Review of Ong Bak 2 (2008) by Neeraj D — 18 Nov 2010

So after the high-intensity thrill-ride of Ong Bak, Tony Jaa decides to take the name and dial the clock back a few hundred years in this two-part (with Ong Bak 3) historical action/adventure/Buddhist fantasy.

Well, the Buddhism is dialled back here, as our hero escapes the murder of his family, falls in with a bad crowd, then has the chance for revenge presented to him. On the plus side, it's pretty lavish, is set in historical Thailand (which feels quite fresh) and Tony Jaa is as astounding as ever.

On the minus side, it's all a bit eanest and stiff. Still, I enjoyed it through to its cliffhanger ending. But then came part three...