Here are four films which are much and less had described those spirits of Thai fighting:
“Chocolate”
It’s not a sweet drama like we can imagine just how we read the title, but the main actress is somehow really sweet though. But with this film which also her first acting experience, Jija Yanin Vismitananda already stands peerless as Asian Cinema's next big female action star. Directed by Prachya Pinkaew and action director Panna Rittikrai, the tag team behind Thai action blockbuster “Ong Bak”, “Chocolate” is an explosive new blockbuster movie that all in all is a very entertaining film. This film also could remembering you with the 80’s HK cinema where it’s flooded with action heroines like Michelle Yeoh, Moon Lee, Sibelle Hu, Cynthia Rothrock and Michiko Nishiwaki who are among the many of them who could easily kick one’s ass hard.
The story is about a young autistic woman named Zen (Yanin Vismistananda) who has developed uncanny martial arts skills by watching television, and from living next door to a Muay Thai academy. The girl is the daughter of Zin (Ammara Siripong), the Thai wife of Yakuza boss Masashi (Hiroshi Abe). Zin was previously the girlfriend of Thai gangster No. 8 (Pongpat Wachirabunjong), who was jealous of her relationship with rival gangster Masashi. After Zin chose Masashi, he shot his own toe and forbids Zin from ever seeing him again. Zin asks Masashi to go back to Japan as they would not be able to be together safely. He begrudgingly leaves. Soon after Zin finds herself pregnant and moves into a new place to get away from No. 8. She has a daughter that she names Zen. Soon it is discovered that Zen suffers from Autism and will need special care. As Zen gets older, one day Zin decides to tell Masashi about his daughter by writing him a letter. No. 8 finds out that Zin is in contact with Masashi and is furious. He visits Zin and cuts off one of Zin's toes, to remind her she is forbidden from seeing Masashi. Zin is forced to move again to a house shared by a Muay Thai kickboxing school. Zen becomes infatuated with martial arts and begins to self-teach herself by mimicking the moves she sees as well as what she watches on television. One day when coming home from work Zin sees a poor little boy being picked on in the streets named Muum. Feeling sorry for his plight she takes him in. It is shown that Zen has uncanny reflexes and is able to catch balls thrown without even looking. Zin then falls ill with cancer, and does not have the money to pay for treatments. Zen and Muum attempt to make money to pay for these treatments by having people throw balls at her as a street performer. Unfortunately they are not able to earn enough to keep up with the treatments. One day, Muum discovers a list of debtors in an old notebook, from the days when Zin was a high-interest moneylender under No. 8. In order to get money to pay for her mother's cancer treatment, Zen and Muum decide to collect on the debts, which lead to confrontations with various criminal gangs and, eventually, No. 8.
The star of Chocolate, Yanin Vismistananda, was discovered by director Prachya Pinkaew in 2003 when the director was working on casting sessions for Panna Rittikrai's directorial effort, Born to Fight. Already experienced in taekwondo, Yanin underwent more training with Panna Rittikrai's stunt team. The script for Chocolate was then developed with Yanin in mind. The film was in production during 2006 and 2007, with promotional efforts including a cast appearance at the Bangkok Film Market during the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival in July.
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Chocolate (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 110 minutes
Publisher: Kam & Ronson Enterprises Co Ltd
Release Date: June 3, 2008 (Save your copy)
“Muay Thai Chaiya”
Muay Chaiya is an ancient style of Thailand martial arts, Muay Thai. Historical records reveal the art to be at least 200 years old, but it is believed the art originated and has evolved along with the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand) some thousands of years ago. The art flourished most during the years of Muay Kad Chuek (Hemp bound fist fighting) where opponents were allowed to use any technique they see fit. Muay Chaiya originated within the royal compounds and was brought to the South by a warrior general-turned-monk named Tan Poh Ma. Thus, it can be said that Muay Chaiya actually a style of boxing as used by elite generals and warriors close to the royal family.
The movie takes place over the course of years during the late 1970s and early 1980s, an action drama film about two talented muay Thai boxers, boyhood friends whose lives take divergent paths after they arrive in Bangkok.
