I went to see Tom Yum Goong this past weekend. My impressions can be summarized in one word: sigh.
To elaborate: I’m sure the movie will be an international blockbuster that increases interest in Thai culture in general (which definitely is a good thing, especially considering how hard Thai martial arts star Panom Yeerum (who is now well known in the West as “Tony Jaa”) has worked his whole life to be where he is). I just wish there were a bit more (okay, maybe a lot more) substance to the plot, which is not only incredulous but unfolds in a way that leaves absolutely no room for the viewer’s imagination. And when will Thai directors learn that “slapstick comedy” is so old-fashioned and trite, and at best will qualify their movies as “action-silly” and not “action-comedy”?
I went to see Tom Yum Goong this past weekend. My impressions can be summarized in one word: sigh.
To elaborate: I’m sure the movie will be an international blockbuster that increases interest in Thai culture in general (which definitely is a good thing, especially considering how hard Thai martial arts star Panom Yeerum (who is now well known in the West as “Tony Jaa”) has worked his whole life to be where he is). I just wish there were a bit more (okay, maybe a lot more) substance to the plot, which is not only incredulous but unfolds in a way that leaves absolutely no room for the viewer’s imagination. And when will Thai directors learn that “slapstick comedy” is so old-fashioned and trite, and at best will qualify their movies as “action-silly” and not “action-comedy”?
I know action flicks aren’t supposed to be thought-provoking melodramas, but at least movies like Die Hard and most of Jackie Chan’s movies have somewhat believable premise. To think that a Chinese mob can smuggle a huge Thai elephant all the way to Sydney, right under the authorities’ noses, is really beyond me; not to mention an early scene where a local Thai politician just pulls out a gun and shoots an innocent man in public. I know most of our politicians are corrupt, but this is really stretching it.
On the upside, most fight scenes in the movie are pretty cool (the warehouse scene that sees Kham dispose of bicycle/tricycle/motorcycle thugs while leaping in and out of deserted train cars is my favorite), and the idyllic scenes that show little Kham growing up with his dad and their elephants are shot very beautifully. On the other hand, the “Australian TV” portrayed in the movie is laughably amateurish, and the scene near the end where our hero broke countless bones of dozens of thugs is overkill (think the restaurant scene in Kill Bill, minus taste).
So I guess I’ll just end with: Tom Yum Goong is a decent movie that showcases the power and grace of Thai martial arts. It will entertain you – just don’t try to make sense of the plot.
I like Ong-Bak a lot more.