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Ong-Bak
องค์บาก
2003 105 min Thailand, Hong Kong, France R 18+
★7.4
Action, Crime, Thriller
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Trailers
Description
When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.
Budget:
$1.1M
US Gross:
$4.56M
Worldwide:
$20.11M
Starring
Tony Jaa
Actor
Phetthai Vongkumlao
Actor
Pumwaree Yodkamol
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 5 nominations total
Key opinion
Ong-Bak is widely regarded as a seminal martial arts film that revitalized the genre through Tony Jaa's gravity-defying, practical stunt work and authentic Muay Thai choreography. While the plot is frequently dismissed as thin or clichéd, the film is largely praised as a high-octane spectacle for genre enthusiasts, even if its narrative simplicity and cartoonish elements divide opinion.
| Acting | Tony Jaa performs physically extraordinary, wire-free stunts that demonstrate his immense athletic discipline and training. | |
| Originality | The fight choreography masterfully showcases the brutal, visceral efficacy of Muay Thai, elevating it above standard action fare. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for being a generic, paper-thin vehicle that serves only to facilitate the action sequences. | |
| Editing | The heavy use of repetitive slow-motion replays during fight sequences polarizes viewers, with some finding it impactful and others finding it intrusive or pacing-heavy. | |
| Humor | Opinions on the blend of slapstick humor and intense combat are divided; some appreciate the lighthearted breaks, while others find the tonal shifts jarring or amateurish. |