Ong Bak 2 star suffers alligator trauma

July 4, 2:01 PMAtlanta Movie ExaminerAntonio Gilbert

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Ong Bak 2 La Naissamve Du Dragon

Following the tradition of martial art’s “one-man-beat-em-all-up films,” comes a second installment to the Ong Bak series of jaw dropping “elbow and knee kung-fuey” called Ong Bak 2, distributed by Sahamongkol Film International. Although this sequel doesn’t resume from the story of the first Onk Bak, subtitled Muai Thai Warrior,  the layers of conflict, fight choreography, shot selections, use of animals for supernatural realizations, weak story arcs and cheesy dialogues remain the same. With the actions sequences being the only “worth-to-see” turning points of the film, the star, Tony Jaa, brings breakthrough performances to the martial art’s genre with his own unique Thai-fighting choreography without strings or any safety equipment to the stage, leaving no doubt to the jaw dropping credibility to the screen.

        After Jaa’s breakout Ong Bak breakout film, he was hailed internationally as the next major martial-arts star and went unto play the lead role for Tom-Yum-Goong’s “The Protector,” in the US or as known in the UK as “Warrior King.”

     Included with Tony Jaa’s bold approach to acting, is his attempt to direct the Ong Bak’s sequel despite the advice of his mentor, Panna Rittikrai. Jaa suffered a mental breakdown after his on-screen encounter with a live alligator (that’s right, not a CGI alligator) during its production in Thailand in 2008. After his disappearance in the woods for two months, production resumed with his mentor co-directing beside him. The result yielded a successful release in Thailand in 2008. The film is also due to be re-released and distributed across Europe with an undisclosed date in 2009 through Luc Besson’s Europa Corporation, with a revised edition, minus 6 minutes from the original release. Discussions about the success of this French version of Ong Back 2 would be pure speculation. But at least the previous Tony Jaa’s films yields some satisfactory in that there is no shortage of fans for creative fighting skills that sell the “that’s-gotta-hurt” imagination. Another speculation is that some actors have been seriously injured or killed during production, since safety devices and CGI are minimal.

Ong Bak 2 Trailer (2009) 

Ong Bak 2 Synopsis 

Since his rescue from savage slave traders in ancient Thailand, Tien (Tony Jaa), an orphan son of Lord Sihadecho, is taken under the wing of his rescuer, Cher Nung. Cher Nung, a renowned warrior and leader of the Pha Beek Krut group of guerilla fighters, realizes unsurpassed physical potential and spirit in the young Tien, and teaches him various Asian fighting styles.  As Tien is trained to unify different martial arts and grows into the most dangerous man alive, he pursues a lone journey of vengeance against the vicious slave traders who enslaved him in his youth, and kill the treacherous head warlord, protected by an army, all to avenge his father’s death.

 Ong Bak 2 Orginal 2008 Trailer