Ong Bak 2: The Beginning

Madman / Eastern Eye

R4 DVD

Thai with clear English subtitles

Strictly speaking this film has nothing to do with the original Ong Bak, but is a separate story set hundreds of years earlier in 1421. Thailand was at this time in a feudal state, with civil war going on between powerful warlords. The Ayutthaya dynasty is gradually winning power over the rival Sukhothai dynasty. Lord Sihadecho rules one of the new Ayutthaya provinces but is being plotted against by the treacherous Lord Rajasena, head of the army. He sends assassins to murder Sihadecho’s family. The only survivor is Tien, their ten year old son.

Tien is captured by slavers and taken to a local slave market. He fights his captors uncontrollably, so the leader of the slavers orders him thrown into a water-filled pit with a crocodile. He is saved when Cher Nung, the leader of a major “bandit” group of guerrillas, throws him a knife and tells him “your life depends on you, young boy”. Tien kills the crocodile and is adopted by Cher Nung.

In Cher Nung’s village Tien is trained in all the styles of martial arts that the motley band is skilled in. With his lust for vengeance driving him on, Tien excels in each form and is about to be announced as the next bandit King by Cher Nung, who is getting on in years. Before this, he must settle some accounts and get the vengeance out of his system.

The slave trader is the first. Tien single-handedly takes on the trader’s men in a long battle that shows his mastery of the many martial arts. The slave trader himself gets to join the crocodile.

The next target is Rajasena, the head of the army and now the ruler of the province. In another vicious battle at Rajasena’s palace Tien apparently kills Rajasena. His vengeance now complete, he returns to the bandit village. The village seems strangely deserted. Then Tien is attacked by armoured soldiers. They are the villagers, Tien’s friends. Rajasena has survived due to the armour he was wearing. His soldiers have surrounded the village and the old bandit Cher Nung, who was secretly in league with Rajasena, must kill Tien or his own family will be killed.

The film closes with Tien lying on the ground surrounded by a closing group of Rajasena’s soldiers. This cliffhanger conveniently leaves the way open for a sequel.

The film is a classic revenge story, the Thai equivalent of a good Western. It is done with an enthusiasm that I have noted in previous southeast Asian films – the fight scenes are extended, the action is savage, the martial arts are full of movement rather than the stylised posturing of the Japanese equivalent. There is little or no character development although Tien (Tony Jaa) manages to do a good job depicting hatred with his facial expressions. Sorapong Chatree is brilliant as the old rogue Cher Nung.

It is hard to fault the film. Especially if you are a martial arts fan, watch this one.

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This review will appear in Volume 3 No.2 of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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