The story has somewhat improved from the previous "Onk-Bak" film, but it still remains nil-dimensional. This time, however, I could sympathize with the character in this film 'cause he's rescuing his best friend (the elephants) rather than reacquiring some stupid rock (I still don't get that). Plus watching Tony beat the living crap out of those animal killing, malignant douches brought joy to my happy fat face.

Of course the action is phenomenal. I have said this before and I'll say it again under a different reference: for someone to say the action in this film is wretched is like saying women deserve rape. These guys deserve an insurmountable amount of admiration for their tireless efforts of making the most intense and most suicidal action film ever. To berate them about this is completely illogical, idle-minded, and may I add sadistic. Best fight scene: Tony Jaa vs. the capoeria guy. That was awesome. I could watch that scene for hours, yo!

Recommended for people who know what great action is all about and maybe perhaps people who like evil transsexuals. Others should stick with chick flicks, "silly".

Tony Jaa’s acting has improved significantly since "Ong-Bak", while Prachya Pinkaew’s direction is relatively the same. The plot is practically the same thing, replacing the "Ong-Bak" statue with Tony Jaa's pet elephant.

The action in this movie is good, but not as good as "Ong-Bak". It tries to take lots of concepts from "Ong-Bak" and bring them to the next level, but it all feels so repetitive like it's been done before. Some of the action doesn't even feel quite as polished as "Ong-Bak" was. Johnny Nguyen kicks well, but his style doesn’t really blend with Panna Rittikrai’s action. The x-gamers fight is easily the best, as it bares the least similarity and contains the most creative choreography. The finale is a bit of a disappointment because it doesn't give Tony Jaa any skilled opponents to go back and forth with. There are a few good long takes throughout the film, especially one that lasts almost four minutes long.

Overall, many action or Tony Jaa fans will enjoy this piece, but don't expect much of an improvement from "Ong-Bak".

This follow up to "Ong-Bak" has the same creative team of Prachya Pinkaew, Panna Rittikrai, and star Tony Jaa. This time they have surpassed the incredible stunts and jaw-dropping action of "Ong-Bak". Simply put, "Tom Yum Goong" is a stunt extravaganza!

The plot is a simple one as Kham (Tony Jaa) goes to Sydney, Austrailia in search of his family's stolen prized elephants. Most would consider the plot weak, but it works for me, quite possibly because the mystique of being descended from a line of elephant warrior protectors is revealed and becomes a recurring theme later in the film.

Jing Xing's portrayal of Madame Rose, the gangster force behind Kham's troubles, was very good. Though most of the character developement in this film suffered to present some amazing action sequences, I did honestly enjoy what was there.

The fight scene in the church with the capoeira fighter was magnificent. The fight in the restaurant as Kham went up the winding levels was outstanding. The grand finale against Rose and her henchmen culminated into one of the best action films of the decade! A must-have for all action lovers!

Not here, though. Tony Jaa does not simply "kick butt," his character relentlessly but efficiently breaks arms, wrists, legs, and necks in some of the most intense action sequences ever put onto film.

In a follow-up to the hit "Ong-Bak", he plays a young man named Cam who is descended from a long line of warriors dedicated to guarding the King's elephants in battle.

One day during a festival where his father goes to present their treasured elephant as a gift to the King, gangsters suddenly steal it as well as the cute baby elephant. These gangsters are tied to an organized crime family headed by Madam Rose in Sydney, Australia, and they have truly nefarious motives for trafficking in rare and endangered animals.

This sets in motion Cam's journey to Australia, where despite not able being to speak a word of English, he conveniently runs into and is befriended by some expatriate Thais, including Police Sgt. Mark, a buffoonish character played by the same guy who acted the "Hum Lae" role in "Ong-Bak".

As later explained in the film, there is a special bond between Thais and their elephants--the noble animals are especially like family to those descended from elephant warrior guardians--so whoever dares to harm or endanger elephants better be prepared to face some "ass whoopin'".

Thus Cam takes down all sorts of fighters, including three beefy wrestlers and Madam Rose and her deadly whip. The DVD sleeve proudly proclaims no wires or CGI were involved, so the various stunts are truly impressive.

Watch Cam intimidate a lowly thug by running up a light pole and kicking out the street lamp. Re-wind it a few times just to stare at Tony Jaa's incredible athleticism. There are various moments of humor, too, mainly from Sgt. Mark. Look also for the cameo of Jackie Chan.

Overall, this is highly recommended if you like no-frills, almost non-stop action.

Jaa plays Kham, a young Thailand native and caretaker of elephants who goes to Australia in search of his two elephants that were kidnapped by a crime organization led by an evil sinister named Madame (Xin Jing). He's forced to use his martial arts skills to take out thugs and corrupt cops with the help of Mark (Petchtai Wongkamlao- ONG-BAK), a righteous cop who happens to have more trouble in his hands when a corrupt Australian cop frames him for murder.

