Yamada: Samurai of Ayothaya

Based on a true historic figure? Wow, maybe only the in comic book? The screenplay and the scenario are just stupid and ridiculous, I just can't believe this is happening, man. The acting of the main characters are just terrible. A Japanese samurai with a mouth lips like a carp can speak Thai, playing flute as the movie's sound track, well, anything is possible in this comic book movie. The master monk's nonstop chewing is exactly like a chain smoker. But none the less, the whole movie was shot beautifully in Thailand countryside with exotic scenic landscape, but the village was designed and built too modern and so clean that even the inspector from the Health Dept. couldn't have find anything unhealthy or cross-contaminated. The traditional Thai warrior fighting technique in this movie is amazingly effective and aesthetically beautiful, making the so-called Chinese martial arts or Japanese karate more like child play. These Thai fighters should be signed up by the UFC or the Strike force to beat the crap out of those MMA fighters. This is a very stupid and very artificial movie. Just watch the fighting scenes, not the other parts, especially the claimed "historic" crap, but definitely 100% better than Jackie Chan's moronic "Karate Kid"

Highway to heaven (or hell for all I know) that is. A very OTT movie, that does not involve much acting, but does rely on a historic event (though you won't be alone if that "fact" brings up a chuckle or two, especially during the movie). The fighting is pretty good, the (obvious) CGI not that much.

Language switches between Japanese and Thai, while the story goes places you will expect it to go (no surprises there). There are of course better movies out there, but if you are a fan of "eastern" movies you can risk a look at this. Especially if you don't mind the (CGI) blood that'll spill all over your screen!

This movie was one very good "Ass Kicking" Roller Coast ride of Martial Arts. The Music, Choreography, Historic Period, and Costumes were all 100% Japanese and Thai. I especially enjoyed that awesome Japanese Jazz song with the very large drums that played near the beginning of the movie, but wait! The Thai fighters were serious about their work and exceptional athletes that could kick your butt from the most amazing angles. I'm looking forward to seeing more movies like this one.

As a Kung Fu fan I was totally caught off guard by this movie because I had no idea that "Thai Fighting" was so amazing and artistic.

The acting was very good for a martial arts movie and wasn't overshadowed by the "Bad Ass Martial Arts moves". Thai Martial Arts communicates a rather poetic means of kicking someone's butt and I really dig it.

I believe I'm hooked and will go on a Thai Martial Arts Binge for the next couple of years.

Meanwhile my girly wife also enjoyed the movie and appreciated the very artistic opening credits as well as the cinematic visuals that occurred throughout the whole movie.

Thanks for an "Outstanding Movie" and keeping hope alive for good martial arts flicks!

P.S. I told my wife that I wanted a sweet little girl like the one in the movie.

Just because a heroic saga is based in history doesn't mean it's going to be interesting. The narrative of a severely injured Japanese warrior being healed in body and spirit by the kind and wise residents of a Thai village is slow and tedious for a Muay Thai action flick. If you're looking for lots of soothing flutes, pastoral visuals and calm voice-overs of basic moralizing, you'll find plenty. For those less patient, there's still a big payoff. There is a smattering of one-on-one training bouts that are high on style and energy. In the latter half we are treated to two mass fight sequences replete with all the swordplay and hand combat one might hope for. The penultimate battle in daylight by a river is among the most exciting, bloody, superbly choreographed of its kind in all of Asian martial arts fare, vintage and current. My rating of 6 is a split between 4 for the excessive amount of calm setup, and 9 for the too-sparse, yet glorious, action.

The only good thing in this movie is Buakaw Banchamek, enough said. The action scenes with Buakaw in it is very good but story and the lead character are crap.

Watched it only because of Buakaw. Buakaw is my favorite Muay Thai fighter ever. The plot is simple and the story is crap. I would say if you take Buakaw as the lead character the movie would have been a whole lot better than this.

Under average movie about the morals of fighters, what a true fighter respects and how he confronts the death issue. The story and acting scenes could have been better. Hope you enjoy it the same as i did.