When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.When the head of a statue sacred to a village is stolen, a young martial artist goes to the big city and finds himself taking on the underworld to retrieve it.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations
Phetthai Vongkumlao
- Humlae
- (as Mum Jokemok)
- …
Suchao Pongwilai
- Komtuan
- (as Suchoa Pongvilai)
Chatthapong Phantana-Angkul
- Saming
- (as Chatthapong Pantanaunkul)
Wannakit Sirioput
- Don
- (as Wannakit Siriput)
Cheathavuth Watcharakhun
- Peng
- (as Chetwut Wacharakun)
Rungrawee Barijindakul
- Ngek
- (as Rungrawee Borrijindakul)
Chumphorn Thepphithak
- Uncle Mao
- (as Chumporn Teppitak)
Boonsri Yindee
- Yai Hom
- (as Bunsri Yindee)
Woravit Tanochitsirikul
- Sia Pao
- (as Woravit Tangchitsirikul)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- GoofsIn the cave near the end of the film, Saming is no longer using the electronic voice box that he had to use to speak with throughout the rest of the movie
- Alternate versionsThe UK Cinema version and Premier Asia DVD version feature a brand new orchestral soundtrack composed especially for the UK release.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Yo soy la Juani (2006)
- SoundtracksBangkok Running
Written by Excellence and Vincent Tulli
Performed by Excellence
Featured review
In terms of sheer athleticism and martial artistry, Tony Jaa certainly lives up to his billing as 'the Next Bruce Lee'. He puts the kick into this quick-fry Thai fightfest that mixes dynamic set-pieces with skull-splitting one-on-ones. It should also remind fans of the Crouching Hero, Flying Dagger brand of Eastern blockbuster (including myself) that Oriental action cinema was founded on action without safety nets, never mind all that fancy wirework and colour-coordinated mysticism.
But for all his physical prowess, Jaa falls short of Bruce Lee (and even Jet Li) when it comes to charisma, sounding nervous and looking slightly uncomfortable in the action-free scenes. Director Pinkaew perhaps recognises that Jaa will need time to build his own screen persona, so wisely gives him very little to say. I wish the same could be said of screechy female sidekick Muay who is both an irritation and a distraction. However, quibbling too much about the acting would be churlish.
Who cares that the plot's straight out of The A-Team when the adrenaline flows this thick and fast? The foot pursuit through Bangkok's backstreets is not just five minutes of pure exhilaration, it turns a few chase clichés on their heads (uh-oh, look out for those two guys carrying panes of glass across the road hold on a minute!). There are even replays of the most jaw-dropping bits so that you can believe what you just saw.
But for all his physical prowess, Jaa falls short of Bruce Lee (and even Jet Li) when it comes to charisma, sounding nervous and looking slightly uncomfortable in the action-free scenes. Director Pinkaew perhaps recognises that Jaa will need time to build his own screen persona, so wisely gives him very little to say. I wish the same could be said of screechy female sidekick Muay who is both an irritation and a distraction. However, quibbling too much about the acting would be churlish.
Who cares that the plot's straight out of The A-Team when the adrenaline flows this thick and fast? The foot pursuit through Bangkok's backstreets is not just five minutes of pure exhilaration, it turns a few chase clichés on their heads (uh-oh, look out for those two guys carrying panes of glass across the road hold on a minute!). There are even replays of the most jaw-dropping bits so that you can believe what you just saw.
Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $4,563,167
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $1,334,869
- Feb 13, 2005
- Gross worldwide
- $20,235,426
- Runtime1 hour 48 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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