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Tony Jaa in ONG BAK 3, a Magnet Release. Photo courtesy of Magnet Releasing.

Ong Bak 3 (2010/2011)

Also Known As: Ong Bak III

Opened: 01/14/2011 Limited

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Genre: Thai Martial Arts (Thai w/English subtitles)

Rated: R for strong violence and bloody images.

Synopsis

Martial arts legend Tony Jaa writes, directs, produces and stars in ONG BAK 3, the third and final installment in one of the most beloved action series of all time. Picking up at the cliffhanger ending where Ong Bak 2 leaves off, Jaa ramps up the epic supernatural elements of the previous film, while still maintaining the trademark bone-crunching action that the series is known for. This time he must face his ultimate enemy: a fierce supernatural warrior named "Demon Crow," played by fellow martial arts sensation Dan Chupong (Dynamite Warrior). Eagerly anticipated by martial arts aficionados for some time, the matchup of Jaa and Chupong is explosive.

About the Film

ONG BAK 3 is Tony Jaa's fourth world-class action film (following Ong Bak, (2003); Tom Yum Goong, (2005); and Ong Bak 2, (2008). The idea was sparked by Tony Jaa and his mentor, Panna Rittikrai, Thailand's number one martial arts master, during the shooting of Tom Yum Goong. It took almost seven years from the preparation, including research and martial arts choreography design, to the shooting to finish Ong Bak 2 and ONG BAK 3. Ong Bak 2 required 3 years of shooting, while ONG BAK 3 took a year and a half to complete, because of the difficulty of the project. Only 4-5 action scenes could be shot each day. The most difficult was the fight scene on the back of the elephants.

In the first Ong Bak, Panna Rittikrai and Tony Jaa showed the world the strong, yet beautiful art of Thai boxing. Being a martial arts genius, Tony Jaa designed the "Elephant Breaking the Earth" move, creating a hundred moves which became "Muay Kotchasarn" (Elephant Boxing) --the combination of elephant's movements, and is shown for the first time in Tom Yum Goong. In ONG BAK 3, action fans will be seeing several styles of ancient Thai dancing arts, especially the "Khon" dance. The moves of several Khon characters, such as demon, protagonist, and monkey, have been combined to create a new martial art style called "Natayuth" or the "fighting dance." Each character's moves have their unique style. The Monkey Natayuth is quick and agile. The Demon Natayuth is fierce and ferocious. The Protagonist Natayuth (Rama and Lakshmana) is elegant and delicate. These beautiful moves are spectacular and have never been introduced to the world until now.

The "Natayuth" fighting dance that Tony Jaa created was inspired by his interest in the art of "Khon" dance while he was studying at the College of Physical Education in Mahasarakham province. His favorite character was "Hanuman" whose famous moves were "Hanuman Stomping All Over Lanka" and "Hanuman Punching." His interest in "Khon" went further after he was introduced to Master Pichet Klunchuen (recipient of Silpatorn Award in Performing Arts in 2006) through his acting mentor "Mrs. Aew" Ornchuma Yuthawong. Consequently, Tony Jaa became serious about studying Khon that he even went to Cambodia to see "Khon" performance and study sculptures of the protagonists, the demons, and the monkeys, at Angkor Wat. Ultimately, all of these have been blended into "Natayuth."

The screenplay is something both Panna and Tony Jaa placed a high importance on. ONG BAK 3 is the conclusion and the answer to the mystery of the whole trilogy, including Tien's fate after losing everything in his life, the scar on the face of the Buddha in the first Ong Bak, and the discovery of the fighting technique called "Natayuth" which is the combination of meditation, detachment of rage, forgiveness, and "Khon" dancing style. So this action film also has deep Buddhist underlying concepts added to spectacular action scenes. Therefore, it took about 20 drafts of screenplay before the actual shooting began.

