Reviews: Spirited Killer
and Xiaolin Showdown
Reviews: Spirited Killer
|
Starring: Panna Rittikrai, Tony Jaa Directors: Panna Rittikrai, Towatchai Ladloy DVD Bonus Material: six featurettes Tony Jaa has shaken up the martial arts movie industry. In 2003’s Ong-Bak, the action phenom glamorized muay Thai on-screen and unleashed unbelievably real stunts that hadn’t been seen since Jackie Chan did them in the 1980s. He upped the ante in 2005 with Tom Yum Goong, released stateside a year later as The Protector. It featured more dangerous stunts, bigger fights and a rogue’s gallery culled from the globe’s best up-and-coming stunt actors, including former U.S. wushu team member Johnny Tri Nguyen. Now, with fans calling Jaa the heir apparent to Chan, Jet Li and Bruce Lee, distribution company BCI has decided to repackage a 1994 Thai movie as Spirited Killer and give Jaa co-star billing on the DVD cover. The problem is that it’s not a Tony Jaa movie. He does appear in it, but it’s not his movie—unless you consider a six-minute role a co-starring turn. Known as Plook Mun Kuen Ma Kah 4 in Thailand, Spirited Killer can be enjoyed as a “good” bad action movie as long as you know what you’re getting: very little Jaa action, horrible writing, pitiful acting, Mystery Science Theater 3000-style dubbing and regurgitated battles. Jaa doesn’t appear in the movie until the 40-minute mark, and only then as part of a team of relic hunters who are ambushed by a coldblooded killer controlled by a voodoo doctor. This spirited killer (played by Panna Rittikrai, the co-director and Jaa’s stunt mentor) wipes out most of the team, then has a fantastic throwdown with Jaa’s character. The brawl shows that Jaa’s unique moves were emerging even 10 years before Ong-Bak. While Rittikrai’s choreography simply replicates Hong Kong action flicks, Jaa takes their fight beyond imitation. He infuses their short battle with a few taekwondo aerials and his own brand of gymnastics—the kind of kinetics not seen in other parts of the film. In the 79 minutes Jaa isn’t in the movie, Rittikrai simply lifts moves from Chan’s intricate street fights, plagiarizes Li’s graceful wushu and even steals Lee’s nunchaku-versus-sword choreography. Rittikrai may be competent, but he’s not particularly original. Sure, he taught Jaa action moviemaking, but 10 years later it’s clear that the student has surpassed the master. Although Spirited Killer’s DVD cover misleadingly gives Jaa co-star billing, don’t write it off just yet. BCI has issued a glossy two-disc set, the first of which contains the feature film, which unfortunately hasn’t been remastered or color corrected. The second, however, contains six featurettes, two of which will please Jaa fans. Your jaw will drop as you watch Tony Takes Manhattan. On the surface, it’s nothing more than a fan’s shaky camcorder footage of Ong-Bak’s New York City premiere, an insider’s glimpse of the event at which Wu-Tang rapper RZA introduces Jaa to the audience after the screening. Jaa then blows everyone away by demonstrating his high-flying kicks, amazing stunt work and nearly full-contact fight choreography before the bulging eyes and roaring cheers of the assembled. After watching this footage, you’ll never again suspect Jaa of using wires to get the job done. Another behind-the-scenes featurette, Tony Jaa: Thailand’s Favorite Son, contains higher-quality digital footage of Jaa at some sort of religious ceremony. Or is it a movie premiere? Maybe a charity event? No viewer can truly know unless he understands Thai because this documentary contains no introductions or subtitles to explain why Jaa is praying with monks, signing autographs and riding an elephant while fans and the press take photos. Still, it’s fascinating to see him treated like royalty in his homeland. Ultimately, if you’re expecting Spirited Killer to be another Ong-Bak, you’ll have better luck surviving one of Jaa’s flying knees. But if you’re a Jaa fanatic out to complete your DVD library, this two-disc set is an affordable addition at $14.98.
Publisher: Konami Digital Entertainment Platform: Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox Rating: Everyone Heads up, junior black belts. Your favorite kung fu cartoon goes digital with the release of Xiaolin Showdown for multiple game consoles. Like the WB series, Xiaolin Showdown focuses on Omi, a Shaolin monk-in-training, and his multicultural friends as they travel the world to find and protect supernatural artifacts. While the game play is unsophisticated and mimics Super Smash Bros., the graphics are inspired by the cartoon’s colorful, anime-infused style. The game also retains the series’ trademark showdowns, allowing users to battle bosses in arena-style combat. Xiaolin Showdown is the kind of game that will captivate kids but only marginally entertain the parents. It costs $29.99. About the author: Patrick Vuong is a journalist, screenwriter and martial artist based in Orange County, California. |
