AFS Essentials Presents Ong-Bak
Tonight, as part of their South By Southeast: The Films of Thailand and Vietnam series, the Austin Film Society presents Ong-Bak, the breakout 2003 action film that brought martial arts whiz Tony Jaa to international attention.
When a nasty big-city gangster steals a sacred Buddha head from a small Thai village (thereby severely messing up the village’s karma, or something), Ting (Jaa) ventures to Bangkok to recover it. With the help of his estranged con-artist cousin, Ting plows his way through a host of gangsters, hustlers and street fighters to rescue the stone head from the clutches of a sadistic, wheelchair-bound antique smuggler.
Despite the classic setup for an “old world meets new world” action film, Ong-Bak plays out as a virtually plotless excuse the have Jaa kicking people’s asses on screen for ninety minutes. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing – Jaa is an unbelievable athlete, and the fight choreography is some of the best (some have said the best) in the genre. According to the filmmakers, no wires, CGI or special effects were used in any of the fight sequences, lending the film an exciting, realistic quality that sits in stark contrast to most polished, contemporary martial arts films.
If you’re looking for a story, you should probably sit this one out. But if you want to see an endless line of bad guys being viciously elbowed in the face, Ong-Bak is right up your alley.
AFS Essentials: Ong-Bak
Tuesday, February 13th
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
7pm, $4 / Free for AFS Members
[Tickets]
When a nasty big-city gangster steals a sacred Buddha head from a small Thai village (thereby severely messing up the village’s karma, or something), Ting (Jaa) ventures to Bangkok to recover it. With the help of his estranged con-artist cousin, Ting plows his way through a host of gangsters, hustlers and street fighters to rescue the stone head from the clutches of a sadistic, wheelchair-bound antique smuggler.
Despite the classic setup for an “old world meets new world” action film, Ong-Bak plays out as a virtually plotless excuse the have Jaa kicking people’s asses on screen for ninety minutes. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing – Jaa is an unbelievable athlete, and the fight choreography is some of the best (some have said the best) in the genre. According to the filmmakers, no wires, CGI or special effects were used in any of the fight sequences, lending the film an exciting, realistic quality that sits in stark contrast to most polished, contemporary martial arts films.
If you’re looking for a story, you should probably sit this one out. But if you want to see an endless line of bad guys being viciously elbowed in the face, Ong-Bak is right up your alley.
AFS Essentials: Ong-Bak
Tuesday, February 13th
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar
7pm, $4 / Free for AFS Members
[Tickets]
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