Growing up in Chaiya, Surat Thani Province, three boys, Piak, Pao and Samor, are followers of Pao's brother, Krang (Prawit Kittichanthira), a legendary muay Thai fighter who is taught by Pao's father, Tew (Samart Payakaroon). After an accident partially cripples Samor, Piak and Pao train as boxers under Tew, but the boxing school is broken up when Tew and Krang are recruited for a gym in Bangkok. Eventually, Piak and Pao go to Bangkok themselves, bringing along Samor, and Sripai, a nurse who is engaged to Piak, but whom Pao secretly loves. Piak's hot-headedness makes him a fierce fighter, but it is also a liability that costs him a fight and ends his career. He joins the world of underground bare-knuckles brawling, and he and Samor take on other jobs in the underworld as well, including helping out at go-go bar where the pretty Warn dances and seduces Piak. While working for the underworld, both of them ended up also doing dirty works for their boss. Pao, meanwhile, begins training with his father, and works his way up the ranks, is put forward as a top boxer in a match against a fierce farang, Diamond Sullivan, which places Pao at odds with the gangsters whom Piak and Samor work for.KRU PAIK. Sri pai later saw Piak in bed with Warn and went to find Pao. Pao and Sripan live together since while Piak took over the undergroun business once his boss was killed by another rival boss.
But although the fighting style displayed in the movie is attempting to portray the ancient style of Muay Thai Chaiya, it is not an accurate representation of the art. There are several discrepancies. The Taa Kruu posture shown with one knee raised is a fundamental aspect of Muay Thai Chaiya which most of the look mai (complementary techniques) progress from, this is not apparent in the movie however. The footwork of Muay Chaiya is also very complex and involves very metered lateral angles, and sophisticated leveling, which is not portrayed accurately. Muay Chaiya also placed a large importance on groundwork and takedowns, absent in the film. Finally, kicks in Muay Chaiya are not thrown with one arm down, as in modern stadium Muay Thai, but rather by turning the entire upper body in the direction of the kick, with both arms protecting the face, and body horizontal to the ground. It is fair to say that much of the stylistic interpretations of Muay Chaiya in this movie are more representative of stadium Muay Thai.
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Muay Thai Chaiya (DVD) (Thailand Version)
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Language: Thai
Subtitles: Thai
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 114 minutes
Publisher: Thai CD Online
Release Date: 2007-11-19 (Save your copy)
“Siyama: Village of Warriors”
This film is an action fantasy drama that tells a story about a village called Siyama and its people's struggle to defend their homeland. This wartime story occurs during the Ayudthaya period and narrates the heroic bravery and sacrifice of the great land's legend with Preecha Songsakul, a well-known commercial director,as the film's screenwriter and director. This film is also about a tale full of rich history that touches on issues of patriotism, ancient beliefs, and loyalty towards each other and of one's origin, connecting both values and points of view from the past and of the present.
Three young Thai girls from the present Ana (Thitima Maliwan), Gift (Nuttanan Juntarwet), and Bote (Boriboon Chanruang) are mysteriously destined to travel back in time through a portal to an old forgotten city. It is an era of civil war among the people of Siam where the fight is to protect the capital city of Ayuthaya from being conquered and overthrown. Bloodshed is about to unfold among the small group of villagers loyal to their land and prepared to battle to the death with the opposing military troops of Ong Mien, known for their cut throat, piercing swords. Siyama led by, Kru Jom, uses religious sorcery to protect his small village located amidst a ravine populated by only a mere one thousand villagers and two hundred rooftops.
By being the choice of passage towards the capital city of Ayuthaya, Siyama becomes a targeted obstacle for the gruesome military brigade of Ong Mien. Anna, Gif, and Bote from present day Bangkok are thrown into a gateway through time. They suddenly appear out of no where right at the onset of battle causing utter confusion and havoc among the soldiers. These girls are forced to put their learned history knowledge to the test to see if they can save Siyama from being utterly destroyed.
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Siyama : Village of Warriors (DVD) (Thailand Version)
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Publisher: Thai CD Online
Release Date: 2008-04-11 (Save your copy)
“Fighting Beat”
Still hot on the heels of “Ong-Bak”, “Tom Yum Goong” and “Muay Thai Chaiya,” this movie continues to raise the bar for Thai action flicks. Just as the predecessors, “Fighting Beat” recalls the best of the classic martial arts films of the 70s and 80s while tossing the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The top-notch fight choreography is beautifully photographed - and performed by scantily-clad, easy-on-the-eyes bodies both male and female. Eye-popping in every sense of the word, “Fighting Beats” cements Thai cinema's claim as the reigning champion of martial arts movies.
It was an ordinary night on Phi Phi Island where the usual nightlife was loud and lively overflowing with foreigners at every street bar lined up on the island. KEM and a group of friends innocently fell victim to a group of doped-up foreign kickboxing fighters looking for trouble where ultimately, KEM’s father was killed on the scene. Now an orphan, KEM moved to live in a nearby temple where the head monk became his guardian. Often blaming himself for his father’s death, KEM would secretly learn Thai boxing at a local MUAY THAI bar belonging to his friend’s father, UNCLE PRAOW. Time passes on and KEM grows up in the Muay Thai fighting scene. Without his monk guardian’s acknowledgement, KEM learns to make a living off of rigged fighting matches where he fakes a defeat to his foreign Muay Thai opponents in exchange for their tips.
