MOVIE REVIEW - Tom Yum Goong (2005 / Thailand)

aka The Protector (US Title)

Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Starring: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Bongkoj Khongmalai, Xing Jing, Nathan Jones

First off let's get the paper thin plot out of the way. Although it opens well with a beautiful, lucious green Thai jungle backdrop it is here we find Kham (Jaa) and his father, they act as protectors/guardians to the herds of elephants. It is the bond between them and their animals that is the driving force behind the plot as poachers come to their land. In the process they take a young elephant and it's father to Australia. We have had all the heart and emotion now comes the action as Kham goes on a crusade to bring back the elephants.

What a crusade it is too. From boat chases along a Thai river to brawls in a burning temple this has all the action fans of Ong Bak are waiting for, and they won't be disappointed. Tony Jaa breaks, bashes, twists and bends bad guys bones without much thought. Of course it is these stunning fight scenes that stand out, making it all the more watchable.

Previously with Ong Bak Jaa had shown the world what Muay Thai is and what it can do, with this he is now showing what he can do as he has developed his style to something even more eye pleasing.

Okay so the acting is not great, the plot is non-existant and there are gapping holes in any reasoning behind the characters actions. Also the film liberally borrows from other movies, for example the bone-breaking extravaganza toward the end reminds me of the rooftop ending to Jet Li's The Master. But Jaa's presence saves this from being yet another mindless actioner.

Overall: It scares me to think what Jaa and Pinkaew could do with a great script. 8/10