Born To Fight (1986 version/BCI Eclipse)
Picture:
C- Sound: C Extras: C+ Film: C+
We had
just reviewed a film by Panna Rittikrai called Born To Fight (aka Kerd ma
lui) from 2004 so when I got another by the same director/choreographer,
the first thought was “competing versions?”
This has happened before, but it turns out Rittikrai used the title for
a lesser-known 1986 film that is a bit better and broke him into the business. He was also the star.
Son-in-law
of powerful family has been stealing their money in Hong Kong, so Green Dragon
triad-like gang is sent to kill him, making him flee to Thailand. Enter Uncle Jam (Rittikrai) who is called
upon to protect his thieving nephew. The
gang will wish they waiting until China took the city back!
The
fighting is interesting, but the only reason to watch. The storyline, what little there is of it, is
just an excuse to lead to the next conflict.
Fortunately, this was a key film that helped Thailand have a Martial
Arts Cycle and inspired the now up-and-coming Tony Jaa to go into action. It is a curio at best that fans will want to
see.
The 1.33
X 1 image is dirty, soft, choppy, scratched, fading, color poor and has all
kinds of other flaws. This might have
been 1.85 X 1 or 1.66 X 1, but it is hard to tell with this tunnel vision
print. The Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono is
equally limited in its Thai and English versions, with dated fidelity,
background hiss and other noise. Extras
include an Ong Bak spoof, a Thai commercial for that spoof, Fearless Maniacs
(35 minutes) featurette on the stuntmen/fighters and two interviews: one is
with a young Tony Jaa and Rittikrai, the other with producer Chokchai
Melewan. That should be enough for
curious fans, even if this is not the best copy of the film.
- Nicholas Sheffo
