Ong Bak 3 - 拳霸終極篇

Ong Bak 3 (拳霸終極篇) is a 2010 film out of Thailand. The movie stars international martial arts superstar Tony Jaa. The movie is a sequel to Ong Bak 2. The first Ong Bak is unrelated.

The movie takes place right after Tien is captured at the end of the previous film. Tien is tortured and badly injured. Tien's hands, wrist, knees, and legs are all damaged from the torture. On the eve of his beheading, he is taken to a village where they bring him back to life. Tien gets back to health and is driven by bad people to fight again. Pretty easy plot to follow.

This movie was a major disappointment. Where the first 2 Ong Bak films focused on action and sher power of Tony Jaa, this installment dives into dark magic and curses. It was quite puzzling to see all this magic mumble jumble. If this kind of magic was around, why wait until the 3rd to use it. Lame. The fighting wasn't up to pair vs. the second installment.

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior - 拳霸

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (拳霸) is a 2003 film out of Thailand. The movie stars Tony Jaa and propelled him to international stardom. First in Thailand, than through the rest of Asia and than to the rest of the world.

The head of a Buddha is stolen from a rural village. Ting is tasked with finding and returning the head to the village. Ting heads for the bright lights of Bangkok. Ting meets up with a former monk from his village there, Humlae. Together, they search for the head and all hell breaks lose as they close in on the guys behind the thief. Ting takes on anyone and everyone that's in his way.

I recently watched this via TNT. It was the English dubbed version, but it was all action. From the bar scene to the tuk tuks. I remember back in 2003 when I watched a Chinese dubbed version of this. It was recommended to me at my local rental place. I was blown away because it reminded me so much of 1980s style HK films. Where the action was fast and furious. Where the story was an afterthought. It was also my first glimpse into muay thai being demonstrated to the extent it was. Tony Jaa was given many labels, such as the next Bruce/Jackie/Jet. However, Tony isn't Chinese, but Thai. I didn't like the labels. I would have liked Tony Jaa, this decades answer to bone crunching martial arts!

Ong Bak 2:The Beginning - 拳霸3

Ong Bak 2:The Beginning (拳霸3) is a 2008 film out of Thailand. The movie stars Tony Jaa.

The movie is a revenge movie in essence. Tony Jaa's character is Tien. Tien is the son of one of the 4 protectors of the emperor. The lead advisor has put into place steps to take over as emperor. As part of those steps, the lead advisor kills Tien's whole family. Tien escapes and somehow joins a group of pirates. These pirates are different though. They train in many different forms of martial arts. Tien eventually learns them all and becomes the best of the best among the pirates. The leader of the pirates wants to transfer power to Tien and retire. However, Tien has revenge on his mind and sets out to kill the lead advisor, who is now the emperor. Tien is then tracked down by the son when he succeeds in killing him. A climatic battle against the royal guard ensues.

The movie is not even 90 minutes, but seems that at least 75% of it is fighting. If you like to see fights, this is it. The fighting is intense and bone crushing.

The movie's storyline bares no relation to the first Ong Bak. In reality, they should have named this film something else.

The reason its called 拳霸3 in Taiwan, is because Tom Yum Goong was labeled 拳霸2 in Taiwan.