Who doesn’t like action movies? Keeping us thrilled and making us wonder when someone will throw up a powerful punch or when will the hero finally get back to his feet and beat up the bad guy. These type of movies races our heart-beat. And when it comes to Thai films, there's always the martial arts move that keep our adrenaline high. So here are some of the best action scenes from the Thai cinema.
1. Ong Bak: The Thai Warrior
You probably saw this coming. Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior is primarily considered a watershed moment in the Muay Thai fighting technique. The film's death-defying set pieces captivate audiences despite the absence of wires, CGI, and stunt doubles for Tony Jaa and the ensemble. A classic motorbike sequence performed by Jaa in The Protector is shown in an early form here, and the Fight Club fight between Jaa and his rivals is thrilling.
2. Khunphaen Begins
This 2019 reimagining, based on the epic poem Khun Chang Khun Phaen, tells the narrative of Khun Phaen, who is conscripted in the army to preserve the country. Unlike earlier interpretations of this classic folktale, this contemporary rendition features eye-popping visual effects that add to the wow factor.
3. Raging Phoenix
This movie is something you shouldn’t miss for its unusual drunken combat style, which features a variety of complex and hard-hitting maneuvers unleashed by the heroes against their opponents. Don't miss the unforgettable last sequence, in which Yanin battles the wicked transsexual Jaguar London, played by Asia-Pacific Women's Bodybuilding Champion Roongtawan Jindasing.
4. Fireball
Basketball and martial arts collide to create an action-packed spectacle for fans. The plot focuses around Tai (Preeti Barameeanat), who finds his twin brother Tan, is in coma and wants vengeance. This introduces him to the underworld of gangs and Fireball, a violent game that needs a combination of basketball and Muay Thai combat to win. Killing an opponent is permissible as long as it is done on the court.
5. Necromancer 2020
A black magic survivor is on a journey to revenge his family's sad deaths in modern Thailand, where magic is allegedly a thing of the past. He, on the other hand, becomes engrossed in the terrible realm of the black arts as he exacts his retribution.
6. Ong Bak 2
Tony Jaa, widely regarded as the best Muay Thai artist of his time, reprises his role as the son of slain nobility in this 15th-century sequel. He is taught as a formidable warrior after surviving a beating in a crocodile pit in order to later exact revenge on his foes.
The Muay Thai action that Jaa is famed for is numerous, and you can see Jaa employing a range of weapons such as swords and staffs. He also tosses in some Kung Fu skills as a bonus, and the battle scene atop an elephant is pretty interesting.
7. Power Kids
This film follows a gang of young people — Wuth, Pong, Catt, and Jib – who are tasked with dealing with armed terrorists who take over a hospital. What makes the hospital unique is that it is home to the donor organ, which has the potential to save the life of Wun, Wuth's younger brother.
Watch the kids annihilate their foes with high jumps and flying knees, and don't blink during the final confrontation with the terrorists' commander, played by none other than famous Vietnamese action actor and Hollywood stuntman Johnny Nguyen.
8. Chocolate
Chocolate has been awarded an Asian award by the Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival and offers an exceptional lady the top prize. In this film, Thai actress and martial artist, Jeeja Yanin shines at an autistic youngster named Zens, who compulsively watches the enthusiasm for martial arts as she indulges in chocolate dumbbells in it. As she lives in a combat school, her expertise can be sharpened, and when it comes time to collect debts, Zen's talents are being put to good use, thanks to some criminals.
9. The Protector
Tony Jaa plays Kham, a young guy who has pet elephants that he considers his family members. Unfortunately, the animals have been abducted and taken to Sydney, leaving Kham with the chore of hunting them down and securely returning them. As Mark (Petchtai Wangkamlao), his friend helping him, he must face off against a slew of opponents.
There's a must-see motorbike stunt among the numerous rapid and tense combat moments in which Yaa's reaction comes from above topple his adversary. There is also Jaa's more than human-like force that leads him from a neighboring building to a helicopter; something quite inconceivable to achieve and only Jaa can draw anything out of it with remarkable quickness and speed.
10. Ong Bak 3
In the sequel trilogy of the popular series, actor Tony Jaa continues to astound audiences with his world-renowned talents. Tien (Jaa) is saved and nursed back to health in Khan Khone village after nearly being beaten to death by the soldiers of his nemesis, Lord Rajasena (Sarunyo Wongkrachang). Tien being taught how to cope with his karma and unlearn everything to learn anew, while he undergoes a spiritual metamorphosis into a Buddhist monk.
