Ong-bak (2003)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Writers:

Prachya Pinkaew (story)
Panna Rittikrai (story)
(more)

Release Date:

23 October 2003 (Singapore)

Genre:

Adventure | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

To fight for the honor of his village, he must unleash the ancient art of Muay Thai: 9 Body Weapons

Plot:

When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.

Plot Keywords:

Buddha | Muay Thai | Head | Statue | Thief

Awards:

2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Petchtai Wongkamlao	...	Humlae / Dirty Balls / George (as Petchtai Wongkamlao)
Tony Jaa	...	Ting (as Panom Yeerum)
Pumwaree Yodkamol	...	Muay Lek
Suchao Pongwilai	...	Komtuan
Chumphorn Thepphithak	...	Uncle Mao
Cheathavuth Watcharakhun	...	Peng
Wannakit Sirioput	...	Don
Rungrawee Barijindakul	...	Ngek
Chatthapong Pantanaunkul	...	Saming
Nudhapol Asavabhakhin	...	Toshiro
Pornpimol Chookanthong	...	Mae Waan
Udom Chouncheun	...	Ta Meun
Boonsri Yindee	...	Yai Hom
Arirat Ratanakaitkosol	...	Tang On
Woravit Tanochitsirikul	...	Sia Pao
Chalongsak Sirimahasan	...	Hia Lao
Sawang Rodnuch	...	Noi
Sutin Rodnuch	...	Jamnean
Woranard Tantipidok	...	Pra Cru
Somjaj Junmoonree	...	Bodyguard 1
Somchai Moonma	...	Bodyguard 2
Taworn Tonapan	...	Bodyguard 3
Dan Chupong	...	Bodyguard 4 (as Chupong Changprung)
Chaiporn Gunmoontree	...	Bodyguard 5
Don Ferguson	...	Bodyguard 6
David Ismalone	...	Mad Dog
Erik Markus Schuetz	...	Pearl Harbour (as Hans Eric)
Paul Gaius	...	Lee
Nick Kara	...	Big Bear
Sukanya Kongkawong	...	Waitress
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Panna Rittikrai	...	Villager (uncredited)

Directed by
Prachya Pinkaew

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Prachya Pinkaew		story
Panna Rittikrai		story
Suphachai Sithiamphan		writer
Suphachai Sittiaumponpan		screenplay

Produced by
Somsak Jiewsuwan	....	associate producer
Prachya Pinkaew	....	producer
Warinya Ratipakorn	....	assistant line producer
Mehdi Sayah	....	assistant producer
Somsak Techaratanaprasert	....	executive producer
Sukanya Vongsthapat	....	producer
Darin Vosbein	....	assistant line producer
Sita Vosbein	....	line producer
Luc Besson	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Richard Wells		(UK version)

Cinematography by
Nattawut Kittikhun

Film Editing by
Thanat Sunsin
Thanapat Taweesuk

Production Design by
Arkadech Kaewkotara

Art Direction by
Arkadech Kaewkotara

Costume Design by
Worathon Kritsanaklin

Makeup Department
Panya Phaopeng	....	hair stylist
Wansong Sitthiprom	....	assistant makeup artist
Yudthana Sonthi	....	makeup artist
Kamol Soponkulpan	....	assistant makeup artist
Prachya Timmukda	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Jaded Aueychimplee	....	assistant production manager
Wararit Polcharoen	....	production manager
Sukanya Suantanu	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sakchai Amattayakul	....	third assistant director
Chinoret Kumwandee	....	first assistant director
Kanchanaphan Meesuwan	....	fourth assistant director
Saratswadee Wongsomphet	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Wansong Sitthiprom	....	assistant art director
Kamol Soponkhunpun	....	assistant art director
Prachya Timmukda	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Sunij Asavinikul	....	sound mixer
Sunij Asavinikul	....	sound
Thanapong Boonyachai	....	sound editor
Christophe Bourreau	....	foley artist
Somchai Chansook	....	adr recordist
Capucine Courau	....	assistant sound editor
Loïc Gourbe	....	sound recordist
Ariya Naslongkla	....	sound effects editor
Ariya Naslongkla	....	sound mixer
Angart Srirat	....	adr recordist
Vincent Tulli	....	sound re-recording mixer

Stunts
Michael B.	....	stunts (as Piroj Boongerd)
Choawalit Choanoy	....	stunts
Dan Chupong	....	stunts
Don Ferguson	....	stunts
Chaiporn Gunmoontree	....	stunts
David Ismalone	....	stunts
Somjaj Junmoonree	....	stunt manager
Somjaj Junmoonree	....	stunts
Kanaung	....	stunts (as Kanaung Keniah)
Rided Lardpanna	....	stunts
Erik Markus Schuetz	....	stunts: Martial Arts, Motorbikes, Choreography
Somchai Moonma	....	stunts
Suban Phusoi	....	stunt safety
Suban Phusoi	....	stunts
Weerapon Poomatfon	....	stunts
Panna Rittikrai	....	stunt coordinator
Banlu Srisaeng	....	stunt trainer
Panna Rittikrai	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Thanaporn Arkamanon	....	still photographer

Music Department
Jérôme Lateur	....	music supervisor
Vincent Lebegue	....	music legal coordinator
Elise Luguern	....	music production supervisor
Mehdi Sayah	....	assistant music supervisor
Alison Wright	....	music supervisor (UK version)

Other crew
Bob Buchholz	....	english language director
Tony Jaa	....	martial arts choreographer (as Panom Yeerum)
Panna Rittikrai	....	martial arts choreographer
Kristy Ryan	....	promotions manager: Australia

Production Companies

• Baa-Ram-Ewe
• Sahamongkolfilm Co.

