I really, really liked Panna Rittikrai's 2004 action film BORN TO FIGHT. Offering wall-to-wall action of the like Hollywood can only dream about, this film had it all and was a must-see for action fans. So, when I heard that it was a remake of an '80s film, a film that inspired martial arts star Tony Jaa to become an actor, I knew I had to see it. Released sometime in the 1980s – 1986 is just a guess, as I've also heard 1980 and 1984 as possible release dates – this version of BORN TO FIGHT has only now been released outside of Thailand following the success of modern Thai action blockbusters. It's easy to see why. Like many homegrown action flicks made in Thailand in the last twenty years, this is a film that can only really be enjoyed by its native audience, as much of the humour will be lost on a Western viewer – and this is coming from somebody who actually enjoys the comedy found in Hong Kong movies! Made on a very, very low budget indeed and filmed out in the country with a single camera for the most part, BORN TO FIGHT wouldn't be worth a look were it not for the action scenes. The story is clichéd and nonsensical and there's no attempt at characterisation to be seen. The acting is wooden and diabolical and the only music present has been ripped off from other films – I recognised the theme tune as coming from a '70s Italian crime flick, and there are cues from a Jackie Chan film (probably DRUNKEN MASTER) and THE ONE-ARMED BOXER all in the first ten minutes. The comedy is diabolical and the comedy actor present one of the worst I've seen, even worse than the 'comedians' that graced Mexican horror films of the 1950s.
So, the only real reason to watch this is for the action, and I'm pleased to see it doesn't disappoint. First off, though, is a warning: there's nothing here that's different or better than stuff you'll see in modern films like ONG BAK and WARRIOR KING. The action is of the same standard, but it's not as polished or as stylised, and you can see that Rittikrai was really limited by his non-existent budget. Still, lower your expectations and you'll enjoy the myriad fight scenes as our heroes gets bruised and battered as he takes on multiple opponents for a series of low-tech, highly painful showdowns. Battling street thugs, motorbike riders and some balaclava-wearing ninjas at the film's climax, Rittikrai is an accomplished martial artist and his skills are evident throughout. Expect plenty of scenery being demolished, people being hit and flipping through the air and excruciating slow-motion hits and kicks to be repeated endlessly. There's a fun bike chase where people crash through signs and into vehicles for real – much like the 2004 film although not as exciting – and of course the best bits come at the climax, where Rittikrai takes on the aforementioned pseudo-villains (although they're only wearing balaclavas so that the actors can double their roles by disguising themselves).
People fly through the air and are variously beaten, whacked, bruised and smashed through wooden props. It's all quite fun, although as I said before, hampered by an extraordinary low budget. To be honest, though, there's only so much I can take of this stuff, and having seem some of Rittikrai's '90s films, this looks like a high-budget masterpiece in comparison. It lacks the deliriousness of similar Indonesian fare and the finesse and money behind Hong Kong cinema. Watch it once but don't expect to go back to it. Thailand's modern action cinema is the stuff to see.
So, the only real reason to watch this is for the action, and I'm pleased to see it doesn't disappoint. First off, though, is a warning: there's nothing here that's different or better than stuff you'll see in modern films like ONG BAK and WARRIOR KING. The action is of the same standard, but it's not as polished or as stylised, and you can see that Rittikrai was really limited by his non-existent budget. Still, lower your expectations and you'll enjoy the myriad fight scenes as our heroes gets bruised and battered as he takes on multiple opponents for a series of low-tech, highly painful showdowns. Battling street thugs, motorbike riders and some balaclava-wearing ninjas at the film's climax, Rittikrai is an accomplished martial artist and his skills are evident throughout. Expect plenty of scenery being demolished, people being hit and flipping through the air and excruciating slow-motion hits and kicks to be repeated endlessly. There's a fun bike chase where people crash through signs and into vehicles for real – much like the 2004 film although not as exciting – and of course the best bits come at the climax, where Rittikrai takes on the aforementioned pseudo-villains (although they're only wearing balaclavas so that the actors can double their roles by disguising themselves).
People fly through the air and are variously beaten, whacked, bruised and smashed through wooden props. It's all quite fun, although as I said before, hampered by an extraordinary low budget. To be honest, though, there's only so much I can take of this stuff, and having seem some of Rittikrai's '90s films, this looks like a high-budget masterpiece in comparison. It lacks the deliriousness of similar Indonesian fare and the finesse and money behind Hong Kong cinema. Watch it once but don't expect to go back to it. Thailand's modern action cinema is the stuff to see.
