Tom Yum Goong 2 (Review)
Tom Yum Goong 2
aka ต้มยำกุ้ง 2 aka The Protector 2
2013
Written by Eakisit Thairaat
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
An elephant gets stolen again, causing Tony Jaa to kick lots of people again. This time, the stunts are bigger and 3D driven, but also more CGI enhanced and less realistic, which is a shame. There is no long tracking shot like in Tom Yum Goong, and the more memorable fights are remembered because of their gimmicks, not because of their awesomeness. But that sounds like I’m bagging on Tom Yum Goong 2 a bit hard, it was still some good fun, even if it can’t live up to it’s predecessor. And let’s face it, there aren’t many martial arts films that can.
Tom Yum Goong 2 went into production in August 2011. It was delayed by horrible Thailand floods, Tony Jaa doing weird things, production infighting, Jeeja’s unplanned pregnancy, and a bunch of other problems too boring to reiterate. It’s more of a minor miracle the film was completed at all, and isn’t terrible. But the money and the problems changed a few things for the worse, and didn’t give anything in return.
The fights are now 3D, so there is less continual choreography and long shots and more 3D-ish effects, which sort of makes them worse. The made-for-3Dness makes the CGI additions a lot more noticeable, especially when you aren’t watching in 3D. But even if I was, there wasn’t that much going on that made me wish I was watching in 3D. 3D doesn’t make the kicks any harder, nor does it make the tracking shots suddenly several minutes long. All we get is a few random CGI items floating across the screen. The most creative shots they didn’t even use outside of one part, which was a POV facecam as Kham was running from a bunch of goons.
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Categories: Bad, Movie Reviews Tags: Jeeja Vismistananda, Jeeja Yanin, Marrese Crump, martial arts, Petchtai Wongkamlao, RZA, Thailand, Tom-Yum-Goong 2, Tony Jaa, Yayaying Rhatha Phongam
Jeeja Yanin update – Tom-Yum-Goong 2, Chocolate 2, The Kick, Jakkalan
Some news concerning “Jeeja” Yanin Vismitananda that may be of interest:
The biggest news currently is Jeeja costarring with Tony Jaa in Tom-Yum-Goong 2, which will be in 3D. All the familiar faces were at the news conference, director Prachya Pinkaew, action choreographer Panna Rittikrai, costar Petthai “Mum Jokmok” Wongkumlao, and studio executive Somsak “Sia Jiang” Techaratanaprasert,
Jeeja will also be headlining a 3D sequel to Chocolate Hiroshi Abe will also be returning, and it will be directed again by Prachya Pinkaew, who seems to be directing everything ever.
As proof of that, Pinkaew is also directing The Kick, a coproduction of Thailand and South Korea that features Jeeja in a supporting role to Mum Jokmok in a plot involving theft of ancient daggers. The Korean company CJ Entertainment is proclaiming it the first Korean martial arts film and first taekwando film, which as anyone who collects Korean martial arts films can tell you is complete bunk.
Here is a behind the scenes video:
And finally, here’s a trailer for the bicycle messenger comedy Jakkalan, which hit theaters in Thailand April 28th. It’s directed by and costars Mum Jokmok, who was in the first Tom-Yum-Goong
Some posters:
I had meant to get these films up on individual entries, but kept putting it off and off so now we get a giant post. And, yes, these films will get the full review treatment once they start showing up in a format I can see them.
Categories: Movie News Tags: Chocolate 2, Jakkalan, Jeeja Vismistananda, Mum Jokmok, Panna Rittikrai, Prachya Pinkaew, Sia Jiang, Tom-Yum-Goong 2, Tony Jaa
More Fighting Women from Thailand
There are several female-centric action vehicles coming out of Thailand in 2010. As TarsTarkas.NET is a big fan of female action films, this news made our day.
We got Ta Bang Marn, the next project from Ong Bak director Prachya Pinkaew. Ta Bang Marn is in production now and is slated for a 2010 release.
The new epic martial arts action adventure set in a land long forgotten in the Southeast Asian history. Prachya Pinkaew is back to direct his most ambitious project to date about a group of village girls who team up to protect the “special child” that will change the destiny of the region against all harm.
In addition to Ta Bang Marn, Prachya Pinkaew has another upcoming project with Jija Yanin, star of Chocolate and Raging Phoenix, and American Marrese Crump. There is currently no title. This one is slated to begin filming in 2010.
American martial artist Marrese Crump has been confirmed to be in talks with action director Prachya Pinkaew to star in his next film. The news was announced through a video that was released on YouTube outlining not only Crump as starring, but Yanin ‘Jeeja’ Vismitananda as well.
We recently got a hold of Raging Phoenix and have put it in line to get watched and reviewed, so hopefully things will go quickly on that end. But life has a way of slowing things down.
Categories: Movie News Tags: Jeeja Vismistanada, Jeeja Vismistananda, Jija Yanin, Prachya Pinkaew, Raging Phoenix, Ta Bang Marn
Review of Raging Phoenix at WiseKwai
Wise Kwai’s Thai Film Journal has a review up of Jeeja Yanin Wismistananda’s new film Raging Phoenix (Jija Deu Suay Du). Jeeja is also going by “Jija” Wismistananda, which is like the fifth name for her so far. The review isn’t that positive, and is more disappointed at the wasted potential.
Official Website
Categories: Movie News Tags: Jeeja Vismistanada, Jeeja Vismistananda, Jija Yanin, Raging Phoenix
Jeeja Vismistananda gets new look
Yanin “Jeeja” Vismistananda, star of the Thai girl fighter film Chocolate, debuts her new hairstyle for her 2nd film, an action/romantic comedy entitled Deu, Suay, Doo (Stubborn, Pretty, and Fierce)
Directed by Rachen Limtrakool and costarring Kazu Patrick Tang as the love interest. It will be interesting to see Jeeja do some real acting!
Wise Kwai put up the first notice
mthai.com has pics
Categories: Movie News Tags: Chocolate, Jeeja Vismistananda, Stubborn Pretty and Fierce