Uncle Praow’s Muay Thai fighting bar becomes the local attraction for visiting foreigners and word gets out to JOHN, a leader of a Muay Thai fighting team made up of foreigners called K-1. They travel to Phi Phi Island looking to buyout the bar using the facility to set up their own Muay Thai training camp, but Uncle Praow refuses to sell his property. Displeased, K-1 assaults Uncle Praow, Kem, and the employees of the bar.
In fear for KEM’s life and not wanting to repeat what happened to his father, Kem’s monk guardian takes him off the island to become a student of his friend, an old Muay Thai Master. It is here that Kem learns the disciplines of the ancient Thai boxing of Fighting Beat known for fighting bare-handedly dated back to a Thai history of battle where these techniques were used in combat distinguished by 4 different regional styles from the North, South, Central, and Eastern parts of Thailand with each style owning its uniqueness and strengths.
KEM returns to Phi Phi Island to find that Uncle Praow's bar had been forcefully taken over by K-1, the same group responsible for his father's death. Things turn violent when K-1 refuses to return the bar and KEM is forced to use his Muay Thai disciplines in order to protect himself and his friends. The deadliest street fight is set when the ancient disciplines of Fighting Beat Thai boxing (quick, reactive, fierce, and deadly) come face to face with a modern day adapted form of Thai kickboxing combat of K-1.
KEM is put to the test while caught up in this deadly street fight. Can he overcome his feelings of revenge and rage by practicing the disciplines he has learned of the art of Fighting Beat: Muay Thai Chaiya?.... “Victory does not mean a fight to the death of your opponent, but true victory is achieved when your opponent willingly accepts defeat.”
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Fighting Beat (DVD) (Thailand Version)
Region Code: All Region
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Publisher: Thai CD Online
Release Date: 2008-02-06 (Save your copy)
Special Features :
- Trailer
- Behind the Scenes
- EPK
(Source: YesAsia, Wikipedia)
It’s not a sweet drama like we can imagine just how we read the title, but the main actress is somehow really sweet though. But with this film which also her first acting experience, Jija Yanin Vismitananda already stands peerless as Asian Cinema's next big female action star. Directed by Prachya Pinkaew and action director Panna Rittikrai, the tag team behind Thai action blockbuster “Ong Bak”, “Chocolate” is an explosive new blockbuster movie that all in all is a very entertaining film. This film also could remembering you with the 80’s HK cinema where it’s flooded with action heroines like Michelle Yeoh, Moon Lee, Sibelle Hu, Cynthia Rothrock and Michiko Nishiwaki who are among the many of them who could easily kick one’s ass hard.
The story is about a young autistic woman named Zen (Yanin Vismistananda) who has developed uncanny martial arts skills by watching television, and from living next door to a Muay Thai academy. The girl is the daughter of Zin (Ammara Siripong), the Thai wife of Yakuza boss Masashi (Hiroshi Abe). Zin was previously the girlfriend of Thai gangster No. 8 (Pongpat Wachirabunjong), who was jealous of her relationship with rival gangster Masashi. After Zin chose Masashi, he shot his own toe and forbids Zin from ever seeing him again. Zin asks Masashi to go back to Japan as they would not be able to be together safely. He begrudgingly leaves. Soon after Zin finds herself pregnant and moves into a new place to get away from No. 8. She has a daughter that she names Zen. Soon it is discovered that Zen suffers from Autism and will need special care. As Zen gets older, one day Zin decides to tell Masashi about his daughter by writing him a letter. No. 8 finds out that Zin is in contact with Masashi and is furious. He visits Zin and cuts off one of Zin's toes, to remind her she is forbidden from seeing Masashi. Zin is forced to move again to a house shared by a Muay Thai kickboxing school. Zen becomes infatuated with martial arts and begins to self-teach herself by mimicking the moves she sees as well as what she watches on television. One day when coming home from work Zin sees a poor little boy being picked on in the streets named Muum. Feeling sorry for his plight she takes him in. It is shown that Zen has uncanny reflexes and is able to catch balls thrown without even looking. Zin then falls ill with cancer, and does not have the money to pay for treatments. Zen and Muum attempt to make money to pay for these treatments by having people throw balls at her as a street performer. Unfortunately they are not able to earn enough to keep up with the treatments. One day, Muum discovers a list of debtors in an old notebook, from the days when Zin was a high-interest moneylender under No. 8. In order to get money to pay for her mother's cancer treatment, Zen and Muum decide to collect on the debts, which lead to confrontations with various criminal gangs and, eventually, No. 8.