Upon Kham's (Jaa) arrival in Australia's Thai town, Sidney, his search leads him to the organization's headquarters where Madam has her operations in the 'Tom Yum Goong' Thai restaurant. He fights his way through a long line of thugs with close-range attacks and arm-bending takedowns while throwing them through balconys, tables, flower vases and other equipment before facing off against Johnny (played by stuntman and Wu Shu martial artist Johnny Tri Ngyuen) in a one-on-one martial arts brawl. Mark and Kham find themselves working together after a senior policeman, linked to the organization, frames him for the murder of another corrupt policeman and a business executive.

Like ONG-BAK, this movie has a simple plot which was made to allow room for non-stop fights. This time, instead of traveling to recover a stolen statue, Jaa sets out to recover his two pet elephants. As a result, director Panna Rittikrai and Jaa determined to overwork the action sequences to please their fans the way Jackie Chan puts his life on the line for his.

Speaking of Jackie Chan, there's one sequence, set in a wherehouse, that comes close to CITY HUNTER and RUMBLE IN THE BRONX where Jaa encounters a gang, equipped with BMX Bikes, Rollerblades, 4-wheelers and foes who wield florescent bulbs at him. This allows Jaa to showcase his stunts, martial arts and acrobatics on furnature, cars, fences and other equipment that will appeal to Chan movie lovers.

Pinkaew also salutes Jackie Chan in a scene where Jaa arrives at the airport and accidentally bumps into a man who turns out to be a direct look-a-like of Chan that will have you thinking twice.

The film is packed with loads of spectacular fights to check out. One fight concerns Jaa being challenged by three skilled fighters in a burning Buddhist temple, flooded with water. The first one is played by Zero Gravity Stunt Team Member and gymnast Lateef Crowder, who puts on an incredible display of Capoeiria. His second foe is played by Jackie Chan Stunt Team member Jonathan Foo, who engages in Wu Shu kung-fu and uses traditional swordsmanship. Jaa's third challenger is played by Australian wrestler Nathan Jones, who out matches Jaa by size, weight and strength. Jones is probably best remembered as the wrestler who fought Jet Li in FEARLESS, he battled Brad Pitt in TROY and even wrestled in the WWE years earlier for a short time. Jones delivers a variety of wrestling moves and leaves the battle unresolved, at least until the finale.

Some of the most notable fights take place in a five-story circular room where Jaa battles countless bad guys from the bottom floor to the top, and the finale where he uses freestyle martial arts against 50 henchmen with some bone-crushing grappling moves, close-range takedowns and a variety of combination attacks.

Some mixed events fall in place during the film as Mark and Kham hide out from the police while Kham continues his one-man martial arts attack on the operators of Tom Yum Goong. Madame takes over the family business by killing off the owners. Kham comfronts her and her army of henchmen as they go out to do battle while Mark goes out to rescue his kidnapped sister who's also a victim of Madam's evil doings.

The overall rating of THE PROTECTOR was a downfall because of the solid story but thankfully, it can be overlooked with the trademark tools of Jaa, fight choreographer Panna Rittikarai and director Prachya Pinkaew who help put the film in the shape of a cutting-edge martial arts piece that can be appreciated without being framed as a bad National Geographic nature program on elephants.

It was good to see ONG-BAK co-star Petchtai Wongkamlao, remembered as the humorous con artist, re-team with Jaa and make people laugh with his comedic humor and jokes. Johnny Tri Ngyuen delivered some of his martial arts skills against Jaa but it should have been a longer fight. He deserved more screen time and his supporting role revealed him as a talented actor that will hopefully give him bigger roles in future projects.

Hopefully, Jaa's next movie will improve on some of the flaws that THE PROTECTOR suffered from and his proteges will create better character development for his acting and a creative plot to go along with it so he won't be looked at as only a martial artist. The results of his screen fighting expertise can possibly put him in the category with his heroes Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li as America's next action star.

The good news about this film is that distributor 'Dragon Dynasty' gave it the ultimate treatment on DVD and included the original uncut TOM YUM GOONG version to unravel all the missing material not shown in the American version along with it's original dialogue that will definitely please the fans (familiar with the original).

His journey takes him all the way to Sydney, Australia. Along the way he finds help from several people including a police officer (George in Ong Bok)and a Thai woman who has been forced into prostitution.

I cannot rate this film less than a 10! I had the same response to Ong Bok but for different reasons. Anyone who thinks Tony Jaa can't act needs to see this movie! You can see some changes since Ong Bok. Tony is more relaxed and confident and always willing to not only push the envelope but to blow it wide open! You will not believe the near super - human feats without seeing them for yourselves!

In looking for his elephants he is not looking for just a couple of animals - but as his brothers, part of his family. No matter how injured or exhausted he will stop at nothing to reunite with his family. In doing so he becomes involved with a triad and a very dangerous woman from that triad family.

This film is passionately filmed. Not since Emerald Forest has there been such sheer natural beauty that draws you into the film.If possible, Tony is even more creative and slightly crazed in his fighting moves! It is a necessary difference however because it is his family, his brothers that have been stolen away. The only word to express his fighting is - enraged! After what happens to his family he is completely justifed in using the most brutal moves of Muay Thai! And the audience will cheer him on!

