[Twitch is undergoing some behind the scenes tire kicking and bolt-tightening over the next few days, work that may slow down the regular flow of new information a little bit. So, while that's going on we'll be presenting a series of retro-reposts, pulling forward the all time top ten videos since we moved to our current video system. This post originally appeared July 3.]
While in New York a week or so back I had a friend ask if I'd seen the new French trailer for Tony Jaa's Ong Bak 2. As with the original Ong Bak Luc Besson's Europa Corp have gotten their hands on this one and while the rumor is that there has been a mild re-cut of the film to tighten things up a bit - I'm hearing six minutes have been removed - and some changes to the score - though nothing as drastic as the hip hop version done for the original - the new French trailer, I was told, makes Ong Bak 2 look like "the greatest action film ever made". I hadn't seen it at the time, but now I have and I have to say I pretty much agree.
What do you say? Was it the argument between Tony Jaa the director and Tony Jaa the actor over whether he really needed to get into that pit of water with a live crocodile that drove Tony to go hide in the jungle for two months? Check the French trailer out below the break along with the extended Thai promo reel!
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Video
French Trailer
Thai Promo Reel
It was already pretty tight, I thought, but I suppose six minutes won't make much difference. Thing is, I was hearing that as much as 20 minutes had been cut by Besson and company.
I pretty much agree too. :D
I'm still wondering why the scene at 03:26 - 03:28 in the Thai Promo Reel wasn't in the film...
We're not getting this Luc Besson bullshit in the US again are we? Because if so I might as well start tracking down a bootleg.
If this is for France only - nice to see them get screwed for once instead of us. It's usually the other way around.
Nice one, straight to the point, too many money shots, but the final flip using the elephant is pure gold.
Oh, I want to see the movie again. Ilove it, the way it is, and the soundtrack is great too. This is Thailands Apocalypto!
I simpily cannot understand the idea to recut a movie, which was created by someone who put so much energy into it. Its like buying a Picasso and cutting out the paintings in the picture you don't favour to hang them on the wall.
I suppose Besson (and the Weinsteins) just want to take part somehow in the moviemaking, they cannot afford.
Like the new trailer very much, by the way.
"Hey Mr Be$$on, what do we have to do to sell one of those "kung fu" movies to the superior Western audiences?"
"Believe in me, I know how to make $$$$ from inferior Asian movies! Just edit the frack out of the movie, cut like 15 or 20 minutes, and put some shitty French rap, so the youth of our French "banlieues" will like it!"
"Wow, you're a genius!"
"I know, I have written the greatest script for an action movie ever: Taken!"
Like Michael Bay, Rob Cohen and Paul W. Anderson, Luc Be$$on is a movie cancer. I hope he gets "edited" soon.
Don't go see that movie in theatres, buy the Thai DVDs or Blu-Rays, or get it on the Internet!
axleu you are so right but you forgot Stephen Sommers, LOL. That being said Besson still gave us The Fifth Element and Leon, those were great movies.
slightly disappointing movie..but that promo reel makes me want to rewatch so i suppose that says something