easternkicks.com » Thailand

And in case you thought I’d missed it, Ong Bak 3…

Andrew Heskins — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:00:17 +0000

After the rather dark and overly serious Ong Bak 2 (sorry, Ong Bak: The Beginning for UK readers), the proper sequel is on the horizon – slated for release in Asia in April 2010.

As previously mentioned, Ong Bak: The Beginning is now available on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.

On DVD and Blu-ray today: Ong Bak: The Beginning

Andrew Heskins — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 10:00:25 +0000

Martial art supremo Tony Jaa’s Ong Bak: The Beginning (aka Ong Bak 2) comes to DVD and Blu-ray today. This troubled production is much darker in tone to Jaa’s previous efforts, and despite some standout fight scenes its inconclusive ending now makes it seem like of a prologue to the upcoming release of Ong Bak 3 (to be called Ong Bak what???? in the UK?)…

…there are some great fight scenes though, particularly in the 20 minute-odd end sequence!

Fireball

Andrew Heskins — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 10:00:32 +0000

Dodgeball meets Rollerball in this violent bloodsport flick, but before you go thinking we’re back to the excesses of 80s martial arts films, think again…

You know what I mean, the era when Jean-Claude Van Damme and Steven ‘ponytail’ Seagal reined supreme, when titles like Best Of The Best and Bloodsport filled the shelves of our local video store (and we just wished we could find those great Hong Kong films instead). There’s more than a little of those hokey, ‘underdog-to-champion’ themes, as well as the decade penchant for exploitative violence. (Yeah, okay, admittedly inherited from the 70s and fed by the burgeoning video market.)

Perhaps the comparison isn’t overly fair, but one read of the setup does bring to those days to mind. Tai (Preeti Barameeanant, best known as lead singer of Thai rock band Clash) is released early from prison to find his twin brother Tan in a coma after being nearly beaten to death by a rival. He soon finds out Tan was involved in a vicious and often deadly underground sport called fireball, a no-holds barred mash-up of basketball and martial arts where anything goes in order to be the last man standing – even murder.

Seeking revenge for his brother’s condition, Tai pretends to be him joining a team of equally desperate individuals. There’s Muay Thai champion Zing (9 Million Sam, a professional boxing champion), out to prove himself; pretty boy teenager Iq (Kannut Samerjai, a real-life rising star of Thai basketball), exceptionally talented but by no means a fighter; Thai-African Muk (Kumpanat Oungsoongnern, ex-goalkeeper on Thailand’s soccer team and star of films including King Naresuran I) trying hard to support his pregnant wife; K (Anuwat Saejao, an ex-professional basketball player), an old friend of Tan’s rumoured to have thrown Tai’s last game; and their boss Den (Phutharit Prombundarn, Bang Rajan), who has much to prove having only been elevated to a higher mafia position as his boss died.

It’s soon clear that this band of misfits is both extremely talented and doomed not to go far in this contest, thanks to being incapable of playing anywhere near as dirty as their competitors. It’s not so much a question of if they’ll make it to the finale – that’s almost a forgone conclusion – but more just how many of them will survive?

Director Thanakorn Pongsuwan effectively uses digital handheld camera to add to the immediacy of action sequences, creating a pretty slick-looking film as a result. The fight scenes (when we finally get round to them) are tightly choreographed by stunt co-ordinator Pangrech Sangcha, and excel at capturing the chaotic nature of a sport where literally anything goes – sometimes a little too well. When illicit weapons like metal bars or more interesting locations like the docks become part of the equation, the action sequences definitely step up a level, turning this Fireball into a conflagration of swift moves and visceral bone-crunching combat. Sure, it’s a gimmick – muay thai meets basketball – but hell, what a gimmick!

Unsurprisingly Pongsuwan rather labours each of the team’s back-stories, playing up the melodrama to daytime soap levels. But slate it if you will, at least he gives you characters you can care about. Considering that many of his stars are not even professional actors, he doesn’t get bad performances out of them either. 9 Million Sam, Anuwat Saejao and Kannut Samerjai stand out in particular alongside an understated but excellent performance by seasoned professional Phutharit Prombundarn.

Sure, some of the Gladiator style references are vaguely hokey too, and forget the end title sequence sets up the possibility a sequel of sorts – seemingly playing out the circular nature of revenge without the slightest irony. It might not be Ong Bak, but this is a pretty effective fight flick that could surprise, if not necessarily win over, audiences. It’s really much better than you might think…

Fireball is released at selected cinemas around the UK from 8 January 2010, courtesy of Premiere Films, ahead of it’s release on DVD and Blu-ray by E1 Entertainment on 18th January.

Coming soon… Ong Bak: The Beginning

Andrew Heskins — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:20 +0000

Yep, just a couple of weeks to go till Tony Jaa’s big comeback (at least from his near breakdown making this movie!) hits UK cinemas courtesy of Revolver Entertainment (16 October). Have the now almost legendary shooting and production problems been worth it? Well, here’s the UK trailer, see what you think…

We’ll be bringing you a full review of the film soon!

