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The Protector (2006)
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Reviews Counted:92
Fresh:50
Rotten:42
Average Rating:5.5/10
Consensus: Despite some impressive fight scenes, this trimmed-down version of the Thai action pic is an off-putting mix of scant plot, choppy editing, and confusing subtitles and dubbing.
Rated: R [See Full Rating] for pervasive strong violence and some sexual content
Runtime: 3 hrs 6 mins
Genre: Foreign Films
Theatrical Release:Sep 8, 2006 Wide
Box Office: $11,905,519
Synopsis: THE PROTECTOR is the highly anticipated full bodied action film starring International Martial Arts superstar, Tony Jaa (Ong Bak). His world shaped by ancient traditions, a young Thai fighter... THE PROTECTOR is the highly anticipated full bodied action film starring International Martial Arts superstar, Tony Jaa (Ong Bak). His world shaped by ancient traditions, a young Thai fighter (Jaa) is called to defend his people and their honor after outsiders ruin all that is sacred. Fueled by desire to protect a way of life and avenge the wrong done to his family, he will bring the fight to their city. [More]
Starring: Tony Jaa, Petchthai Wongkamlao
Starring: Tony Jaa, Petchthai Wongkamlao
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Studio: Weinstein Company
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Reviews for The Protector
In the realm of fresh martial arts movie stars, no one holds a candle to Tony Jaa.
You have to wonder why they even bothered with the subtitles. It's not like they make much difference.
Bone-crunching action triumphs over story and, uh, character development.
a no-brainer, but also an extravaganza of inventive, visually stunning brutality (by the trunkload).
If you like you martial arts action tough, gritty and fast, Tony Jaa is your artist, as he proved on his debut with Ong Bak (2003). This is Muay Thai, a form of aggressive martial arts that makes the others look tame.
If a video game allowed you to do what Tony Jaa does, it would be the bestselling video game in history.
It's tremendously refreshing to see a film that relies solely on the choreography of its athletic star to make the action work.
Resurrects the bad acting and absurd plotting of old-fashioned kung fu movies, as well as their exhilarating stunts and action choreography.
Exactly like an elephant, mostly slow and lumbering -- but with great menacing charges of excitement.
The Protector's plot is as sturdy as a piece of balsa wood, which wouldn't have mattered so much if the film had showcased Jaa's talents better.
It plays like a bad B-movie where we suddenly leave an ongoing conversation to join a fight in progress.
Jaa's ingratiatingly ridiculous Protector delivers a steady stream of cheap B-movie thrills, plus two positive messages for young people: Be nice to animals, and when in doubt, always aim for the tendons.
By the end you're so invigorated that narrative issues seem like an afterthought.
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