Weird and not quite wonderful!

I rented it because it 'introduces' Tony Jaa as an actor, and he is amazing... anyway, it's one of the strangest martial arts films I've ever seen (and I've seen very many!)... that said, although I agree that Jaa's not in it that much, when he is he's great to watch (as ever), and anyway there're plenty good fight sequences whih make it well worth a look.

But while this movie's pretty cool in terms of martial arts choreography and bizarre-ness, it displays a peculiarly horrifying mix of racial and gender stereotypes alongside some seemingly far less offensive images! I guess it's a case of trying to get away with stereotypes simply by also having non (or at least less, or less negatively)-stereotypical characters?

Interesting, as an example, is that it has a female Japanese character who's great at fighting... until the final scene. Then she's a bit less good, and conveniently saved by a man who's handily suddenly better at fighting than she is. *rolls eyes* It's also very weird - and confusing, tbh - that while there are groups of characters from at least three different countries and ethnic groups, everyone's played by a Thai as far as I can tell!

Anyway, the most disturbing thing about the film is the character named 'Mute', who is - you guessed it - unable to speak (although not actually mute, somewhat bewilderingly, since he makes quite a lot of noises). Anyone out there writing on terrible representations of the 'disabled'? This is a film you have to see!!!