Ong Bak 2 and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst UK release date revealed

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:00:59 +0000

According to Launching Films Ong Bak 2, to be retitled Ong Bak: The Beginning (though that makes as much sense as calling it Ong Bak in the first place!) is going to be released in the UK on 16 October by Revolver Entertainment. Bizarrely, that’s the same day Park Chan-wook’s vampire flick Thirst is released by Metrodome, which won the Jury prize at Cannes and stars the brilliant Song Kang-ho (who also appeared in Chan-wook’s JSA, Sympathy For Mr Vengeance and Lady Vengeance). Hmmm, someone thought that through, didn’t they?

Studio Ghibli’s latest, however, Ponyo On The Cliff, directed by the Oscar-winning Hayao Miyazaki, however, still doesn’t have a UK release date, even though Walt Disney are releasing it in the US on 14 August…

News round-up: Ong-Bak 2 gets mixed reviews, plus trailer

Andrew Heskins — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:00:06 +0000

Ong-Bak 2, recently released in Thailand, has been getting some mixed reactions both in Thailand and around the world. Wise Kwai reports on the Thai reaction to the film, while Twitch have posted quite a negative review for the film. A tortuous production that so nearly came to a premature end, it has to be said the official trailer does little for the film.

An historical drama (yes, another one!) it has little if anything to do with the original film, and though the stunts look impressive, they’re nothing on those in the original film that made us fall for Tony Jaa in the first place.

The film is out in Thailand now, opens in Hong Kong on 1 January with Singapore coming a week later – as for the rest of the world we’ll just have to wait and see…

Twitch has also posted a review of the Ghost In The Shell 2.o revamp, a completely remade version of the original film. (Why, I hear you ask…?) And Beyond Hollywood have a review of the recently release Director’s Cut version of Donnie Yen vehicle Painted Skin.

Chocolate on limited cinema release

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 10:00:08 +0000

At last! After the increasing interest in Thai action film Chocolate, starring martial arts star in the making JeeJa Yanin, is on limited release in London today at the ICA Cinema, ahead of the DVD and Blu-ray release on Monday 3 November. You can see details of the screenings and book here.

Read our review of Chocolate here »

Chocolate film clip

Andrew Heskins — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:00:34 +0000

As the UK gears up for the release of Chocolate, Showbox / Cine-Asia have released a new clip where the filmmakers pay affectionate tribute to the icehouse scene in Bruce Lee’s The Big Boss. The film will make its official London theatrical debut on 24th October, before being launched on DVD and Blu-Ray on 3rd November.

You can read our review of Chocolate here »

Chocolate UK release, plus trailer

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:30:37 +0000

The UK release for Ong-Bak director Prachya Pinkaew’s latest have finally been officially announced. Following a couple of festival engagements during the next few weeks, the film will make its official London theatrical debut on 24th October, before being launched on DVD and Blu-Ray on 3rd November.

Chocolate introduces the latest female Muay Thai sensation, JeeJa Yanin, and is a non-stop martial arts action extravaganza about a young girl whose uncanny ability to mimic the combat skills of her heroes Tony Jaa, Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee has made her an unlikely but awesome fighting force.

You can read our review of Chocolate here »

News roundup: Tony Jaa back on course to make Ong-Bak 2

Andrew Heskins — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 09:00:56 +0000

After leaving the set of Ong-Bak 2 in what appeared to be something of a meltdown, then appearing in tears on national Thai television, Tony Jaa has finally returned to complete the film. His mentor action choreographer Panna Rittikrai will be taking over direction duties from him. Read more about Tony Jaa’s return on Wise Kwai’s Thai Film Journal »

The 65th Venice International Film Festival is now well under way and runs until 6 September. New Asian films in competiton include: Hayao Miyazaki’s Ponyo On The Cliff, which you can see pictures of and read more about it here at Twitch; Takeshi Kitano’s Achilles and the Tortoise; and Yu Lik-wai’s Plastic City, which you can read more about on MonkeyPeaches.

Meanwhile, Wu-jing.org reports that the latest collaboration between actor/action choreographer Donnie Yen and director Wilson Yip, Ip Man, has been completed.

easternkicks.com » Thailand

And in case you thought I’d missed it, Ong Bak 3…

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On DVD and Blu-ray today: Ong Bak: The Beginning

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Fireball

Fireball is released at selected cinemas around the UK from 8 January 2010, courtesy of Premiere Films, ahead of it’s release on DVD and Blu-ray by E1 Entertainment on 18th January.

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Coming soon… Ong Bak: The Beginning

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Ong Bak 2 and Park Chan-wook’s Thirst UK release date revealed

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Chocolate UK release, plus trailer

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