Ong Bak 2

A sequel in name only, Ong Bak 2 follows Tony Jaa’s Tien as he rises from humble beginnings to become the feared leader of a rogue group of bandits – with the bulk of the proceedings essentially detailing his ongoing (and unapologetically brutal) efforts at avenging the deaths of his family members. There’s little doubt that Ong Bak 2 fares best in its opening half hour, as filmmakers Jaa and Panna Rittikrai have infused the movie with a lush, almost 300-esque sensibility that proves effective at initially capturing the viewer’s interest and setting the stage for what promises to be an eye-popping epic spectacle. It’s subsequently rather disappointing to note that the film eventually settles into a groove of tedious training sequences and context-free battles, with the screenplay’s utter lack of momentum ensuring that Ong Bak 2 essentially lurches from one brawl to the next with all the grace of a lumbering elephant. The inclusion of several thoroughly pointless flashbacks contributes heavily to the movie’s aggressively (and increasingly) uneven atmosphere, and there’s simply no denying that the fight scenes start to lose their appeal as the film progresses. Jaa and Rittikrai’s refusal (or inability) to offer up the tiniest semblance of a storyline results in a host of exceedingly superfluous interludes (eg the central villain is treated to an elaborate song-and-dance routine), while the flabby structure inevitably drains the combat sequences of their effectiveness (ie there reaches a point wherein Tien appears to be fighting just for the sake of fighting). The comically abrupt conclusion, which is sure to leave most viewers baffled and annoyed, cements Ong Bak 2‘s place as an entirely underwhelming piece of work, with the almost total absence of awe-inspiring stunts destined to turn off even die-hard fans of the original.

*1/2 out of ****