I gotta have more!!!

I'll just start off by saying I am a huge fan of Martial Arts films. I've seen all of Bruce Lee's movies, most of Jackie Chan's, and a few movies with Jet Li. I was pleasantly surprised with how well Lawrence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Keanu Reeves fought in the Matrix movies. And I was very impressed with Jason Statham's abilities in The Transporter. I had only ever known him as a good co-star and had no idea how talented he was. So I rushed to see Transporter 2 with great anticipation. I'm still waiting for satisfaction. I had some idea that it might not be good after glancing at a review in the paper. Let me just interject here by saying that I never hold much faith in reviews-especially reviews of action and horror films. Reviewers tend to focus on things like story and character development. They forget these films are not known for that, so to base an opinion on those aspects means that a person can miss the whole point of these two genres-FUN!!! That's not to say that you can get away with a total crap script, but it is slightly less painful if there are plenty of kick-ass fight sequences and stunts.

But I digress, let's get back to Transporter 2. The review in the paper did say that the movie lacked a good story, but as I just said that doesn't always mean much. For once, the reviewer was somewhat right. The story was not that good. For those of you who have seen the first one I'd like to say that story wasn't very good as well. I had about all I could take of the screaming Asian chic by the end of the movie; however, there were several very good fight scenes and a great car chase that started the film. I have to say that my favorite fight scene is the 'oil' fight. I don't just say that because it shows off Jason's physique (it is a very nice body, though.) I thoroughly enjoy watching something that is new and fresh. Using oil to keep the bad guys from hitting the good guy was unique. Then having Frank use the pedals as both traction and weapons when kicking was very innovative. That is something I expect from a director like Cory Yuen, a popular Hong Kong action film director who directed The Transporter. Although he didn't direct this new film, he did choreograph the fight scenes, so I was still encouraged. Unfortunately, there just wasn't enough action and good fight sequences to carry the movie past it's dismal plot. The car chase was not very exciting and the fights were either poorly shot or just plain dull. I'm not going to say they could do better because I really don't think that there needed to be a sequel. Some things are better left alone.

I bet you're wondering why the title to this blog mentions wanting more. I have a new action God that I worship and I have to pass this love to everyone. The film is Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior and my Lord and savior is...

Tony Jaa.

I am still trying to pick my jaw up off of the floor. Let me get the praise out of the way: he is amazing, incredible, exciting, exhilarating, mesmerizing, hypnotizing...

I could go on, but I want to tell you why he is all these things. He is an artist. He moves like a dancer. He has a level of control I have never seen. In one scene he kicks a guy off a table and lands on the same table. It looks so subtle, but if you think about it a person's momentum would keep them moving past that point. Tony Jaa has complete control of his kicks and punches. That's not to say that the stuntmen didn't get hit. They got the shit kicked out them. I have such respect for those men. They have to be just as talented as Jaa. As I said previously, I enjoy new ideas and this film is full of variety. There is a chase scene using Thai cabs. Let's just say their cabs do not look like a checker cab. You have to get rid of one of the front wheels. Now imagine three-wheelers racing down streets and taking hair-pin turns. Are you getting the picture?

I could go on telling about other scenes, but I don't want to give too much away. Just know that if you are half the martial arts fan I am, you will truly enjoy this film. So why are you still sitting here reading my blog? Get out there and rent it, then go buy it so you can watch it over and over like I'll be doing. You can thank me later.