Ong Bak 3

[ASaroch]

So will Tony Jaa ever be in the masterpiece his talent deserves?

[Charlie Parker]

Probably not by the looks of things. There's always Donnie Yen!

[Drunken Master]

Probably not by the looks of things. There's always Donnie Yen!

(Or was that too many emotions for the Yenster?)

[Charlie Parker]

There's no sixpack emoticon!

[Phil]

I don't think you can write Jaa off just yet and I wouldn't be surprised if he is back making movies in six months time. It was no secret that all the pressures of movie making really got to him, so I see this as a temporary move (Thailand's equivalent to a rehab clinic) just to get out of the limelight for a while.

[ASaroch]

I really respect his decision to get out of the pressured world of film, it was clearly eating away at him. Yet, if he does come back, I've got a bad feeling that another Ong Bak clone is on its way.

[Ryuk]

It's your typical success story in film - if it's a winning formula, keep regurgitating clones to capitalise on its popularity. Works for marketing too, just keep telling people that this new film is "Ong Bak on steroids" or "This film makes Ong Bak look like Baby Back Ribs" or something to that effect. Bloody marketers.

[Phil]

Even though I thought it sucked, you have to at least give him credit for trying to move outside the boundaries a little with 'Ong Bak 2'. His main problem however is that he wants total control over his art when it is fairly obvious he needs a more accomplished director/writer to help him advance. If he has any sense, when he returns he will make the move to HK or Hollywood so that he can add more meat to his movies.

[ASaroch]

I thought Ong Bak 2 had a lot of promise and was certainly to be admired for trying a different style/era. It was just a bit of an inconsistent film.

[Ryuk]

Perhaps there was more of a story, just not enough funds to portray on screen. Either that, or a lot of footage was lost in the editing process due to poor quality of scenes, or strict adherence to a running time from the movie company.