Tony Jaa Is “Bak” for Finale of Martial Arts Trilogy
This gruesome revenge flick is the grand finale in a series of high body-count adventures coming courtesy of writer/director Tony Jaa. Mr. Jaa also reprises the lead role of Tien in the Thai franchise which modestly bills itself as the best martial arts trilogy of the past decade. (Gee, were there any other martial arts trilogies in the past decade?)
Set in the year 1431, OB 3 picks up right at the cliffhanger where OB 2 left off. As the film unfolds, we find Tien in the clutches of the dastardly Lord Rajasena (Sarunyoo Wongkrachang) who proceeds to have his goons torture their captive to death. But the movie doesn’t end there. No, our hero is somehow miraculously revived by his sensei, Master Bua (Nirutti Sirijanya), who then proceeds to nurse his student back to health.
Meanwhile, Tien learns that his hometown has been overtaken by an otherworldly villain, Bhuti Sangkha (Dan Chupong), a diabolical dude with decapitation in his bag of tricks. All you need to know about the poor excuse for a plotline is that it predictably sets the stage for tons of combat leading inexorably to a bloody duel to the death by the sworn adversaries.
Unfortunately, the goings-on venture so far into the realm of the supernatural, that it loses touch with the credible. Thus, you feel more like you’re watching science fiction than an action-oriented chopsocky.
So lame it makes Ong Bak 2 look like Ong Bak 1.
Fair (1 star)
Rated PG R for graphic violence and bloody images.
In Thai with subtitles
Running time: 99 Minutes
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
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