This movie, when compared with Ong Bok has a much higher production quality because of Ong Bok's universal appeal and success. Viewers must see the "Making of" on the second disc to see how they manage not to kill each other or themselves. You will want to watch this one over and over again!

Tom Yum Goong definitely has some of the best actions scenes known to man. Many of you probably heard of the fight scene where Tony Jaa climbs the stairs of the Tom Yum Goong restaurant, taking on many men for four minutes, all in one take, where one camera follows him the entire time. He takes on an entire X-Games gang, using somersaults and high flips and it's probably the most acrobatic fight ever. Inside of a temple set on fire and flooded with water, takes on a capoeria fighter (probably one of the best one-on-one fights of all time), then taking on an acrobatic wushu sword fighter, and a big, hulky pro wrestler. He takes on a gang of 50 men all in black suits, breaking their bones, and then proceeding to fight the lethal Madame Rose and four hulky pro-wrestlers using elephant bones.

On top of that, this movie is beautifully scored. Every action scene has music that gets your adreneline pumping, and none of it is overdone. This is a far improvement from the repetitive Thai techno track in Ong-Bak that never really helped with the mood of the film.

The action is great, but certain parts of the film need a tune-up. I'll accept a plot about a man looking for his stolen elephants, but certain parts of the movie are just a bit weird. In Sydney, there just happens to a be a Thai female reporter who speeks broken English and can't pronounce her l's. There happens to be various Australian protestors that take interest in the smuggling of Thai elephants to Australia.

Although the action scenes are great, they are all something that wouldn't happen in real life. With the exception of the historical one-take fight scene, it appears that everyone shows up at the right time to get their asses kicked by Tony Jaa. Everyone Tony fights against is pretty much there to show off their skills and see how well they do against him, rather than do their job, and everyone is a victim of Kham's rage, and nobody has the nerve to silence it with a gun. The gang he probably shows the most mercy to is the probably the X-Games gang. Everybody else is unfortunate.

And as for Petchthai Wongkamlao's character, Mark, he would have thrown off of the police force immediately for some of the things he did. And on top of all of that, his English is very horrible. This is very frustrating because [the version I saw had no] English subtitles translating what he's saying.

Well, we don't watch the film for illogistics or anything story-based. Subtitles are not necessary, but are a good bonus... But 30% of the dialouge (at least what dialouge is there in it) is in English anyways. And it's easy to tell what's going on. Besides, there isn't much to translate with Tony Jaa screaming "Where are my elephants" half the time.

Plotwise, TOM YUM GOONG is the same movie as ONG BAK, only Tony's character is named Kham, the ONG BAK buddha's head is replaced with two elephants from Kham's village, the movie takes place in Sydney, Australia instead of Bankok, and a handful of the dialouge is in English. They've even brought Tony ONG BAK co-star Petchtai Wongkamlao in as a Sydney cop.

Okay, so that's the plot. Nothing GONE WITH THE WIND-ish. But the film certainly doesn't lack in action. There are a number of great fights in TOM YUM GOONG. The first, when Kham storms into a local poacher station demanding to know where his elephants have been taken. The warehouse fight, featuring Tony jumping into (and kicking his pursuers out of) subway cars, executing backflips and sumersaults to evade his dirt bike ridin' enemys.

The next action scene may be one of the best ones. It is a continuous single shot of Tony climbing up a circular staircase and crushing succesive waves of evildoers to get to the top. This GAME OF DEATH style-battle is immediately followed by a resturant brawl with of the bad guys Wushu-trained henchmen.

Then Tony takes on a Capoeira expert in the sahllow pool inside a Buddhist temple. The is arguably the best one-on-one match Tony has put out. He soon after faces a hulking henchmen named T.K., played by pro-wrestler Nathan Jones, who ultimately defeats Tony.

Finally, we come to the big showdown. As is typical of these movies, the main showdown is preceded with a prelimenary showdown in which the villian (or in this case, villainess) sends out God know's how many henchmen to stop the hero, to no avail. This scene, clearly inspired by Bruce Lee's classic cave sequence in ENTER THE DRAGON, has Tony crippling what must be at least three dozen guys with a combination of throws, bone-cracking joint locks, and high, aerial spinning kicks. After finishing with them, Tony faces his big rematch with T.K.

Bottom line: TOM YUM GOONG is Tony Jaa signing in blood that he is ready to be Jet Li's successor. If anyone felt that Tony would not be able to live up to his own standards after ONG BAK, TOM YUM GOONG will put all that to rest.

Tony Jaa totally kicks ass and if you only have room for only one action movie this season make sure you pick this up. It's definitely worth the price. Get it before the "AXE" brothers prevent you from doing so.

NOTE: There is a piss-poor bootleg DVD of this film floating around that seems to have been sourced from the VCD. DON"T BUY BOOTLEG DVDs! Save your money and buy the VCD from here. It's a killer deal.