Ong bak 2 2008

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: If you've ever stood in front of a mirror and practiced your Bruce Lee "kara-tay" chops, Thailand's Tony Jaa should, de facto, be your hero. Read more

Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: Unfortunately, the movie could use a bit of pachyderm memory, given its habit of flashing back to Tien's childhood with exactly the same footage used in previous flashbacks. Instead of the narrative being deepened, it keeps getting shallowed. Read more

Tom Keogh, Seattle Times: Features a far more soulful and charismatic Jaa immersed in a ceaseless whoosh of extraordinary fight scenes involving everything from pebbles to elephants. Read more

Noel Murray, AV Club: The fight scenes are kinetic and varied, and pick up a unique flavor from the backdrop of meticulously recreated hillside villages. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: Ong Bak 2 is slicker production-wise than the original, and it has so much noisy action that Thai foley artists must have made a fortune inserting thuds and grunts. Read more

Cary Darling, Dallas Morning News: Ong Bak 2 is really just an excuse for several jaw-dropping set pieces that show off Jaa's killing skills. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: Don't look for continuity of storyline -- just enjoy the extravagant fight stunts, the restless camera work, and the sluicing rivers of blood and mud. (That's why you're here, right?) Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Jaa, who co-directs, has only one thing in mind: a series of increasingly complex fight scenes in his characteristically wide-ranging style. If movie theaters allowed you to fast-forward past the filler, your life just might be complete. Read more

V.A. Musetto, New York Post: There isn't much of a plot, although Jaa's fans won't mind a bit. All they want is lots of bloody, muddy action in the Thai jungles, which they get. Read more

G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle: Tony Jaa is a lot of fun to watch, but Ong Bak 2: The Beginning is not only a step back in time -- to 1431 -- but a step back in this martial artist's international film career. Read more

Grady Hendrix, Slate: Nourished on anemic action sequences full of shaky-cams, rapid-fire editing, and quick cutaways, American audiences are not prepared for Jaa's 20-minute essays on human bodies causing massive trauma. Read more

David Jenkins, Time Out: Over-directed and under-written trash. Read more

Nicolas Rapold, Village Voice: The movie would work better as a highlight reel. Read more

Jan Stuart, Washington Post: Taking co-directorial reins with Panna Rittikrai, Jaa has erected a portentous platform for his high-flying athleticism, bearing none of the freewheeling spirit or humor that made his feature debut a guiltless pleasure. Read more