This week was a mixed bag.  Each of the following films is available via instant view on Netflix so they can be watched easily.

Ong-Bak: Thai Warrior(2003)

Martial arts films have never been one of my favorite genres.  I just can’t get into them, that was until I saw Ong-Bak: Thai Warrior.  In a small Thai village the head of a revered statue named Ong-Bak is stolen.  The villagers believe that the statue protects them so Ting(Tony Jaa) a Muay Thai expert is sent to catch the thief and return the stolen head.

Story-wise it’s pretty… Oh hell why talk about the story.  The whole thing is a macguffin for goofy over the top martial arts action, but you might have already guessed that right?  The real attraction here is Tony Jaa who did all of his own jaw dropping stunts including this chase scene. When it comes to hitting people this movie has everything.  Jaa beats people in a variety of locales; in the street, in underground fight clubs, while on fire and even in a cave! You could say that it is over the top but Ong Bak never even noticed the top.

Jaa’s performance alone is more than enough to justify giving Ong-Bak a look.

Netflix Rating: 4 Stars

La Moustache(France, 2005)

When I read the synopsis it was pretty much love at first sight.  Marc(Vincent Lindon) who has had a mustache his entire life decides to shave it off one day.  When he does it something strange happens.  The people closest to him do not notice including his wife.  They insist that he never had a mustache in the first place.  Is he going crazy or are his friends and family plotting against him?

The films source material a novel was written by Emmanuel Carrere who also adapted and directed the film.  It’s not a bad movie.  In fact it’s a very good effort for a director of limited experience.  What makes La Moustache work to a certain extent is that it has the feel of a good Twilight Zone episode.  The acting is also very good and the film is well cast, especially the titular mustache.

The problem is that La Moustache falls into the category of “cerebral” films.  These types of movies are more about creating mood than they are about telling logical coherent stories.  I totally accept this.  The problem is that they often reach a point where they don’t know what they are doing and you wind up with some weird filler material.  This happens late in La Moustache and it is pretty easy to pinpoint.  Even Emmanuel Carrere admits that he doesn’t know what the meaning of the story is.  I don’t have a problem with a movie that doesn’t explain things but if this is the case then it had better be pretty damn interesting to watch.  So this otherwise excellent film is spoiled a bit by a clumsy third act.  However, I wouldn’t discourage anyone from watching it.

Netflix Rating: 3 Stars