Tony Jaa recently returned to screens in Monster Hunter, but which of the actor’s iconic Ong Bak movies is the best, and which of them is the worst?
Martial arts icon Tony Jaa recently returned to screens in Monster Hunter, but which of the actor’s Ong Bak movies is the best and which of them is the worst? Another video game adaptation from Resident Evil helmer Paul WS Anderson, Monster Hunter has received mixed reviews since its recent release. Many critics have cited Monster Hunter’s failure to recapture the colorful, fantasy-inspired aesthetic of the classic Playstation games it is adapted from as its biggest failing, but one aspect of the movie that even the harshest reviewers enjoyed was the performance from martial arts movie icon Tony Jaa. Recently seen in the Fast and Furious franchise and a staple of martial arts cinema since his first starring role in 2003’s Ong Bak:
Muay Thai Warrior, Jaa is an understated actor and extraordinarily adept stunt performer who has long struggled to find a cinematic vehicle appropriate to his outsized talents. Opting to move from the brutal simplicity of Ong Bak and its follow-up Tom Yum Goong to more thoughtful and meditative historical period pieces Ong Bak 2 and Ong Bak 3, Jaa has yet to receive the mainstream critical acclaim enjoyed by his martial arts cinema contemporaries Jet Li and Jackie Chan despite his early cinematic output influencing the likes of The Raid series. ONG BAK 3. The original Ong Bak was praised upon release in 2003 for its brutally effective Muay Thai fight sequences as well as the movie’s jaw-dropping stunt work, despite a predictable storyline built on reliable
martial arts movie cliches. In an era when graceful, balletic wire-fu was at the height of its mainstream popularity, Jaa’s raw, realistic fighting style and CGI-free stunts marked him out as a name to watch for audiences who wanted less stylized and more authentic action. However, as the Ong Bak series continued with the much-hyped Ong Bak 2 in 2008 and the trilogy-ending Ong Bak 3 in 2010, the movies moved away from the first film’s (arguably too) simple plot and sparse characterization, embracing period settings and complex lore. As a result, the three franchise installments each have distinctly different tones and styles, although one movie among them stands out as the strongest Ong Bak installment.
Ong Bak 3
In a series as strong as the Ong Bak movies, it’s hard to pick the worst entry since much like the Ip Man martial arts franchise, each movie in Jaa’s trilogy has its strengths. That being, 2010’s trilogy capper Ong Bak 3 is a harder movie to recommend for uninitiated viewers, as this historical epic packs some slow (and not all that involving) exposition and mythology into its 100-minute runtime. Although Ong Bak 3’s tale of the tough warrior prince Tien picks up directly after the action of Ong Bak 2 (and even includes a handy recap sequence), the movie’s draggy midsection is missing the propulsive and intense action sequences that earned the trilogy a place in martial arts movie history.
This slower storytelling is a credit to Jaa’s ambition as not only the star but also the director, of this third installment. But his dramatic chops aren’t as refined as his ass-kicking abilities, and like many action stars his storytelling skills fall short in comparison to his undeniably impressive stunt work. With the least action and most convoluted story of the trio, Ong Bak 3 is the least accessible of the three movies in the series, although it still features some superb standalone sequences when the action does crop up (special mention must go to the final fight scene between Tien and the villainous Bhuti).
Ong Bak 2: The Beginning
The second film in the franchise arrived five years after Ong Bak appeared in cinemas, and the intervening time made a star of Jaa both at home and abroad. This newfound fame gave Jaa the leverage to direct this sequel as well as starring in the highly anticipated movie—which is where things went somewhat awry. Jaa left the set of Ong Bak 2 (which, confusingly, is subtitled “The Beginning”) during production in the jungle when the pressure of securing funding as well as starring proved too much, and his struggle is evident in the finished martial arts movie. An intense tale of revenge, this movie introduced Jaa’s Tien, a young prince who endures all manner of trials before earning the opportunity to avenge the warlord responsible for his family’s slaughter.
It’s a slower, longer, and less fun ride than Ong Bak’s simple story, but this increased ambition in the sequel’s plot also led to some more impressive and immersive action spectacle than the first film boasted. With a staggering sequence that sees Jaa backflip off the face of an elephant, it’s impossible not to be impressed by the martial artistry on display in this darker period epic. It’s just a shame that Jaa leaned so hard into his attempt to follow Bruce Lee’s footsteps and establish himself as a more thoughtful auteur, as Ong Bak 2 is at its best when it’s as fun and fleet-footed as its predecessor.
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior
The original and still the best in the series, Jaa’s first starring role remains the strongest standalone movie in the Ong Bak franchise. Owing more to Jackie Chan’s comedy-infused action movies than the more dramatic work of Bruce Lee, Ong Bak was an international success upon release and went on to be loosely remade two years as Tom Yum Goong (which swapped a stolen Buddha statue’s head for some elephants but otherwise copied much of the movie’s story). The simple but effective tale of Ting, a rural villager who travels to the city to face down the mob and retrieve a stolen statue head, the threadbare story of Ong Bak is essentially a thin excuse for some increasingly lengthy chases, all-time great fight scenes, and action sequences.
And what incredible action sequences they are. Less self-consciously arty than its sequels, Ong Bak shamelessly indulges in slow-motion and replays to make the most of Jaa’s extraordinary athleticism. From the unforgettable fight club sequence to the moment Jaa slides under a moving truck, to the hilarious tuk-tuk chase, to the jaw-dropping leap through a ring of barbed wire, this is Jaa’s stunt reel from start to finish and the star makes an incredible impression. The story may be predictable, but the fights and stunts combine the bloody brutality of Sonny Chiba with the wit of Jackie Chan and the quiet charm of Bruce Lee. As such, the appeal of Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior is strong enough to overcome its so-so story and offer a modern martial arts movie classic that wisely avoids over-complicating an effective formula.