Ong-bak (2003)

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers:

Prachya Pinkaew (story)
Panna Rittikrai (story)

Release Date:

23 October 2003 (Singapore)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

To fight for the honor of his village, he must unleash the ancient art of Muay Thai: 9 Body Weapons

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Buddha | Head | Statue | Muay Thai | Thief

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Petchtai Wongkamlao	...	Humlae / Dirty Balls / George (as Petchtai Wongkamlao)
Tony Jaa	...	Ting (as Panom Yeerum)
Pumwaree Yodkamol	...	Muay Lek
Suchao Pongwilai	...	Komtuan
Chumphorn Thepphithak	...	Uncle Mao
Cheathavuth Watcharakhun	...	Peng
Wannakit Sirioput	...	Don
Rungrawee Barijindakul	...	Ngek
Chatthapong Pantanaunkul	...	Saming
Nudhapol Asavabhakhin	...	Toshiro
Pornpimol Chookanthong	...	Mae Waan
Udom Chouncheun	...	Ta Meun
Boonsri Yindee	...	Yai Hom
Arirat Ratanakaitkosol	...	Tang On
Woravit Tanochitsirikul	...	Sia Pao

Also Known As:

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (Philippines: English title) (USA) (trailer title)
Daredevil (USA) (informal literal English title)
Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (Singapore: English title)
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (International: English title) (festival title)
Thai Fist (Hong Kong: English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language, some drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

Canada:105 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Hong Kong:108 min | USA:105 min | 104 min (director's cut) | Spain:100 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Canada:14A (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:13 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Austria:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB (cut) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Baa-Ram-Ewe

Trivia:

More than Luc Besson, the crew also seems to like Steven Spielberg. During the alley chase, right after Tony Jaa has performed some break-dance-looking moves on a table, he jumps off and runs away, while the text "Hi Speilberg let do it together" can be read on the wall in the background.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In the tracking shot of Ting being chased, just after he leaps over the children, the sound recordist can be seen holding his microphone and moving with the gang members on the right side of the frame.

Quotes:

Humlae: At least let me help you start your motorcycle.

Movie Connections:

References Serpico (1973)

I can't wait to watch it on the big screen.

My girlfriend bought this movie for me as a gift and it turned out to be one of the greatest gifts I was ever given. I saw clips of it on the internet that just blew my mind, but the actual movie is amazing. Tony Jaa is going to be greater than Jackie Chan and Jet Li. I hope some American studio gets him in a high budget movie that allows him to show a larger audience how amazing he is. So many martial artists or action stars resort to camera tricks, wires or stuntmen for their films. Tony is the stunt man. He spent so many years doing stunts for other stars and it shows when he does his. It reminds me of the way Bruce Lee movies were made. I have seen Jackie Chan movies and even though he does many of his stunts, he still resorts to wires. In Bruce Lee films it was just pure badassness. No wires, just a show of talent and that is what Tony Jaa brings...no wires, no tricks, just whoopass.... I know this comment just went on and on, but there is a minimum so I just kept typing.