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The Protector

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The Protector (2006)

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54 %
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Reviews Counted:92

Fresh:50

Rotten:42

Average Rating:5.5/10

Consensus: Despite some impressive fight scenes, this trimmed-down version of the Thai action pic is an off-putting mix of scant plot, choppy editing, and confusing subtitles and dubbing.

Runtime: 3 hrs 6 mins

Genre: Foreign Films

US Box Office: $11,905,519

Synopsis: THE PROTECTOR is the highly anticipated full bodied action film starring International Martial Arts superstar, Tony Jaa (Ong Bak). His world shaped by ancient traditions, a young Thai fighter... THE PROTECTOR is the highly anticipated full bodied action film starring International Martial Arts superstar, Tony Jaa (Ong Bak). His world shaped by ancient traditions, a young Thai fighter (Jaa) is called to defend his people and their honor after outsiders ruin all that is sacred. Fueled by desire to protect a way of life and avenge the wrong done to his family, he will bring the fight to their city. [More]

Starring: Tony Jaa, Petchthai Wongkamlao

Starring: Tony Jaa, Petchthai Wongkamlao

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Director: Prachya Pinkaew
Studio: Weinstein Company

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1 - 4 of 7

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Reviews for The Protector

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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If you like you martial arts action tough, gritty and fast, Tony Jaa is your artist, as he proved on his debut with Ong Bak (2003). This is Muay Thai, a form of aggressive martial arts that makes the others look tame.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
08/11/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Betsy Sherman
Betsy Sherman
Boston Phoenix

In the realm of fresh martial arts movie stars, no one holds a candle to Tony Jaa.

Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com | comment Comment
04/22/09
Cole Smithey
Cole Smithey
ColeSmithey.com

You have to wonder why they even bothered with the subtitles. It's not like they make much difference.

Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | comment Comment
03/20/09
Joshua Tyler
Joshua Tyler
CinemaBlend.com

Bone-crunching action triumphs over story and, uh, character development.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
01/13/09
Derek Elley
Derek Elley
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

a no-brainer, but also an extravaganza of inventive, visually stunning brutality (by the trunkload).

Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
08/16/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Eye for Film

If a video game allowed you to do what Tony Jaa does, it would be the bestselling video game in history.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
08/03/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

It's tremendously refreshing to see a film that relies solely on the choreography of its athletic star to make the action work.

Full Review Source: UGO | comment Comment
03/24/07
Brian Tallerico
Brian Tallerico
UGO

Resurrects the bad acting and absurd plotting of old-fashioned kung fu movies, as well as their exhilarating stunts and action choreography.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
Daniel Eagan
Daniel Eagan
Film Journal International
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Observer [UK] | comment Comment
01/20/07
Philip French
Philip French
Observer [UK]

Pretty tough to sit through.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
12/15/06
Reece Pendleton
Reece Pendleton
Chicago Reader

Exactly like an elephant, mostly slow and lumbering -- but with great menacing charges of excitement.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
12/15/06
Robert K. Elder
Robert K. Elder
Chicago Tribune

The Protector's plot is as sturdy as a piece of balsa wood, which wouldn't have mattered so much if the film had showcased Jaa's talents better.

Full Review Source: Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema | comment Comment
10/12/06
Mark Pfeiffer
Mark Pfeiffer
Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema

Four screenwriters get credit for the bottom-feeder script.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
09/30/06
Susan Tavernetti
Susan Tavernetti
Palo Alto Weekly

It plays like a bad B-movie where we suddenly leave an ongoing conversation to join a fight in progress.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
09/27/06
Frank Wilkins
Frank Wilkins
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Ebert & Roeper | comment Comment
09/23/06
Ebert & Roeper
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Jaa's ingratiatingly ridiculous Protector delivers a steady stream of cheap B-movie thrills, plus two positive messages for young people: Be nice to animals, and when in doubt, always aim for the tendons.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
09/23/06
Nathan Rabin
Nathan Rabin
AV Club
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
09/23/06
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

By the end you're so invigorated that narrative issues seem like an afterthought.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
09/23/06
Brian Clark
Brian Clark
Austin Chronicle
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Protector

February 18, 2009: SXSW Releases Fantastic Fest Midnight Lineup Opens in new window
This year's SXSW Midnight Fantastic Fest lineup has been announced, and the schedule definitely includes some stuff worth staying up for, including "Ong Bak 2." More...

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The long-awaited showdown between Jackie Chan and Jet Li in The Forbidden Kingdom got us thinking; what are the greatest fights ever filmed? We sifted through quite a few... More...

September 06, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Crowe vs. Bale in Box Office Shootout
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September 21, 2006: Box Office Guru Preview: Jackass Crashes into Theaters
Four new films open wide, but they may not be enough to stop the North American box office from suffering its third consecutive down weekend. More...

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