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There’s a lot
to like about Ong Bak 2 if you enjoy visceral martial arts action,
and a lot to dislike if you value a good story. The extensive fight
sequences found throughout are impressive and perhaps more intense
than Tony Jaa’s previous efforts due to a unique mixture of
multiple fighting styles and various weaponry. The cinematography
and fight choreography are also brilliant, but barely outweigh the
muddled storytelling, implausible setups, and abusive slow motion
that pervades everything from stampeding elephants to spitting slave
traders. Plus, there sure are a lot of flashbacks for a movie dubbed
“The Beginning”.
The son of nobleman Lord Sihadecho, headstrong young Tien (Tony
Jaa) is entrusted to Master Bua to protect him during a time of
civil unrest. When Sihadecho is betrayed and attacked by the traitorous
Rajsena, Tien becomes the only survivor of his family and is rescued
by Chernang (Sorapong Chatree), the king of the bandits of Garuda
Wing Cliff. Raised and trained as Chernang’s own son, Tien
learns the principles of warfare and gains stunning skills in
numerous fighting styles and weaponry. Quickly becoming one of
the greatest warriors that ever lived, Tien turns to vengeance
and begins hunting down and killing those that have wronged him,
but deception and betrayal are never far away… |
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Typically, in martial
arts action movies the story doesn’t matter. The fight choreography
is on display, hopefully in scene after scene of lightning fact,
brutal, and creative violence. Unfortunately, Ong Bak 2 suffers
from too much story – the lengthy scenes of establishing characters,
including several that have very little impact on the plot, and
training sequences, eat away at the time for frenzied combat. It’s
actually a distraction to see flashbacks play out, explaining various
points in Tien’s life. Considering this is supposed to be
the beginning, it’s especially odd that the film resorts to
jumping even further back in time for extra details on his upbringing.
Tien has croc fights for breakfast, sword fights for lunch, and brawls on the tops of live elephants for dinner. The cinematography is crisp and vibrant, amplifying the blood, sweat, tears, mud, saliva and grime continuously splashing about, but everything is also drenched in slow-motion, most of which rarely increases the intensity. The actual moments of dueling and weapon skirmishes are quite thrilling, but very infrequently do they top the sequences in the first film. Even though Ong Bak 2 is considered a sequel, it has nothing to do with the first film, and more importantly, isn’t able to best the less severe, less serious, more light-hearted previous entry. Isn’t the point to surpass the appeal of the original? - The Massie Twins
Click HERE to read the review of Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
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