Muay Thai Fighter (2009/Magnolia DVD)

 

Picture: B-     Sound: C     Extras: C     Feature: A-

 

 

Three childhood friends trained in their hometown's Muay Thai fighting style grow up and head towards the city seeking their fame and fortunes, but upon arriving in the city, between the dream of the boxing ring and illegal underground fights their lives take them down very different paths.  They learn outside the ring there is even a more brutal fight, a fight for survival, and in real life second place doesn't cut it.  In the end the only thing they can count on is their bare fists ...and each other in Muay Thai Fighter.
 

This story is very much like the Rocky of Muay Thai kickboxing, three young boy's dream to become the champion. The three friends Pao, Piak, and Samar dream of someday becoming the Muay Thai Champion, but when Piak and Samar become involved with illegal underground fights they become hoodlum/hitmen bookies, rigging gambling fights and then collecting people's debts who can't pay them back.  As Pao rises as the new star to Muay Thai, Piak and Samar continue down the path of evil and vice, but will their friendship be able hold them together ...or eventually tear them apart?
 
If you like kickboxing action in beautiful vistas then this film is for you.  It takes one of the most dangerous sports in the world and turns it into a tale of friendship and tragedy, how 3 boys from the same village could end up with so different lives.  When only one can win first place, the characters Piak and Samar find themselves without a home, any choice, penniless and are forced to do jobs of a questionable nature. But they continue to help and support their friend Pao (unknowing to him) funding his education/training, and it is only years later (after Pao becomes champion) does he find out and understand about the sacrifices his brothers made for him...   Extras include trailer gallery and behind the scenes interview with cast.

 

 

-   Ricky Chiang