There really is nothing new to see in Ong-Bak when it comes to acting, directing, plot or any other filmatic aspects. There's some emotion and tension that builds up as the simple plot unravels and the final scenes rounds up the movie nicely. Other than that, what makes Ong-Bak so good is Tony Jaa's honed fighting skills.
This is a martial arts movie, expecting a fantastic plot or fantastic drama is silly. If you are put off by the idea of watching various guys either getting their ass kicked or kicking the hero's ass spectacularly with a little plot thrown in to tie(a-ha)it all together then this is not the movie for you. Chinese action movies with fancy wires and fantastic colours and poetry instead, maybe? That's the other part Ong-Bak wins a lot on. As cool as it is seeing someone fight over a lake in the air, or slicing a million arrows with their dress, you feel it's not real. Ong-Bak proudly boasts with it's "No wires, no CG, no stunt doubles" policy, and they should. Seeing a man getting a tremendous kick to the throat in slow-mo delivers even more when you know it's not a trick(or as close to not a trick a movie can get you).
After four years of training(for real, that is), Tony Jaa's Ting is ready to take on the world, and he does. The "Muay Korat" fighting style looks exotic and fresh after the overuse of Kung-Fu and the like in American movies. There are some pretty lethal-looking moves that really makes you go "ouch!" The usual obvious plot holes, such as "why does no-one use a gun?" and "why do they attack him one and one?" are avoided as well.
If you like these sorts of movies then Ong-Bak is a fresh breath of air, just as good as any Hong-Kong movie. I kinda wish my home country had any fighting styles worth making a movie of...
This is a martial arts movie, expecting a fantastic plot or fantastic drama is silly. If you are put off by the idea of watching various guys either getting their ass kicked or kicking the hero's ass spectacularly with a little plot thrown in to tie(a-ha)it all together then this is not the movie for you. Chinese action movies with fancy wires and fantastic colours and poetry instead, maybe? That's the other part Ong-Bak wins a lot on. As cool as it is seeing someone fight over a lake in the air, or slicing a million arrows with their dress, you feel it's not real. Ong-Bak proudly boasts with it's "No wires, no CG, no stunt doubles" policy, and they should. Seeing a man getting a tremendous kick to the throat in slow-mo delivers even more when you know it's not a trick(or as close to not a trick a movie can get you).
After four years of training(for real, that is), Tony Jaa's Ting is ready to take on the world, and he does. The "Muay Korat" fighting style looks exotic and fresh after the overuse of Kung-Fu and the like in American movies. There are some pretty lethal-looking moves that really makes you go "ouch!" The usual obvious plot holes, such as "why does no-one use a gun?" and "why do they attack him one and one?" are avoided as well.
If you like these sorts of movies then Ong-Bak is a fresh breath of air, just as good as any Hong-Kong movie. I kinda wish my home country had any fighting styles worth making a movie of...