Tony Jaa Rules! Ong Bak Is Back

Martial Arts movies have captivated American audiences for many years, we have watched Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, Brandon Lee, Jackie Chan and many many more. Americans love the brutality of these movies they capture us heart and soul. Audiences don't care about plot or substance in these movies as long as there is plenty of action, blood and gore we are happy. Now comes the next great Martial Arts champion Tony Jaa, he not only does his own stunts but he also is one of the movies two directors. "Ong Bak 2: The Beginning" captivates the audience right from the start. The opening sequence is dramatic and heartfelt, and by the time we learn what happened we are completely hooked.

Tien (Tony Jaa) is a man who was born into nobility but had it stripped from him after his parents were brutally murdered. His parent knowing that their lives were in danger hid Tien within a monastery where he learned Khon, a form of dance. What he didn't realize was this was his first taste of the arts of defending himself. After seeing his parents murdered at the tender age of 10, Tien is forced to live on the streets where he is eventually captured by a group of thieves who take him in and teach him how to steal and fight.

Tien's expertise as a thief and fighter grows and it isn't long before he is made head thief. Tien was happy fighting alongside the men he grew up with, he takes it personally when he comes across the man who tried to kill him as a child, he is a slave peddler and Tien fights him and his men by himself. Throwing the peddler into the crocodile pits Tien is through fighting. He learns that the man who was responsible for killing his parents is nearby and Tien must go and revenge them. The fight sequences here are amazing and Tien barely escapes, getting back to the village where the rest of the thief clan is Tien finds it abandoned. Tien is attacked by several members of the kings army, he fights valiantly until he is just outnumbered.

The Martial Arts sequences in the movies several fights are truly amazing, Tony Jaa uses his complete body to wreck havoc no part of his body is left unused. Jaa performs his own stunts in the movie and a couple of them will have you staring open mouthed, Jaa tries to tame a herd of elephants and he has to get to the bull he runs atop the elephants, he uses no wires or stunt men for this trick, later during one of the major fight scenes Jaa again is atop of an elephant, his opponent during the filming uses guide wires where again Jaa doesn't.

The movie is filmed in Thailand and is a huge hit over there, it is being shown here with subtitles so expect that if you chose to go see this movie, and you should for the amazing fight scenes alone. Tony Jaa also wrote this story and credit him for trying to put together a movie of this sort that has an actual plot line, the one problem that many viewers will have is the confusing ending, it tells nothing, except maybe the inevitable sequel is coming. This is only a minor thing and doesn't detract from what really is a terrific film all round. The production in this movie is epic. There are costumes, settings, and sequences that are a feast for the eyes. That is if the Martial Artistry is enough to be in awe of.

I give Ong Bak 2: The Beginning a 3 and on my avoidance scale a 0, this movie wont get the attention it deserves and will mainly play at the smaller art house theatres, I can only say that it is worth the effort to find this wonderful movie, you may learn something about the splendor of Thai culture, but even if you don't you will still get your moneys worth.

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning is rated R for Sequences of Violence

Running time is 1 hr. 37 mins.