Watch Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior
- R
- 2003
- 1 hr 46 min
-
7.1 (78,914)
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a 2003 martial arts film directed by Prachya Pinkaew and starring Tony Jaa as the protagonist, Ting. The movie tells the story of a young man from a rural village in Thailand who goes on a quest to retrieve the stolen head of his village's Buddha statue, which is believed to possess supernatural powers that can protect his village from harm.
The film begins with a brief introduction to Ting's village, where the villagers live a peaceful life worshipping their Buddha statue. Ting is a talented martial artist who has been practicing Muay Thai since he was a child. He works as a rice farmer and helps his community whenever he can.
One day, Ting discovers that the head of their village's Buddha statue has been stolen by a gang from Bangkok. He is informed that the head has been taken to the city's underworld, where it is being sold to a wealthy collector. Ting immediately embarks on a dangerous mission to retrieve the Buddha head and restore it to his village.
What follows is a gripping tale of adventure and action, as Ting travels to Bangkok and sets out to infiltrate the gang's headquarters. Along the way, he encounters a motley crew of characters, including his best friend and fellow villager, George, a street-smart thief named Muay Lek, and a beautiful woman named Ngek, who works as a prostitute in the red-light district.
As Ting delves deeper into the criminal underworld, he faces a series of challenges and battles that test his skills as a fighter. He fights off numerous opponents, including a group of street fighters, a gang of drug dealers and a powerful crime boss.
One of the standout features of Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is the incredible physical performances by Tony Jaa, who does all his own stunts and fight scenes. The film showcases the beauty and prowess of the Thai martial art form, Muay Thai, and features some of the most breathtaking fight choreography ever captured on screen.
In addition to the action-packed fight scenes, the movie also offers a glimpse of the social and economic disparities that exist in Thai society. The contrast between the poverty and simplicity of Ting's village and the decadence and corruption of Bangkok is stark, and underscores the challenges that the rural poor face in modern Thailand.
The film's cast is led by Tony Jaa, who delivers a powerful performance as Ting. He is both charismatic and impressive in his martial arts skills, and is able to convey the determination and bravery that makes Ting such a compelling character. Supporting actors Vongkumlao and Yodkamol also deliver strong performances as George and Muay Lek, respectively.
Overall, Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a thrilling and entertaining martial arts movie that offers an authentic and exciting look into Thai culture and tradition. It is a must-see for fans of the genre and for anyone interested in Thai culture or martial arts.
Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is a 2003 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 46 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1 and a MetaScore of 69.