Writer: Casey Lee

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Watch this if you liked: “Tom Yum Goong” and "Ong Bak".

This sequel follows the events five years after "Tom Yum Goong" and opens with a montage of a divided fictional nation about to have a hard won peace talk in Bangkok. Meanwhile, in a backwater village somewhere in Thailand, last protector Kham is seen teaching children the style of elephant boxing; contend to live a quiet but unwanted existence with his pet brother elephant, Kohrn, until an elephant poacher steals Kohrn right under him.

It seems that eight years is long enough for director Prachya Pinkaew to try again with his formula for success. The plot summary alone should more than sufficient to get you up to speed on what to expect. Anyone who has seen "Tom Yum Goong" should know the drill. There's a stolen elephant and Kham is bent on getting it back with an intermission of 'exotic' opponents that Kham is obliged to beat, with a misunderstood authority on his tail and an international plot beyond Kham's humble comprehension to foil in the end.

This time around Kham has to face biker gangs that would put our local Mat Rempits to shame, a pair of avenging twins, serial numbered fighters ranked by an arms dealer (RZA) and evil conspirators who don't want peace, while Petchtai Wongkamlao is back as Interpol's sole Thai speaking agent, Sergeant Mak.
If the main attraction here is not the large scale plot, then it is surely the fight scenes that are choreographed by Panna Rittikrai, which does have enough variety. That, of course, is not saying that the fights are realistic, since it certainly does take plenty of liberties to entertain with a dose of exaggeration. The stunts and set pieces can be heart pumping, especially if you can spot the real danger from the fake ones.

That brings the low point for "Tom Yum Goong 2". While the outrageous fights lets you throw out your suspension of disbelief to enjoy the audacity, Pinkaew goes a little overboard with the too noticeable effects (with some tricks lost by the absence of 3D) that imbalances the pleasures of hearing bones cracking from an elbow blow with the whooshing light sabers and flaming sneakers.

Other than those little unintentional hilarities, "Tom Yum Goong 2" is a clinching stomp and romp for anyone who is familiar and enjoyed the tropes of the first one, and wouldn't waste the run time spent for anyone who doesn't mind having some nonsensical action.


Cinema Online, 04 November 2013