47
Metascore
18 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 80Film ThreatK.J. DoughtonFilm ThreatK.J. DoughtonThe astonishingly gonzoid fight scenes from Ong Bak 2 might be the best ever filmed.
- 75Entertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumEntertainment WeeklyLisa SchwarzbaumJaa, mesmerizing as ever to behold with his pinwheel moves, also (co)directs for the first time.
- 75The A.V. ClubNoel MurrayThe A.V. ClubNoel MurrayWhat sold the original Ong Bak was the action, not the story, and on an action level, Ong Bak 2 lives up to its title.
- A must-see for genre fans. Jaa in action is poetry - even in a disappointing film. Let's just hope he regains his senses for Ong Bak 3.
- 60EmpireEmpireJaa’s period ‘beatquel’ is thick on action but thin on plot. Awesome final fight, though.
- 60Time OutJoshua RothkopfTime OutJoshua RothkopfThe new film sometimes feels too snazzy in its jittery cinematography, but the stunts make it through the budget upgrade intact.
- 50The Hollywood ReporterThe Hollywood ReporterYou are not likely to see a better display of martial arts combat on screen for some time, even if you have to put up with some excruciating contrivances to get to it.
- 40Village VoiceVillage VoiceWhile Jaa clearly hasn't lost any of his stamina in the six years since starring as a different underdog in the original, his first outing as a director is confusing, with distractingly muddy storytelling and wildly varying styles from scene to scene.
- 40Wall Street JournalJoe MorgensternWall Street JournalJoe MorgensternUnfortunately, the movie could use a bit of pachyderm memory, given its habit of flashing back to Tien's childhood with exactly the same footage used in previous flashbacks. Instead of the narrative being deepened, it keeps getting shallowed.
- 40Los Angeles TimesKenneth TuranLos Angeles TimesKenneth TuranElephants aside, the plot of this Ong Bak is rudimentary at best.