JIM reviews film “ONG BAK 2” – There’s no “Partial” to THIS Martial-Arts film!

“ONG BAK 2” – There’s no “Partial” to THIS Martial-Arts film!

Rating: 8 of 10 stars.

This is sort of a “prequel” to the 2003 original “ONG-BAK” film set in Thailand. Like that film, this one stars (& was directed by) Thai martial arts expert TONY JAA. In this version (set around the 1400’s), it tells the story of warfare between rival groups wanting to control the area. Tony’s father is killed, & he’s taken in by a bandit group (run by SORAPONG CHATREE as Chernang) & taught various types of martial arts. After many years, he becomes remarkably skilled & works to try to exact REVENGE on those who had harmed his family and friends.

Tony created the martial arts fighting in the film, & what he accomplishes is almost mind-boggingly GREAT work in the way he (& others) jump around, confront each other, fight (on the ground, on buildings, atop an elephant, etc.). It’s often pretty bloody (as fighting certainly was at that time), but the exceptional choreography of action is a pleasure to behold. The very end is strangely vague (as if to leave room for a SEQUEL that would “continue” the story).