Distributors

• EuropaCorp. Distribution (2004) (France) (all media)
• Golden Network (2003) (worldwide) (all media)
• 01 Distribuzione (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (video)
• 3L Filmverleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 3L Filmverleih (2005) (Austria) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• A-Films (2004) (Benelux) (DVD)
• AXN (2006) (Japan) (TV)
• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
• Bright Angel Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (2005) (CIS) (all media)
• Central Partnership (2005) (Russia) (all media)
• Cinephil (2004) (Israel) (all media)
• Ciné Libre (2004) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Contender Group (2005) (UK) (all media)
• EDKO Film (2004) (Hong Kong) (all media)
• EDKO Film (2005) (China) (all media)
• GAGA Humax (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Gulf Film (2004) (Middle East) (all media)
• Gussi Artecinema (2004) (Latin America) (all media)
• Gussi Artecinema (2004) (Mexico) (all media)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (DVD) (VHS)
• Klock Worx Company, The (Japan) (theatrical)
• Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2004) (Portugal) (all media)
• Madman Entertainment (2003) (Australia) (all media)
• Magnolia Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical) (subtitled)
• Manga Films (2004) (Spain) (all media)
• Media Cooperation One (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Media Suits (2004) (Japan) (all media)
• Medyavizyon (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• New Action Entertainment Co. Ltd. (2004) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Nobel & Partners Entertainment (2004) (Norway) (all media)
• Nobel & Partners Entertainment (2004) (Scandinavia) (all media)
• Quasar Films (Argentina)
• Sahamongkolfilm Co. (2003) (Thailand) (all media)
• Shaw Renters (2003) (Singapore) (all media)
• Showbox Entertainment (2004) (Korea) (all media)
• Siam Cable Network Co. Ltd. (2003) (Cambodia) (all media)
• Sunny Films (2003) (Malaysia) (all media)

Other Companies

• Europa Corp.  co-international sales
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Juniper Post  ADR recording: dubbing
• Puok Pro-Cast  casting
• Ramindra Sound Recording Studios  sound post-production
• Seng Stunt Team  Tuk Tuk stunt

Also Known As:

Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior (Philippines: English title) (USA) (trailer title)
Daredevil (USA) (informal literal English title)
Ong Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (Singapore: English title)
Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior (International: English title) (festival title)
Thai Fist (Hong Kong: English title)
Ong-Bak: El nuevo dragón (Mexico) (Peru) [es]
Mach (Japan) [ja]
Ong Bak: Le guerrier (Canada: French title) [fr]
Ong bak - O polemistis tou Muay Thai (Greece) (festival title) [el]
Ong-Bak - Guerreiro Sagrado (Brazil) [pt]
Ong-Bak - Nato per combattere (Italy) [it]
Ong-Bak: El desafío del dragón (Venezuela) [es]
Ong-Bak: El guerrero Muay Thai (Spain) [es]
Ong-bak (Spain) [es]
Ong-bak: The Muay Thai Warrior (Finland) [fi]

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of strong violence, language, some drug use and sexuality.

Runtime:

Canada:105 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Hong Kong:108 min | USA:105 min | 104 min (director's cut) | Spain:100 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Canada:14A (British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:13 | Iceland:16 | Malaysia:18SG | South Korea:15 | Australia:MA | Austria:16 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB (cut) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Philippines:R-13 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:PG (cut) | UK:18 | USA:R | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Baa-Ram-Ewe

Trivia:

More than Luc Besson, the crew also seems to like Steven Spielberg. During the alley chase, right after Tony Jaa has performed some break-dance-looking moves on a table, he jumps off and runs away, while the text "Hi Speilberg let do it together" can be read on the wall in the background.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scenes where Ting and Humlae are running from Peng and his gang, after Humlae jumps over a spear and rips his pants, the rips disappears and re-appears from shot to shot.

Quotes:

Humlae: At least let me help you start your motorcycle.

Movie Connections:

References Spy Game (2001)

One Of, If Not The, Best Martial Arts Movie Ever Made

I've seen some of the negative comments people have made, and they are really off base, and quite frankly, stupid.

This movie is filled with incredible fight scenes, from the multitude of fights in the fighting circle, to that final fight in the cave. Most of the movie, in fact, was fight scenes, so I find it hard to believe that people think that there aren't any fight scenes in it. Those people who think that there aren't any action scenes in it are blind, obviously.

As another user has said, the whole point of Ong Bak was to display Tony Jaa's skill at martial arts, which is utterly incredible. Tony Jaa is the best martial artist I have had the pleasure of watching on the big screen.

While the plot wasn't the most original, why on earth did you go into Ong Bak expecting some sort of Oscar winning drama, such as Titanic? This movie was merely introducing Tony Jaa's skill to the North American audience.

People really need to lighten up. Just because a movie doesn't have an incredibly detailed and complex plot, that doesn't mean it's a bad movie! There is nothing wrong with a so-called "mindless" action movie, such as Ong-Bak! Just because it isn't some sort of drama, or another plot-saturated film, that doesn't mean it is garbage! While it may not have the best plot around, in terms of pure martial arts, this is the king. There is not a single martial arts movie out there that I have seen, that is more enjoyable than this movie, and I've seen a lot of martial arts movies.

If you are not stuck up, and you are able to enjoy a good martial arts movie, than Ong Bak is definitely for you! This movie is the best marital arts movie I have ever seen, and I gladly give it a 10/10.