Ong-Bak (2003)

Mud People Staring at a tree: check.

Stunningly photographed: check

King of the mountain in said tree: I’m glad we didn’t think of this game when I was a kid.

If we can recover Ong-Bak: Young Ting.

Trigger warning: Asians playing baccarat.

Strung out Gambler-chick: I have double 9.

Parkour Fu: check

Knives for sale: check.

Ting runs on shoulders: Looney Tunes.

Big Bear Fu; Beer sign Fu; Refrigerator Fu; Penny Fu; Underwater Fu; Rope Fighting Fu: check.

Tracheostomy Smoking: check.

Burmese Junkie Fu; Six-rigs-at-a-time Fu; Fire Fu; Lots of Instant Replay Fu; Sword Fu; We’re back to Rope Fighting Fu; Buddha Head Fu: check.

Ultra Noir Cinematography. I've only seen two Thai films, as far as I can remember, and they both knocked my socks off: this one and Chocolate. The both really get noir right. And a little googling tells me that they both have the same director and choreographer. The worldwide rights were purchased by Luc Besson who released District B13 a year later.

I saw a 35mm version that had the Thai rock music score, but had the western editing.

Great flick. By all means, check this one out.