The star of Chocolate, Yanin Vismistananda, was discovered by director Prachya Pinkaew in 2003 when the director was working on casting sessions for Panna Rittikrai's directorial effort, Born to Fight. Already experienced in taekwondo, Yanin underwent more training with Panna Rittikrai's stunt team. The script for Chocolate was then developed with Yanin in mind. The film was in production during 2006 and 2007, with promotional efforts including a cast appearance at the Bangkok Film Market during the 2007 Bangkok International Film Festival in July.
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Chocolate (DVD) (Hong Kong Version)
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English, Traditional Chinese
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 110 minutes
Publisher: Kam & Ronson Enterprises Co Ltd
Release Date: June 3, 2008 (Save your copy)
Muay Chaiya is an ancient style of Thailand martial arts, Muay Thai. Historical records reveal the art to be at least 200 years old, but it is believed the art originated and has evolved along with the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand) some thousands of years ago. The art flourished most during the years of Muay Kad Chuek (Hemp bound fist fighting) where opponents were allowed to use any technique they see fit. Muay Chaiya originated within the royal compounds and was brought to the South by a warrior general-turned-monk named Tan Poh Ma. Thus, it can be said that Muay Chaiya actually a style of boxing as used by elite generals and warriors close to the royal family.The movie takes place over the course of years during the late 1970s and early 1980s, an action drama film about two talented muay Thai boxers, boyhood friends whose lives take divergent paths after they arrive in Bangkok.
Growing up in Chaiya, Surat Thani Province, three boys, Piak, Pao and Samor, are followers of Pao's brother, Krang (Prawit Kittichanthira), a legendary muay Thai fighter who is taught by Pao's father, Tew (Samart Payakaroon). After an accident partially cripples Samor, Piak and Pao train as boxers under Tew, but the boxing school is broken up when Tew and Krang are recruited for a gym in Bangkok. Eventually, Piak and Pao go to Bangkok themselves, bringing along Samor, and Sripai, a nurse who is engaged to Piak, but whom Pao secretly loves. Piak's hot-headedness makes him a fierce fighter, but it is also a liability that costs him a fight and ends his career. He joins the world of underground bare-knuckles brawling, and he and Samor take on other jobs in the underworld as well, including helping out at go-go bar where the pretty Warn dances and seduces Piak. While working for the underworld, both of them ended up also doing dirty works for their boss. Pao, meanwhile, begins training with his father, and works his way up the ranks, is put forward as a top boxer in a match against a fierce farang, Diamond Sullivan, which places Pao at odds with the gangsters whom Piak and Samor work for.KRU PAIK. Sri pai later saw Piak in bed with Warn and went to find Pao. Pao and Sripan live together since while Piak took over the undergroun business once his boss was killed by another rival boss.
But although the fighting style displayed in the movie is attempting to portray the ancient style of Muay Thai Chaiya, it is not an accurate representation of the art. There are several discrepancies. The Taa Kruu posture shown with one knee raised is a fundamental aspect of Muay Thai Chaiya which most of the look mai (complementary techniques) progress from, this is not apparent in the movie however. The footwork of Muay Chaiya is also very complex and involves very metered lateral angles, and sophisticated leveling, which is not portrayed accurately. Muay Chaiya also placed a large importance on groundwork and takedowns, absent in the film. Finally, kicks in Muay Chaiya are not thrown with one arm down, as in modern stadium Muay Thai, but rather by turning the entire upper body in the direction of the kick, with both arms protecting the face, and body horizontal to the ground. It is fair to say that much of the stylistic interpretations of Muay Chaiya in this movie are more representative of stadium Muay Thai.
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Muay Thai Chaiya (DVD) (Thailand Version)
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Language: Thai
Subtitles: Thai
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Duration: 114 minutes
Publisher: Thai CD Online
Release Date: 2007-11-19 (Save your copy)
This film is an action fantasy drama that tells a story about a village called Siyama and its people's struggle to defend their homeland. This wartime story occurs during the Ayudthaya period and narrates the heroic bravery and sacrifice of the great land's legend with Preecha Songsakul, a well-known commercial director,as the film's screenwriter and director. This film is also about a tale full of rich history that touches on issues of patriotism, ancient beliefs, and loyalty towards each other and of one's origin, connecting both values and points of view from the past and of the present.Three young Thai girls from the present Ana (Thitima Maliwan), Gift (Nuttanan Juntarwet), and Bote (Boriboon Chanruang) are mysteriously destined to travel back in time through a portal to an old forgotten city. It is an era of civil war among the people of Siam where the fight is to protect the capital city of Ayuthaya from being conquered and overthrown. Bloodshed is about to unfold among the small group of villagers loyal to their land and prepared to battle to the death with the opposing military troops of Ong Mien, known for their cut throat, piercing swords. Siyama led by, Kru Jom, uses religious sorcery to protect his small village located amidst a ravine populated by only a mere one thousand villagers and two hundred rooftops.
