Ong Bak 2 (2008)
Ong Bak 2: is a 2008 Thai martial arts film co-directed by Panna Rittikrai and Tony Jaa. Starring Jaa, it is a standalone prequel to the 2003 film Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. Set in 15th century Thailand, the film revolves around Tien, the son of a murdered nobleman. Captured and sold into slavery, Tien is saved from death by Chernang, the leader of the Pha Beek Khrut, a group of martial artists specialising in various Asian combat styles. Chernang takes Tien under his wing and realizes unsurpassed physical potential in the boy by training him in all the different types of Asian martial arts. When Tien grows up, he goes on a lone mission of vengeance against the slave traders and the treacherous warlord who killed his family. Released on 4 December 2008, the film was followed by Ong Bak 3 in 2010.
Plot.
The film is set in Siam in the 15th century during the reign of Borommarachathirat II of the Ayutthaya Kingdom (reigned 1424–1448). Tien, the son of the nobleman Lord Sihadecho, aspires to be a warrior like his father but, much to his disdain, he is forced to learn dancing instead of combat skills. Meanwhile, Lord Rajasena, a treacherous warlord, sends assassins to kill Sidahecho’s family. Tien, the only survivor in the massacre, manages to escape and he swears vengeance on Rajasena. Tien is captured by a group of slave traders, who throw him into a pool with a large crocodile when he proves uncontrollable. Just then, the Pha Beek Khrut (“Garuda Wing Cliff”), a group of warriors specialising in various Asian martial arts, show up and attack the slave traders. Chernang, the group’s leader, saves Tien by throwing him a knife, which Tien uses to slay the crocodile. Intrigued by the boy’s physical prowess and sheer willpower,
Production.
Shooting of the film began in October 2006. It was released in Thailand on December 5, 2008. In July 2008, rumor surfaced that Tony Jaa had disappeared from the production set. Prachya Pinkaew commented to the press that Tony Jaa had disappeared from the set for almost two months, leaving the film unfinished; and that the delay caused more than 250 million baht damage due to the breach of contract with the Weinstein Company who had also canceled the contract. Later in an interview with the press, Tony Jaa stated that the production was on hiatus because Sahamongkol Film could not release the obligated funding for the film. Sources within Ayara Film, the subsidiary of Sahamongkol Film that handled Ong Bak 2 production, stated that no more funding came from Sahamongkol after it took over the budget and management role from Tony Jaa from May 2008 to July 2008.
Reception.
The film holds a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 70 reviews. The site’s consensus reads: “It suffers from comparisons to its predecessor, not to mention Tony Jaa’s less-than-nimble direction, but Ong Bak 2 has all the extravagant violence and playful style that fans of the original will expect.” Despite political turmoil in the film’s native Thailand, in its opening weekend (8 December 2008) Ong Bak 2 grossed about 58 million baht ($2.06 million), according to Variety Asia Online, and was number one at the Thai box office. Ong Bak 2 did better at the Thai box office than Tony Jaa’s previous film, Tom-Yum-Goong.