The Great Challenge (2004)

Six parkour adepts open a gym in Bangkok. When the new gym starts to attract the area's kids, a local gang feels challenged. Their Eurasian leader Kien attacks the foreigners while they are training on a scaffold.

Director:

Julien Seri

Writers:

Bruno Guiblet (dialogue), Philippe Lyon (scenario & dialogue)

Stars:

Williams Belle, Châu Belle Dinh, Malik Diouf

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Williams Belle	...	Williams
Châu Belle Dinh	...	Kien (as Chau Belle)
Malik Diouf	...	Kenjee
Yann Hnautra	...	Yann
Guylain N'Guba-Boyeke	...	Yaguy (as Guylain)
Charles Perrière	...	Logan
Laurent Piemontesi	...	Léo
Elodie Yung	...	Tsu
Santi Sudaros	...	Kitano
Burt Kwouk	...	Wong
Ian Kay	...	Terry (as Ian Kay)
Charles Jarman	...	Johnny
Gary Stoner	...	Ned
Jason Hunjan	...	Un sportif anglais
Tony Christian	...	Un sportif anglais

Storyline

Six parkour adepts open a gym in Bangkok. When the new gym starts to attract the area's kids, a local gang feels challenged. Their Eurasian leader Kien attacks the foreigners while they are training on a scaffold.

---

Plot Keywords:

parkour | yakuza | triads | tattoo | sword | 

---

Taglines:

A Mortal Fighter. An Eternal Combat.

---

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for martial arts violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Site [France]

Country:

UK France Spain

Language:

French Japanese English

Release Date:

23 June 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

The Great Challenge

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$3,277,901

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dan Films, TF1 Films Production, UGC YM

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Yamakasi (2001)

User Reviews

Where were the martial arts and ninjas?

When I picked up this movie, I was expecting something rather different from what the movie actually turned out to be. The title "Sons of the Wind: Bangkok Ninjas" led me to believe this was a Thai martial arts movie, not some Parkour event movie.

Sure the people in the movie, the ones doing the Parkour, were really athletic and did some rather amazing stuff. But, personally, I think you really need to be into Parkour to find this movie interesting. It was so disappointing for me to sit through, waiting for martial arts, and only seeing Parkour. I must admit that I gave up about one hour into the movie.

And why was everyone speaking French in the movie? It made no sense that the Thai people spoke French as well. Sure, I could understand the Parkour people from France spoke French, but the natives Thai? Come on... Now, I got nothing against French language or movies that isn't in English, but at least keep it proper to the regions in which it take place.

It should be said that the camera work was really nice, it was almost like you were right there in the action yourself. But still, you have to be appreciative of Parkour for this to really be interesting.

This was a major disappointment to me. But it just goes to prove, that you can't always put your trust in the DVD cover.