Ong Bak 2 (Review)

Ong Bak 2

Ong Bak 2 (2009)

Directed by Tony Jaa

The Jaa is back.

Let's get this out of the way first. This is a pseudo sequel to the smash and bash that is Ong Bak. Got that?

Let's also get this out of the way too.

Thailand is still the king of action cinema for now. Stunt-a-palooza, muy thai kneeing and elbowing and just rampant 1-2-3 punches. Sick shit all around.

I'm not a big fan of period piece action cinema. Whenever some Chinese or Japanese movie is set in the past, I get bored. I like my action in the present day, where stunts are performed in an urban setting, parkour becomes commonplace and a final scene can play out on the side of a fuckin building.

So you can see my dilemma after having watched Ong Bak 2?

The simple review is this. The historical ploppity plot is a yawn but the stunts and the actionography is fuckin fantastic and the stunts as always are awesome the magnificent.

You still want a review.....arghhh ok.

Boring Plot-O-Matic

Set in the regal times of King Naresuan, Tien (Tony Jaa) is a man who was born into nobility but had it stripped from him after his parents were brutally murdered. During his childhood Tien learned Khon, a form of dance which is usually reserved for royalty. Although he didn't know it yet, Khon would later prove to be an invaluable aide to him. 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. Then Tien sees something that makes his stomach churn. A competition is being held to find the best knights to serve under the very man who had killed Tien's parents all those years ago. Tien passes the tests easily and is made Lord Rachasana's 2nd Knight. Now, he has his opportunity to strike but he will have to use all his skill and ingenuity if he is going to get his revenge on the man who killed his parents.

Awesome Review-O-Matic

Read the plot above because I'm not going to talk about it anymore. Let's get to the action scenes shall we?

1.) Random medieval army vs army carnage

Slyly put into the sword on sword and bow and arrow battles is CGI blood. You know the one...that fake "300" CGI blood. I do not like this and there was way too much of it during the fight scenes.

However, good crazy choreographed action-rama when 2 battle armies go mano y mano is never a bore.

2.) The Elephant Scene

Tony Jaa has always tried to top his stunts and in this one he balances off a pack of wild rampaging elephants than does a sick backwards flip off its trunk. Totally sick...very nice.

3.) The training montage plus SAT Pirate tests scene

Jaa has to pass 3 tests to become the man of the pirates gang.

a.) Beat some schmuck with a sword
b.) Beat some schmuck with his muy thai
c.) Beat some schmuck with everything he's got in his arsenal

Suffice it to say he does.

4.) Tien's Uber Revenge Scene

Jaa's is in full revenge mode using Pacquiao like speed and lightning quick martially arts to dispense of the people who fucked up his village. Tons of different weapons are used, crazy numchucks, swords, that rope with the rock at the end of it (what's that called?) and plain old bare fists and legs.

The scene blows by so quickly if you blink you may have missed something unfuckinbelievable.

5.) The Ending is 20 -30 minutes of action porn

Seriously...its like he exploded and went completely nuts. Jaa has all the cylinders working. Guys are coming at him left and right and he's disposing of them like he's blowing his nose.
It's Jaa vs an army of 300. Slice and dice, punch and crunch. Jaa is kicking ass so fast its a ballet of brutality. A battle on top of an elephant made my mouth stay open for a good 10 seconds.

It's great choreographed insanity and it's pretty fun to watch.

The ending leaves a soon to be sequel ready to be filmed. All in all, a good solid flick. Though it didn't have the magic of the first Ong Bak. The original had humor, a very funny motivational plot device and muy thai-ing that went off the radar.

Ong Bak 2 had none of that. But that's ok. It's like getting psyched up for your favorite dish and it not living up to your expectations. But it's still satisfying.

Gore-ipedia/Nude-ipedia

Nada. More like one big sausage factory but with flying spinkicks.

WTF moment

That crazy elephant back flick

The Jaded Viewer's Final Prognosis

Ong Bak 3 was greenlit and its suppose to start filming at the end of this year. Hollywood has been itching to get Tony Jaa to Hollywood. Please don't stick him in a buddy cop movie...fuckin Hollycrap.

Ong Bak 2 is your fix for all that is the uber martial arts action genre has to offer. If you can keep awake during the pointless plot pushing the action scenes do not disappoint.

Somehow they need to tie this flick and part 3 to the original. Maybe that head in the first movie is Tien's head.

Yeah that make sense. Hmm maybe not. Oh fuck it. Just knee kick somebody in the head please.


Rating:

1/2

Check out the trailer below.





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Categories: martial arts, muay thai, ong bak, ong bak 2, ong bak 2 review, ong bak 2 trailer, Prachya Pinkaew, thai movies, tony jaa