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Reviews
Ong-Bak (2003)
Tony Jaa is awesome
I just saw a sneak preview of Ong-Bak. The movie is great, as others have said here.
After the film, Tony Jaa appeared in person. He's every bit as cool (and even more sexy) in real life as he is in the film.
A couple highlights: He performed some amazing stunts onstage. He kicked a bag of popcorn that was held about 10 feet in the air, out of the hands of a guy who was standing on the shoulders of two other guys.
During Question&Answer, he came across as very humble, sweet and sincere.
Q: "What surprised you most when you saw the finished movie?" A: "How well the audience reacts when they see it."
Q: "If you and Jackie Chan were to get into a fight, who would win?" A: "Jackie Chan is my hero, so I wouldn't want to fight him."
Q: "Can I have a hug?" (from a female audience member) A: (stretches out his arms and smiles)
What I hope some bright Hollywood exec doesn't miss is the positive audience reaction of a star who Doesn't rely on special effects (hey, we can make a successful action flick that doesn't cost $150 million to produce) and the natural marketing potential of a martial arts form that has a competitive sport associated with it, ie marketing opportunities at Thai kickboxing events, studios, co-stars from the world of pro Thai kickboxing.
This is a great flick that you don't want to miss.
Independent Lens: Imelda (2003)
There's a little Imelda in all of us
Why Imelda Marcos would allow filmmaker Ramona Diaz to get as close to her for as long as she does is anyone's guess, but this is documentary film at its best. At 70, Imelda is every bit the royal: charming, poised, beautiful, grand. "Imelda" is an excellent character study in power, greed and delusion.
Some of my favorite moments in the film:
* Anytime Imelda opens her mouth, especially when she espouses her views on beauty, truth and love: give people enough rope and they hang themselves.
* George Hamilton serenading Imelda aboard her yacht: "I can't give you anything but love, Imelda."
* Female security guard at the Imelda Marcos Shoe Museum who whispers to the camera that she sometimes sneaks in and tries some of them on.
* Imelda dancing with Henry Kissinger
* Imelda's description of the assassination attempt against her, "And he used such an ugly instrument. At least he could have tied a little bow on it or something."
* Comments from opposition are sometimes deadly accurate: "She built so many public works, she had an edifice complex."
This movie is available on DVD. Hard to find, but more people should see it. What it provides that I have never seen before is a closeup of one of the world's most notorious she-villains and the global power circles where she once strode.
... in fabulous pumps.