Stuntmen detail howOng Bak 2: The Beginningpays homage toDrunken Master II. A direct sequel to 1978’sDrunken Master, the 1994 Kung fu comedyfilm follows Jackie Chanas a mischievous, yet righteous man who is a master of drunken martial arts.Ong Bak 2, on the other hand, is the 2008 prequel to 2003’sOng-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior, starring Tony Jaa as a man who masters martial arts, transforms into a deadly warrior, and embarks on a mission to avenge his parents' death in 15th century Thailand.
On the latest episode ofCorridor Crew’s “Stuntmen React” series, Niko Pueringer was joined by stunt performers Gui DaSilva-Greene and Anis Cheurfa to break down action scenes in movies, including howOng Bak 2: The Beginningpays homage toDrunken Master II. The stuntmen and host compared Jackie Chan and Tony Jaa’s forms of drunken fighting in two scenes and detailed how theOng Bakprequel pays homage to theDrunken Mastersequel, while also sharing which they ultimately prefer. Read a portion of their comments or watch the full video below (the relevant section beginning at 8:04):
Gui DaSilva-Greene: That was a wire gag. Jackie was really good at that he would use wires just to just to add a little just a little pop not trying to floats you up yeah and then surrounds it with a bunch of real stuff it’s just like when you guys would do with like visual effects and like practical Effects by having the real grounded stuff around the one thing that might not be really there it allows the imagination to really seep in.
His style of drunken is so different in the fact that Jackie is like fumbling but keeps his balance then finding it, whereas Tony, he’ll lay on the floor. He’s rolling around. He’s a hot mess.
Niko Pueringer: So compared to the Drunken Master, bone breaking and joint dislocation eyes when it stops being funny. There’s like also just a rhythm to the editing and the cinematography like it punches in for the impacts, the editing style and the filming style too, like the high shutter speed, that gets rid of the motion blur, makes things feel more like you’re like pumped up on adrenaline and fighting for your life, whereas Jackie Chan, it’s got the smooth filmic, it’s not a tripod, it’s like it’s a theater play. Jackie Chan still shows impacts and they’re hard impacts and the guys still sell them just as hard as Tony Jaa’s team. And also Jackie Chan is trying to get drunk and they’re trying to stop him, whereas Tony Jaa is just drunk and he’s angry.
What The Stuntmen’s Comments Mean For Ong Bak 2 & Drunken Master II
Their Forms Of Drunken Fighting Are Different
The stunt performers compare the two scenesinOng Bak 2: The BeginningandDrunken Master IIas examples of drunken fighting, a general term for various styles of Chinese martial arts that are meant to mimic the movements of an intoxicated person. The ancient practice originates primarily in Buddhist and Daoist religious traditions, and incorporates striking, grappling, joint locks, dodging, feints, as well as ground and aerial combat techniques. BothOng Bak 2: The BeginningandDrunken Master IIcontain examples of drunken fighting, thoughthey are very different in execution and tone.
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Drunken Master IIis mostly a comedyand its fight scenes have a smoother, more theatrical style. Though there are still plenty of hard-hitting impacts, they have a more playful and staged feel, like a performance. InOng Bak 2, the bone-breaking violence and intense cinematography, amplified by the high shutter speed and lack of motion blur, create a feeling of raw adrenaline and survival. Additionally, while Jackie Chan’s character tries to get drunk as part of the fight, Tony Jaa’s character is already drunk and fighting out of anger.
Our Take On Ong Bak 2 Vs. Drunken Master II
Which Is Better?
Drunken Master II, with its highly entertaining fight scenes, is considered the more classic martial arts film, indicated by its 84% and 88% Rotten Tomatoes scores from critics and audiences.Ong Bak 2, on the other hand, pales in comparison to its predecessor and is hindered by Tony Jaa’s somewhat clumsy direction, indicated by its 49% and 53% Rotten Tomatoes scores, though it still delivers all the over-the-top violence that audiences expect.Ong Bak 2: The BeginningandDrunken Master IIfeature two different types of violence, andit all comes down to which audiences prefer.
Ong Bak 2: The Beginning
Cast
Ong Bak 2: The Beginning is a martial arts film set in ancient Thailand, following the story of Tien, a young man trained in various fighting skills seeking revenge against those who wronged him. As he grows, Tien becomes a master warrior, confronting his foes and navigating a treacherous world of betrayal and honor. The film features Tony Jaa in the lead role, showcasing his exceptional martial arts talent.
Drunken Master II
Drunken Master II is a martial arts film directed by Lau Kar-leung and starring Jackie Chan as Wong Fei-hung. Set in early 20th century China, the story follows Wong Fei-hung as he employs his unique style of drunken boxing to combat corrupt officials and foreign agents smuggling valuable artifacts. The film is renowned for its intricate choreography and traditional kung fu elements.