By being the choice of passage towards the capital city of Ayuthaya, Siyama becomes a targeted obstacle for the gruesome military brigade of Ong Mien. Anna, Gif, and Bote from present day Bangkok are thrown into a gateway through time. They suddenly appear out of no where right at the onset of battle causing utter confusion and havoc among the soldiers. These girls are forced to put their learned history knowledge to the test to see if they can save Siyama from being utterly destroyed.
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Siyama : Village of Warriors (DVD) (Thailand Version)
Region Code: 3 - South East Asia (including Hong Kong, S. Korea and Taiwan)
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Publisher: Thai CD Online
Release Date: 2008-04-11 (Save your copy)
Still hot on the heels of “Ong-Bak”, “Tom Yum Goong” and “Muay Thai Chaiya,” this movie continues to raise the bar for Thai action flicks. Just as the predecessors, “Fighting Beat” recalls the best of the classic martial arts films of the 70s and 80s while tossing the genre kicking and screaming into the 21st century. The top-notch fight choreography is beautifully photographed - and performed by scantily-clad, easy-on-the-eyes bodies both male and female. Eye-popping in every sense of the word, “Fighting Beats” cements Thai cinema's claim as the reigning champion of martial arts movies.It was an ordinary night on Phi Phi Island where the usual nightlife was loud and lively overflowing with foreigners at every street bar lined up on the island. KEM and a group of friends innocently fell victim to a group of doped-up foreign kickboxing fighters looking for trouble where ultimately, KEM’s father was killed on the scene. Now an orphan, KEM moved to live in a nearby temple where the head monk became his guardian. Often blaming himself for his father’s death, KEM would secretly learn Thai boxing at a local MUAY THAI bar belonging to his friend’s father, UNCLE PRAOW. Time passes on and KEM grows up in the Muay Thai fighting scene. Without his monk guardian’s acknowledgement, KEM learns to make a living off of rigged fighting matches where he fakes a defeat to his foreign Muay Thai opponents in exchange for their tips.
Uncle Praow’s Muay Thai fighting bar becomes the local attraction for visiting foreigners and word gets out to JOHN, a leader of a Muay Thai fighting team made up of foreigners called K-1. They travel to Phi Phi Island looking to buyout the bar using the facility to set up their own Muay Thai training camp, but Uncle Praow refuses to sell his property. Displeased, K-1 assaults Uncle Praow, Kem, and the employees of the bar.
In fear for KEM’s life and not wanting to repeat what happened to his father, Kem’s monk guardian takes him off the island to become a student of his friend, an old Muay Thai Master. It is here that Kem learns the disciplines of the ancient Thai boxing of Fighting Beat known for fighting bare-handedly dated back to a Thai history of battle where these techniques were used in combat distinguished by 4 different regional styles from the North, South, Central, and Eastern parts of Thailand with each style owning its uniqueness and strengths.
KEM returns to Phi Phi Island to find that Uncle Praow's bar had been forcefully taken over by K-1, the same group responsible for his father's death. Things turn violent when K-1 refuses to return the bar and KEM is forced to use his Muay Thai disciplines in order to protect himself and his friends. The deadliest street fight is set when the ancient disciplines of Fighting Beat Thai boxing (quick, reactive, fierce, and deadly) come face to face with a modern day adapted form of Thai kickboxing combat of K-1.
KEM is put to the test while caught up in this deadly street fight. Can he overcome his feelings of revenge and rage by practicing the disciplines he has learned of the art of Fighting Beat: Muay Thai Chaiya?.... “Victory does not mean a fight to the death of your opponent, but true victory is achieved when your opponent willingly accepts defeat.”
DVD Specifications:
Product Title: Fighting Beat (DVD) (Thailand Version)
Region Code: All Region
Language: Thai
Subtitles: English
Aspect Ratio: 1.78: 1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Sound Information: Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1
Publisher: Thai CD Online
Release Date: 2008-02-06 (Save your copy)
Special Features :
- Trailer
- Behind the Scenes
- EPK
(Source: YesAsia, Wikipedia)
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