3 out of 5

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Right. Ong-Bak director Prachya Pinkaew does something a bit more plotty here, with an autistic girl who has the ability to pick up any skill she witnesses… and applies those skills to martial arts. The drama is surprisingly well woven into the fight scenes, so that you enjoy most of the down time between the fights. Drama? What…? Yes, because Zen, our fighter, is fighting for momma, who owes some money to the wrong people. With the proper blend of characters and pathos, its not so silly seeming for Zen to get wrapped up in this serious world, if overall the presentation has that slightly play-like feeling that is imbued in these movies (viewing everything a potential set for fighting). What keeps this below the grit of Protector or Ong-Bak is that, while some serious jive does happen, and the fights are more impressive and more deadly than most things youll see, the film carries with it the feeling that its all being held back a little because the main characters a young girl. Great choreography, and a good direction to take these action films, just with a little more dirt under its fingernails this would be perfect.