Protector, The

Tomatoes and transsexuals; not exactly the first things that might come to mind when thinking about "The Protector", the latest effort by Thai martial arts sensation Tony Jaa. The tomatoes refer to the excessive use of sound effects in one of the film´s climactic fight scenes where the overly designed fights make the scene borderline laughable in the end. It´s also a testament to the film, the way it delivers it´s story and delivers the action can sometimes be overwhelming and wander into the realm of the mundane.

The transsexual refers to the Madam Rose character played by actress Xing Jing, a transsexual herself – the reference is a look at the way the character is presented in both versions of the film. Madam Rose is a woman in the American release (81 minute running time), a transsexual in the international version (108 minutes) and serves to show how the changes can lessen the impact of a film and its characters, both of which are included in this release from Dragon Dynasty.

Bowing to an impressive action debut in "Ong Bak", Jaa burst onto the scene with his impressive display of action and stunts in the film. Watching Jaa is a thing of beauty and he ups the ante in "The Protector" taking his style and skills to a new level. If there´s anyone who´s deserving of inheriting the martial arts mantle being left behind by the likes of Jet Li and Jack Chan, Jaa could be the man to receive it. Still, while Jaa further solidifies his mark on the genre with "The Protector" he has still yet to show any of the same charisma and staying power as his predecessors.

The film follows the plight of Cam (Jaa) as his family´s elephants are stolen by a band of criminals. The international version makes great use of the back story involving the elephants and their importance to this character, this family and the country as a whole, while the American cut does not spend as much time developing this. Nevertheless, after this occurs Cam travels to Australia (where the elephants were taken) from Thailand, and stumbles upon a mob ring that deals in prostitution and slavery. Along the way, Cam gains the help of a Thai police officer (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and trust of a prostitute (Bongkoj Khongmalai) indebted to the mob, in this case a Triad ring that finds its power base being wrestled away by the nefarious Madam Rose (Jing).

The story, as with many films of this type, is the weakest link. The plotting waivers at times, making for a less than coherent barrage of information, which is hindered by bad acting from the "western" actors in the film (another staple of the genre). However, the film is unique in its approach, in placing the initial motivation for Cam´s actions in the hands for his familial type loyalty to his elephants. It´s something rarely, if ever, seen in the martial arts genre and lends the film a spirit of compassion often absent. Despite this, the structure and pacing of the film seem to fall out of place as the plot progresses. It seems more like a directing inconsistency than anything; the story is all there it´s just poorly put together.

The fight scenes are often astounding with Jaa and his fight team creating a remarkable amount of set pieces throughout the film´s running time. Jaa takes the Jackie Chan kitchen sink approach to his choreography, but alters it to restrict itself to the way the kicks, punches and various stuns themselves are delivered; the end result is nothing short of spectacular. Take for instance a sequence in which Cam, invades the shady dealings of a restaurant tied to the mob that stole his elephants. Once inside he proceeds to beat the living tar out every gangster in the place while scaling a flight of spiral stairs, something like five stories and goes on for about 12 minutes – and all done in one take!

It remains to see whether or not Jaa will live up to the hype surrounding him. While he´s created some memorable fight scenes and stunts in some rather lukewarm films, he has yet to provide a memorable screen presence to accompany his martial arts prowess. It´s the one thing that separates the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li from performers such as Steven Segal and Jean Claude Van Damme. Either way it´ll be interesting to see what Jaa has up his sleeve next; and perhaps a pairing with a seasoned action choreographer like Yuen Wo Ping or Ching Siu Tung or actors like Chan or Li might help to get him into that very same pantheon that he aspires to.

Video
Presented in what the packaging describes as a "matted" 16x9 widescreen format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition for the DVD transfer. The two prints of the film, in the international and American cut, vary ever so slightly. The film appears a tad brighter and sharper in the American cut of the film. Nevertheless, both look solid as the image is vibrant though not as rich or saturated as it could be. While it´s not the most impressive image Dragon Dynasty has released, like the "Kill Zone" ("SPL") DVD from a few months back, it´s solid, with few complaints. There´s no noticeable damage or wear anywhere on the DVD. Overall, this is a good looking DVD.

