Ong-Bak (2003)

Ong-Bak (2003)

Mud People Staring at a tree: check!

Stunningly photographed: check!

King of the mountain in said tree: I’m glad we didn’t think of this game when I was a kid!

If we can recover Ong-Bak: Young Ting!

Trigger warning: Asians playing baccarat!

Strung out Gambler-chick: I have double 9!

Parkour Fu: check!

Knives for sale: check!

Ting runs on shoulders: Looney Tunes!

Big Bear Fu; Beer sign Fu; Refrigerator Fu; Penny Fu; Underwater Fu; Rope Fighting Fu ! ! ! ! ! !

Tracheostomy Smoking: check!

Burmese Junkie Fu; Six-rigs-at-a-time Fu; Fire Fu; Lots of Instant Replay Fu; Sword Fu; We’re back to Rope Fighting Fu; Buddha Head Fu ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 

Ultra Noir Cinematography. I've only seen two Thai films, as far as I can remember, and they both knocked my socks off: this one and Chocolate. The both really get noir right. And a little googling tells me that they both have the same director and choreographer. The worldwide rights were purchased by Luc Besson who released District B13 a year later.

I saw a 35mm version that had the Thai rock music score, but had the western editing.

Great flick. By all means, check this one out!