If you've never heard of Muay Thai, you have missed out on a majorly great martial art form, from Thailand of course. I had heard of it, and knew someone who practiced it before seeing Ong-Bak, but had never actually seen the real deal. Tony Jaa, the hero of the movie, is the real deal, to the extent that there were reportedly no wires used in the film. No wires? It is hard to believe, watching this guy move around. And, it is not just the fighting where Jaa shines. Much like Jackie Chan will make you laugh and shout when he is scrambling up walls and doing incredible things while chasing or being chased, Jaa will amaze you. He folds up like a slinky and clears six-foot hurdles without even breaking a sweat, it seems.
The story isn't a complete throwaway, either. Jaa plays a county bumpkin who is sent to Bangkok to recover an artifact that has been stolen by goons. The goons turn out to be linked to the owner of a fight club, a man who takes an immediate dislike to Ting (Jaa's character in Ong-Bak) once Ting starts making mincemeat of the club's champions. But, this setting is only the surface of a very bad guy, and once Ting digs deeper he and the friends he makes once he arrives in Bangkok are in a lot of trouble.
There is so much care given to each scene, and such quality film work on the fights and chases. Even at its worst, Ong-Bak is better than the best of what passes for an action movie these days. Sure, the formula is thick, but it doesn't get in the way. For anime fans, get ready to recognize the silent, strong guy. Also, the bumbling, 'heart like a whale,' and slightly overweight accomplice. And don't forget the tomboy with an impossibly high voice who shows up to crack wise and get in trouble once in a while. I had a smile on my face through all of Ong-Bak and actually shouted at several points when the action was really heated. If you don't know Muay Thai and like martial arts, you are in for a treat. If you don't care that much about martial arts, but want to see a real action movie, you need to check out Ong-Bak.