Audio
On the international version of the film the audio is presented only in a Dolby Digital 5.1 Thai soundtrack, while the American version offers an English/Thai soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1, an English/Thai DTS track and an English Dolby Digital 5.1. With the exception of the score there is very little difference between the various soundtracks. The biggest difference between the various releases is the Rza´s score which is presented only on the American version of the film. Most of the dialogue and action come through the center and front speakers, with the surrounds being put to good use during the fight scenes with the music balancing out nicely. Some of the sound effects are overly mixed (bones cracking sound like tomato splatters), but overall this is a solid sounding mix for a solid looking picture. The American version of the film includes English, closed captions and Spanish subtitles. However, the box states that international version has both English and Spanish subtitles, but Spanish subtitles are not included.

Extras
Disc one features audio commentary with Bey Logan, which is only an option on the first disc. Admittedly, I use to like Bey Logan and still do in many respects. As a fan of Hong Kong films, he always seemed to have insight and perspective not often available; but that was before the internet and before DVD extras became such a popular medium for relaying behind the scenes info about the films. Nowadays, Logan´s popularity is wearing thin and nowhere does it seem more apparent than it does here. At first his commentary seems hugely informative but if you take a gander at the "Making of Tom Yum Goong" on the second disc, you´ll find where most of Logan´s knowledge base seems to come from. It isn´t a terrible mishap, but it´s a little disappointing for people expecting something different from Logan and the documentary.

Also included is a deleted fight scene, which is taken out of the first portion of Jaa´s first major fight in the film. It´s presented in a widescreen format with no subtitles and lasts about two minutes.

"No Wires Attached" is a 15 minute featurette touting the awesomeness of Tony Jaa and "The Protector." It features interviews with the Rza, Tony Jaa, the films director, the cast and Bey Logan. Again, the featurette is an extended EPK style piece of marketing. It´s easily forgettable.

"Making Tony Jaa" is a six and half minute look at how Jaa got his start as a performer and how they worked out some of the action. Overall, it´s a cool little look at the film´s star. English subtitles are included.

"The Director's Guided Tour" is a 35 minute look at the film´s single shot action sequence and features the film´s director Prachya Pinkaew, as he takes us through the various takes of the sequence and how it all came together in the end. Your essentially watching the same shot over and over again, which get repetitive and boring after the first time. It´s interesting but only for the true enthusiasts.

"Tony Jaa Martial Arts Demonstrations" features Jaa demonstrating some of his martial arts prowess on some members of the stunt team. Four of these are presented and the total just over two minutes of screen time.

"8 Limbs Mobisode" has to be one of the worst extras I´ve ever seen on a DVD release. It´s a music video that show still images, that have cheap animation moving behind them of caricatures of Jaa and some combatants. It´s a pain to watch and slightly obnoxious. It´s three and half minutes too long.

"The Protector Soundtrack Promotion" is a 40 second spot for the soundtrack. The film also features a theatrical trailer.

Disc two features the aforementioned "Making Tom Yum Goong" featurette which is a 56 minute making of the film which goes into depth about the how the action sequences came together. The commentary features Jaa and others talking g about the film as well.
English subtitles are also included. This is probably the better choice between the Logan commentary and this as it offers little of Logan´s attempts at color.
"Take on Tony Jaa Contest Winners" features 3 short films, or rather action scenes that were submitted by fans for inclusion onto the DVD. These are: "FTrain", "Lasershot", "Prision Warz".

Film Value
While "The Protector" isn´t a shining example of an action film or the Weinstein Company´s practice of reediting Asian films, the DVD does offer much to be enjoyed by fans. It has a nice amount of extras, though Bey Logan´s commentary leaves much to be desired for hardcore fans. A weak story doesn´t help the film much, but the jaw dropping stunts are definitely worth the look.

