Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning(2008) is an absolute masterclass in how not to make a sequel. And I say "masterclass" because it isn’t even a terrible movie—just one that is ambitiously and spectacularly unsequel-like in almost every way except perhaps the title.
In fact, having seenOng-Bak: The Thai Warrior (2003), I was expecting another set of adventures from the character Ting, the role that madeTony Jaaan international star. Taking place in the present day, the firstOng-Bakfollows Jaa's taciturn young man, who is trained inMuay Thaiin a small village and who has to go to the big city to retrieve a stolen Buddha head. It’s the classic hero’s journey.
When I heard there was anOng-Bak 2, I simply imagined that another stolenMacGuffinwould be another thinly-veiled prelude to more imaginative and precise ass-kicking from Jaa, the heir apparent toJackie Chan. Instead, inOng-Bak 2, you get a period piece taking place 600 years ago in a Siam ruled by competing kingdoms.
We start with an exciting chase on horseback that looks like we’re in the Thai equivalent of a mythic sword and sandals epic. Clearly I thought this was a short bit of origin story before we moved back to the present day again. Imagine a James Bond Film starting with the founding of the English monarchy. As the anticipation built, I couldn’t wait to see what this all had to do with burnishing my beloved Ting and all the minions he would dispatch.
When I realized that Ting would, in fact, never show up, I felt a slight pang of bait and switch. For example,Petchtai Wongkamlao(a.k.a. Mum Jokmok), who played a vibrant role as a comedic con-man inOng-Bak, shows up merely for small cameo in the sequel as the village idiot, which brightens the dark proceedings but not nearly long enough.
Yet still I held out hope that the original’s premise of “The Thai Warrior” would not be abandoned and Jaa would be doing his signature Muay Thai moves. I was quickly disabused of that notion when, early inOng-Bak 2, Jaa’s new character, Tien, proves himself to his new village by defeating three opponents using Japanese kendo, Chinese kung fu, and Polynesian kempo. It is as if the filmmakers themselves want to prove that they are more than just a Thai stereotype.
Jaa is credited as the co-director of the film along with his longtime fight choreographer and mentor, the late greatPanna Rittikrai. So in a real sense—since the original’s director,Prachya Pinkaew, was only involved as a producer—Jaa is more responsible for this film’s ambition than he was the firstOng-Bak. Or irresponsible, I should say.Jaa famously left the production in an alleged fit, causing cost overruns and contract renegotiations.In fact, to save the film, it was split into two and released asOng-Bak 2andOng-Bak 3. (The third movie picks up where the second left off.)
The result of this turmoil is a film that provides a fascinating study in incoherence. Tien is a classic hero in the mold ofBen-HurandRussell Crowe's gladiator, an aristocrat’s son whose family is persecuted and who is sold into slavery only to find a benefactor who trains him back to glory.
Yet despite the solid narrative bones, Tien’s story begins frustratingly in the middle and opts much later for long extended flashbacks to tell us who he is and what’s led him here. Without knowing the character’s origins and motivations, we’re less affected by what he’s going through. Flashbacks do not just magically make a film mythical or epic. And if Jaa could learn a lesson from the myth-makers at Marvel, it’s that you have to have the origin story down first.
Ong-Bak 2: The Beginning Official U.S. Trailer
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably asking, “Well, is the fighting any good? That’s what a Tony Jaa film is all about, right?” Unfortunately, I found that frustrating as well. In general, there is a chaos and brutality to the fights that, while occasionally breathtaking, lack most of the wit and ingenuity of the first film. I wanted to revel in exuberant physical acts, but so much of the movie is joyless. The attacks feels less cartoonish and more gritty with scenes staged less like acrobatic feats and more like a study in pain. As a kind of martial arts porn,Ong-Bak 2does its dutiful job, but, just like in porn, you may feel a little dirty about it afterwards.
Yet, there are occasional moments of grace. Two in particular stand out. One is when Jaa calms an elephant matriarch to the ground and causes an entire elephant herd to bow in deference. The shot is as gorgeous as it seems impossible to shoot. The other moment is when Jaa goes undercover as a masked dancer to perform before the corrupt official who destroyed his family. The dance is achingly balletic and a wonderful Hamlet-like metaphor for the action to come. These moments remind us that Jaa’s brilliance and talent can still thrill in daringly unexpected ways, if he only could learn to stop worrying and love the concept of the sequel.
Thai Movie Central Rating
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Additional Notes
—The Thai title of this movie is องค์บาก 2, which means "Ong-Bak 2."
—The movie won aThailand National Film Association Award(a.k.a. Supannahong Award) for Best Supporting Actor (Sorapong Chatree). It was also nominated for Best Actor (Tony Jaa), Best Supporting Actor (Natdanai Kongthong), Best Art Direction (Bunbhot Ngamkhum), Best Costume Design (Chatchai Chaiyon), Best Make-up (Phusanisa Kitikriengkrai), Best Sound (Sunij Asavinikul), Best Editing (Saravuth Nakajad and Nonthakorn Thaweesuk).
—Screenwriters: Ek Iemchuen, Nonthakorn Thaweesuk—Directors:Tony Jaa,Panna Rittikrai—Cast:Tony Jaa(Tien), Sarunyu Wongkrachang(Rajasena Lord), Sorapong Chatree (Chernung), Primorata Dejudom (Pim), Nirut Sirichanya (Master Bua),Petchtai Wongkamlao(Mhen), Santisuk Promsiri (Nobleman Siha Decho), Patthama Panthong (Lady Plai), Supakorn Kitsuwon (Master Armer)—Genre: Action & Adventure—Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
—Movie images and video © Sahamongkol Film International and Iyara Films
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