikrai.
The 2003 feature, Ong Bak, a showcase for new martial arts star, Tony Jaa, gained quite a following around the world. Jaa is athletic, has developed a style of martial arts action which is a combination of Thai action traditions along with dance movements. In Ong Bak, he astounded at times because of his dance and acrobatic skills.
So, here is a sequel, except that it is a prequel, an attempt to create a back story for the original film. It actually takes us back to kingdom wars in the 15th century. That is the familiar plot of ambitious rulers despotically taking over territories and ruthlessly eliminating opponents. Tien (Jaa) sees his family massacred but escapes and is encouraged by a guerilla leader, Charng, who admires his fighting skills and treats him as his son, ensuring that he is thoroughly trained and announces him as his successor. However, revenge is what is on Tien's mind and he goes for it, finding some unexpected revelations before he finishes his mission.
Actually, the film is really a succession of elaborate fights interrupted occasionally by some plot.
It is all very macho and quite brutal at times, designed for the devotees of martial arts stories (but not others). One can admire the beautiful locations, the expert and exceedingly elaborate choreography, the exciting editing, the booming sound effects... There is an indication that scenes set in Cambodia had to be eliminated because of some temple disputes. They may finish up as cut scenes on the DVD to the delight of fans. But, for those not committed to this kind of thing, it becomes repetitive, even tedious.
Tony Jaa is not the best as an actor, rather inexpressive, except when fighting (which is most of the time). He wrote the story for Ong Bak, directed and starred. There will have to be a sequel, but it will leap to the present (after all, someone's spirit can survive and re-appear). (This led some to puns that the sequel could be called Bak to the Future or Dead Karma!)
1.The niche audience for this film? Martial arts fans? Fulfilment of expectations? The director, star and his original film?
2.The Thai settings, the 15th century AD, the countryside, the villages? The musical score?
3.The plot, familiar material about invading kings, ruthlessness, massacres, children living for revenge?
4.The focus on Tien? Tony Jaa, his age, his ability? The young actor portraying Tien as an adolescent? Jaa’s choreography, direction, athleticism, martial arts and dance steps? Doing his own stunts? The variety of fights – with the crocodile, with the elephant, with the training and the bouts, with the villain, the leopard and the crow, the fight in the cave, the king, the many warriors? The fight to the death with Chernang?
5.The impact of the fights, the choreography, the skill? The touches of brutality and violence?
6.The boy, his parents, the prophecy, their concern about him, taking him to the centre to learn dance? His unwillingness to go? At the centre, the instructor, his daughter, his friend?
7.The massacre of his parents? His own escape on horseback, the warrior throwing him off the horse for his safety? The warrior’s death?
8.His being found, put in the cage, his rebelliousness, the slave owner, putting him in the fight with the crocodile? His tenacity, Chernang giving him a knife? Chernang as the leader of the guerrillas and taking over, the massacre of those at the fight?
9.Chernang, his character, with the boy, enabling him to learn all the martial arts? Proclaiming him as leader in his place?
10.The motivation of revenge? His dreams and memories? Infiltration, the attack? His confrontation of the king, seeming to kill him? The escape, the fight with the crow warrior? The king, his armour? The revelation about Chernang? The fight to the death with Chernang – Chernang offering his life in atonement for the death of Tien’s father?
11.The many warriors, surrounding Tien – and the spirituality of reincarnation, his soul entering into someone else for the future? A sequel?
