New Thai Creative Dragons
Tony Jaa and Jeeja Yanin
Ong-Bak (2003) and Chocolate (2008)
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew, Ong Bak and Chocolate represent a new breed of martial arts films, in the continuing tradition of Bruce Lee, for techniques extraordinary. Cinematically, Tony Jaa is something new, dynamic, and
original because he uses Thai boxing instead of Kung Fu. Tony Jaa has learned his craft well, for he has studied his Bruce Lee, his Jackie Chan, and his Jet Li. In Tom yum goong, Tony Jaa bumps into Jackie Chan in the Hong Kong airport which symbolizes a passing of the flame that Jackie received from working the Bruce in Fist of Fury and Enter the Dragon. In the scene, he just got off of an escalator going up.
In Chocolate, Jeeja Yanin plays an autistic child who grows up learning martial arts by watching kung fu films by Bruce Lee and Tony Jaa.
In one fight scene, she imitates Bruce Lee’s famous yells and facial gestures, rubbing her nose in an ice factory, trying to collect money owed for her mother who is sick and needs money for an operation. This becomes a homage to the Bruce Lee film, The Big Boss, which was filmed in Thailand.
The Thai Dragons represent the best of the best with new action films unparallel in fight sequences. Bruce would have appreciated these efforts. Hollywood is now trying to figure out what to do with this new talent.
The Rise of the Muslim Dragons
Puteri Gunung Ledang (Malaysia 2004)
Based on a Malay legend, this big budget film represents a lavish display of Islamic martial arts. Bruce Lee never made his mystical Silent Flute which became Circle of Iron after he died. Indeed, he
originially wanted to film it in India. I think he would have liked this film. I’m sure he was familiar with Islamic martial arts. Thus, this film manages to combine the mystical and the martial in a smart manner, which shows how Sufism, the world of mystical Islam, has parallels to Chinese mystical martial traditions. Unfortunately, this film has not been seen much or valued much in the West. That is too bad because the acting and the cinematography deserve a bigger audience. Perhaps a mystical Muslim warrior does not seem welcomed in these zenophobic times where we equate Islam with terrorism. That is too bad. Find this film if you can! Watch it and enjoy. The Western World is not familiar with Silat, an Islamic martial arts. Open your mind!
Iko Uwais’s Merantau (2009) and The Raid: Redemption (2011)
Though Puteri Gunung Ledang ( 2004) may not be well known, a new Muslim action star has been born from Indonesia and his films have been noticed by Hollywood.
With director Gareth Evans, this a new action, Silat star has come. He is very talented and like Tony Jaa, he is an outstanding stuntman. Iko offers a new vision of what it means to be a martial artist and a movie star. Indeed, he is also working on integrating his work into Hollywood action cinema. It will be interesting to see if his skills are valued in Hollywood.
He carries on the tradtion of a real martial artist who became an action star. He is in the footsteps of Bruce Lee by making some of the best action films now. Of course, these films orginated outside of Hollywood.
Again Asia is making the best action films in the world. Bruce would be proud!