The action design for this film is the most outstanding aspect. The action choreographers, Panna Rittikrai and Tony Jaa intend to create the newest, most stunning, most exciting fight scenes. Some of these amazing action scenes include:

Real action scene on the elephants' back is the highlight of this film. First a several-story-high large-scale pavilion was built on a 40,000 square-meter land, large enough to accommodate several elephants and hundreds of actors. The fighting takes place on the elephants' back and trunks, under their belly and tusks. Tony Jaa must run on the back of several elephants to fight with almost a hundred of Lord Rajasena's soldiers. He must rehearse this scene over fifty times in the morning, just to take five shots in the afternoon under the blazing sun. Every scene has been shot in Tony Jaa's style, which is "No wires. No stunt doubles." It took a great deal of risk and effort to complete each action scene, especially the swinging 360 degrees from the tusk of one elephant to kick the neck of a soldier on the back of an incoming elephant. It took more than ten takes to complete this risky scene.

The Natayuth of "Monkey" and "Demon" are the martial arts techniques modeled after the swift movement of the "Monkey" and the ferocious movement of the "Demon." So we'll see Tony Jaa fighting fiercely as the Demon, showing raw and extreme emotions. The stuntmen for this film have had to endure Tony Jaa's rage when he stomps them on the body, neck, and face into the ground. As a Monkey, Tony Jaa must run and jump onto a stunt's body to bite him in the neck. These are the fighting techniques never seen before from Tony Jaa.

There are scenes in which Tony Jaa must use a staff and chains as weapons. In the beginning of the film, Tien is captured and chained, then tortured before being brought for execution. With his life on the line, Tien must fight his way out, using the chains and the guard's staff with his astonishing Thai boxing skills.

The "Protagonist's Natayuth" in the final showdown that Tien performs to duel with the Demon Crow is elegant, graceful, and beautiful, under the concept "Turn the enemy into a dancing partner." Tien uses "Natayuth" to combat "the Demon Martial Arts" of the Demon Crow (Dan Chupong), who possesses mysterious and deadly fighting technique, designed by Tony Jaa himself. It is modeled after the movement of a crow, which is swift and surreptitious. The Demon Crow also possesses the ability to use "the smoke of evil" when fighting.

This is the first and the only action film that features a full blown duel between two action superstars of the era -- Tony Jaa ("Natayuth") VS. Dan Chupong ("Demon Martial Arts"), with spectacular fighting technique the world has never seen before.

The character "the Crow Demon," was written specifically by Tony Jaa for Dan Chupong to play Tien's nemesis. Dan has had to prepared himself both the action and the acting part. The training included talking, walking, and even moving each part of his body, because everything must be similar to the characteristics of a crow. Dan also had to lose some weight. Each time before he can take on the role, he must let the make-up artist to paint ancient letters all over this body, including arms, legs, chest, back, and even the nails. This process took six hours to complete, so Dan must wake up at four in the morning for make-up.

This film features several top actors and actresses of Thailand to complete the trilogy with grandeur. The cast include: Saranyu Wongkrachang, who plays Lord Rajasena, which the audience will see his weak side of the tyrant who causes Tien's rage and vengefulness; Nirut Sirijunya, who plays Master Bua -- Tien's second father who has taught him the art of "Khon" dance, who has decided to get ordained into a monk, and later leads Tien to discover inner peace; Petchtai Wongkamlao (Mum Jokmok), who plays Men, the crazy man of the village, who seems dirty and repulsive on the outside, but pure and kind inside; Dan Chupong Changprung, an up-and-coming action star in the darkest and most fearful role, the Demon Crow, Tien's archenemy, and Primrata Dej-Udom, who plays Pim, the caring and beautiful lady whose kindness helps turn Tien's vengefulness into forgiveness and love.

The shooting has been done in several gorgeous locations in all regions of Thailand to make this film as visually stunning as possible. The Khon village was created in Saraburi, Nakonratchasima, and Surin. Lord Rajasena's palace was built as a several-story-high large-scale pavilion on a 40,000 square-meter land in Rayong for the exciting fight scene on the elephants' back. Other locations include Pu Chee Fah Peak in Chiang Rai, Jek Peak in Ubonratchathani, Emerald Cave in Krabi, and even Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

The all-star crew who have been behind the success of many world-class films, including Nattawut Kittikhun, Thailand's number one cinematographer (Nang Nak, The Overture, The Legend of King Naresuan, Ong Bak, Tom Yum Goong, Ong Bak 2, Jan Dara), Art Director Banpot Ngamkam (Queens of Langasuka), and Costume Designer Chatchai Chaiyont (Queens of Langasuka, Ong Bak 2), have been assembled to make ONG BAK 3 the film of the era.