Movie Review

Ong Bak 2: The Beginning (2009)

Reviewed by Lisa Schwarzbaum | Oct 23, 2009

Lisa Schwarzbaum

Lisa Schwarzbaum is a film critic for EW

Comments
Add your comment

EW's GRADE

Details Limited Release: Oct 23, 2009; Rated: R; Length: 115 Minutes; Genres: Action/Adventure, Foreign Language; With: Tony Jaa

SMILE, KID! Natdanai Kongthong plays a young Tony Jaa in Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

''Beginning'' stretches the truth: Star Tony Jaa's splashily violent fightfest follow-up to his 2003 breakthrough martial-arts saga, Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, qualifies as a prequel. Unlike the original, which was set in modern times, Ong Bak 2: The Beginning takes place in ancient Thailand. Other than that, don't look for continuity of story line — just enjoy the extravagant fight stunts, the restless camera work, and the sluicing rivers of blood and mud. (That's why you're here, right?) Jaa, mesmerizing as ever to behold with his pinwheel moves, also (co)directs for the first time. B

See all of this week's reviews

Originally posted Oct 21, 2009 Published in issue #1073 Oct 30, 2009 Order article reprints

Comments
Add your comment

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.