2005 (Thailand), 2006 (US/International) Genre: Action / Martial Arts / Crime Director: Prachya Pinkaew Starring: Tony Jaa, Petchtai Wongkamlao, Bongkoj Khongmalai
The Bodyguard (2004): Thailand's Wild Action-Comedy Gem Forget the high-stakes romance of the 1992 Whitney Houston classic; the 2004 Thai film The Bodyguard (original title: Bodigard Na-Hiaw the bodyguard 2004
The story kicks off when Chot is assassinated during a public event under Wong Kom's watch. Driven by grief and blame, Chot’s son and heir, Chaichol (played by singer-actor Piphat Aon), refuses to trust Wong Kom and flees the family compound to escape the assassins who are now hunting him. But the project stalled
The film’s cast is a fascinating mix of comedic talent and martial arts mastery. In 1992, you had a voice that comes
But the project stalled. Why? Because The Bodyguard is a movie that relies entirely on two specific elements: the soundtrack and the chemistry. In 1992, you had a voice that comes along once in a generation. Finding a voice that could rival Whitney Houston’s for a remake was a casting director's nightmare. Mariah Carey had dabbled in acting ( Glitter ), but the memory of that film’s reception made studios hesitant. Jennifer Lopez was a movie star and a pop star, but her style was distinctly different from the powerhouse ballads required for the film’s emotional climax.
For all its martial arts virtues, The Bodyguard is a dramatically inert film. The plot is a collection of clichés stapled together. The young daughter’s arc from brat to grateful ward is perfunctory. The villain has no motivation beyond “evil.” There is a subplot involving a corrupt cop that goes nowhere. Dialogue is purely functional (“You take her. I’ll hold them off.” “No, I’ll stay.”). The film’s runtime of 86 minutes feels both too long (during the tedious walking scenes) and too short (during the fights, which are over too quickly).