Tomatoes and transsexuals; not exactly the first things that might come to mind when thinking about "The Protector", the latest effort by Thai martial arts sensation Tony Jaa. The tomatoes refer to the excessive use of sound effects in one of the film´s climactic fight scenes where the overly designed fights make the scene borderline laughable in the end. It´s also a testament to the film, the way it delivers it´s story and delivers the action can sometimes be overwhelming and wander into the realm of the mundane.

The transsexual refers to the Madam Rose character played by actress Xing Jing, a transsexual herself – the reference is a look at the way the character is presented in both versions of the film. Madam Rose is a woman in the American release (81 minute running time), a transsexual in the international version (108 minutes) and serves to show how the changes can lessen the impact of a film and its characters, both of which are included in this release from Dragon Dynasty.

Bowing to an impressive action debut in "Ong Bak", Jaa burst onto the scene with his impressive display of action and stunts in the film. Watching Jaa is a thing of beauty and he ups the ante in "The Protector" taking his style and skills to a new level. If there´s anyone who´s deserving of inheriting the martial arts mantle being left behind by the likes of Jet Li and Jack Chan, Jaa could be the man to receive it. Still, while Jaa further solidifies his mark on the genre with "The Protector" he has still yet to show any of the same charisma and staying power as his predecessors.

The film follows the plight of Cam (Jaa) as his family´s elephants are stolen by a band of criminals. The international version makes great use of the back story involving the elephants and their importance to this character, this family and the country as a whole, while the American cut does not spend as much time developing this. Nevertheless, after this occurs Cam travels to Australia (where the elephants were taken) from Thailand, and stumbles upon a mob ring that deals in prostitution and slavery. Along the way, Cam gains the help of a Thai police officer (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and trust of a prostitute (Bongkoj Khongmalai) indebted to the mob, in this case a Triad ring that finds its power base being wrestled away by the nefarious Madam Rose (Jing).

The story, as with many films of this type, is the weakest link. The plotting waivers at times, making for a less than coherent barrage of information, which is hindered by bad acting from the "western" actors in the film (another staple of the genre). However, the film is unique in its approach, in placing the initial motivation for Cam´s actions in the hands for his familial type loyalty to his elephants. It´s something rarely, if ever, seen in the martial arts genre and lends the film a spirit of compassion often absent. Despite this, the structure and pacing of the film seem to fall out of place as the plot progresses. It seems more like a directing inconsistency than anything; the story is all there it´s just poorly put together.

The fight scenes are often astounding with Jaa and his fight team creating a remarkable amount of set pieces throughout the film´s running time. Jaa takes the Jackie Chan kitchen sink approach to his choreography, but alters it to restrict itself to the way the kicks, punches and various stuns themselves are delivered; the end result is nothing short of spectacular. Take for instance a sequence in which Cam, invades the shady dealings of a restaurant tied to the mob that stole his elephants. Once inside he proceeds to beat the living tar out every gangster in the place while scaling a flight of spiral stairs, something like five stories and goes on for about 12 minutes – and all done in one take!

It remains to see whether or not Jaa will live up to the hype surrounding him. While he´s created some memorable fight scenes and stunts in some rather lukewarm films, he has yet to provide a memorable screen presence to accompany his martial arts prowess. It´s the one thing that separates the likes of Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Jet Li from performers such as Steven Segal and Jean Claude Van Damme. Either way it´ll be interesting to see what Jaa has up his sleeve next; and perhaps a pairing with a seasoned action choreographer like Yuen Wo Ping or Ching Siu Tung or actors like Chan or Li might help to get him into that very same pantheon that he aspires to.

Video
Presented in what the packaging describes as a "matted" 16x9 widescreen format preserving the aspect ratio of its original theatrical exhibition for the DVD transfer. The two prints of the film, in the international and American cut, vary ever so slightly. The film appears a tad brighter and sharper in the American cut of the film. Nevertheless, both look solid as the image is vibrant though not as rich or saturated as it could be. While it´s not the most impressive image Dragon Dynasty has released, like the "Kill Zone" ("SPL") DVD from a few months back, it´s solid, with few complaints. There´s no noticeable damage or wear anywhere on the DVD. Overall, this is a good looking DVD.

