From the makers of ‘Ong Bak’ ‘Born to Fight’ . This is a no holds barred, silly slice of Thai action escapism that will make Jackie Chan wish for his youthful days again.
Panna Rittikrai, co-director of the action farce ‘The Bodyguard’ ‘Ong Bak’ ‘Police Story’ carnage finale, we have just enough time to catch our breath before the next batch of mayhem rips, and rip it does.
Good guy cops take down the crime kingpin General Yang (Nappon Gomarachun) in an explosive start that leaves Daew (Chupong Changprung) partnerless. His mentor and friend perished in the flames that brought down the cartel, but this is too high a cost. Confused and angered he tries to salvage himself and ease his pain by going away with his sister, Nui (Kessarin Ektawatkul), and her athletic club on a charity event to a small remote village with its poor inhabitants. Perhaps doing some good can bring a little peace.
Dishing out toys and goods brings smiles to the villagers, and then the happiness is shattered as the bullets start to rip.
The villagers are literally mown down; machine gun fire opens up on all sides as an army invades. Babies cry beside lifeless parents. Limbs are blasted off fleeing victims and old men are gunned at point blank range.
It seems this marauding force has a purpose, they want General Yang back or the remaining villagers will meet their maker, the slayings to be broadcasted live on the internet. The Thai President is contacted and demands are made. But no President is going to take threats like this lying down, so he sends in the marines. Only to watch more villagers bite the dust. What can possibly be done to save the day ?
This is where the goods are for the action lover ! Daew goads the athletic team, pumped up from the National anthem being played over a radio, to decide that it is time to fight back or die. Standing side by side with the villagers it is time for some payback. The viewer is now treated to some of the most breath taking bangs, bumps and explosions a stunt man has to offer with no CG or wirework. The athletes turn out their particular skill in deadly fashion. The soccer star Tun (Piyapong Piew-on) kicks everything in sight from footballs to steaming kettles, knocking guards from their towers and bouncing things off heads into oblivion. Rugby playing Nye (Nantaway Wongwanichislip) knocks everyone off their feet or through walls as he powerhouses around and clotheslines one after the other. Takraw star Jo (Suebsak Pansueb), with his feet of lead, even gets to kick away incoming grenades ! And that’s not all folks ! The gymnastic guys and girls, Moo (Amornthep Waewsang) and Tunta (Rattaporn Khemtong), turn the fallen village into an impromptu gymnasium and dish out kicks and flips in a Gymkata fashion.
Bloody, bold, silly, but thoroughly enjoyable, ‘Born to Fight’ is what you would expect if you placed 6 Jackie Chans into a Chuck Norris flag waving actioner, and then crank it up several notches. There’s more fun here to be had than the previous ‘Ong Bak’ ‘Ong Bak’
The extras include trailers for other Momentum Asia releases, including both ‘Ong Bak’ and ‘The Bodyguard’ . The remainder is a mixed affair, as we have interviews from cast and crew, but each one is so short they barely get a chance to say which character they played before we are whisked to the next offering. ‘The Cast of Born to Fight’ plays like an extended trailer, showing off some stuntwork and a title card for each of the mains and what field their sporting passion lies. ‘On the set of Born to Fight’ shows B-roll footage of the stunt team at play, and it is amazing there was not a death toll placed at the end of this movie !
For your money you get a great widescreen print and a variety of sound options. The 5.1 and DTS are great for the big bangs but the dialogue seems to suffer here, making the 2.0 channel the better option. Then again in this type of movie the dialogue and even the acting is secondary to the action.
So switch your brain off, watch, and enjoy, and by the end you will not only have a huge grin, but you will need to pick your chin off the floor.
'Born to Fight’ is out to own now and available via AmazonUK , as of yet there has been no US release date given.database .
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