Strongly recalls Hong Kong kung-fu movies of the late '60s and '70s, with physical grit, over-the-top heroics and inventive fight choreography providing the entertainment.
80
TimeRichard Corliss
TimeRichard Corliss
Pummeling, exhilarating.
80
Village Voice
Village Voice
The ferocious fighting moves (adapted from ancient Muay Thai manuals by veteran Thai martial arts director Phanna Rithikrai) that constitute Ong-Bak's money shots are often truly astonishing.
80
L.A. WeeklyDavid Chute
L.A. WeeklyDavid Chute
However shrewdly he's been packaged, Tony Jaa is the real thing.
80
The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
An effective martial arts film destined to leave mouths agape.
Mr. Jaa, blessed with astonishing muscle definition and a stoical, sensitive face, clearly has the potential to be an international action movie star, and Ong-Bak feels like the start of a scrappy, potent franchise.