Audio
On the international version of the film the audio is presented only in a Dolby Digital 5.1 Thai soundtrack, while the American version offers an English/Thai soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1, an English/Thai DTS track and an English Dolby Digital 5.1. With the exception of the score there is very little difference between the various soundtracks. The biggest difference between the various releases is the Rza´s score which is presented only on the American version of the film. Most of the dialogue and action come through the center and front speakers, with the surrounds being put to good use during the fight scenes with the music balancing out nicely. Some of the sound effects are overly mixed (bones cracking sound like tomato splatters), but overall this is a solid sounding mix for a solid looking picture. The American version of the film includes English, closed captions and Spanish subtitles. However, the box states that international version has both English and Spanish subtitles, but Spanish subtitles are not included.

Extras
Disc one features audio commentary with Bey Logan, which is only an option on the first disc. Admittedly, I use to like Bey Logan and still do in many respects. As a fan of Hong Kong films, he always seemed to have insight and perspective not often available; but that was before the internet and before DVD extras became such a popular medium for relaying behind the scenes info about the films. Nowadays, Logan´s popularity is wearing thin and nowhere does it seem more apparent than it does here. At first his commentary seems hugely informative but if you take a gander at the "Making of Tom Yum Goong" on the second disc, you´ll find where most of Logan´s knowledge base seems to come from. It isn´t a terrible mishap, but it´s a little disappointing for people expecting something different from Logan and the documentary.

Also included is a deleted fight scene, which is taken out of the first portion of Jaa´s first major fight in the film. It´s presented in a widescreen format with no subtitles and lasts about two minutes.

"No Wires Attached" is a 15 minute featurette touting the awesomeness of Tony Jaa and "The Protector." It features interviews with the Rza, Tony Jaa, the films director, the cast and Bey Logan. Again, the featurette is an extended EPK style piece of marketing. It´s easily forgettable.

"Making Tony Jaa" is a six and half minute look at how Jaa got his start as a performer and how they worked out some of the action. Overall, it´s a cool little look at the film´s star. English subtitles are included.

"The Director's Guided Tour" is a 35 minute look at the film´s single shot action sequence and features the film´s director Prachya Pinkaew, as he takes us through the various takes of the sequence and how it all came together in the end. Your essentially watching the same shot over and over again, which get repetitive and boring after the first time. It´s interesting but only for the true enthusiasts.

"Tony Jaa Martial Arts Demonstrations" features Jaa demonstrating some of his martial arts prowess on some members of the stunt team. Four of these are presented and the total just over two minutes of screen time.

"8 Limbs Mobisode" has to be one of the worst extras I´ve ever seen on a DVD release. It´s a music video that show still images, that have cheap animation moving behind them of caricatures of Jaa and some combatants. It´s a pain to watch and slightly obnoxious. It´s three and half minutes too long.

"The Protector Soundtrack Promotion" is a 40 second spot for the soundtrack. The film also features a theatrical trailer.

Disc two features the aforementioned "Making Tom Yum Goong" featurette which is a 56 minute making of the film which goes into depth about the how the action sequences came together. The commentary features Jaa and others talking g about the film as well.
English subtitles are also included. This is probably the better choice between the Logan commentary and this as it offers little of Logan´s attempts at color.
"Take on Tony Jaa Contest Winners" features 3 short films, or rather action scenes that were submitted by fans for inclusion onto the DVD. These are: "FTrain", "Lasershot", "Prision Warz".

Film Value
While "The Protector" isn´t a shining example of an action film or the Weinstein Company´s practice of reediting Asian films, the DVD does offer much to be enjoyed by fans. It has a nice amount of extras, though Bey Logan´s commentary leaves much to be desired for hardcore fans. A weak story doesn´t help the film much, but the jaw dropping stunts are definitely worth the look.