Triple Threat (2019)

Iko Uwais vs Tony Jaa: ***

Tony Jaa vs Thai Boxer: **

Iko Uwais vs Tiger Chen: ***3/4

Tony Jaa vs Steiner: ***

Iko Uwais vs Jeeja Yanin: **3/4

Tiger Chen vs Michael Bisping: **3/4

Iko Uwais vs Michael Jai White: ***1/2

Tiger Chen vs Michael Bisping: ***1/4

Tony Jaa/Iko Uwais vs Scott Adkins: ***3/4

Tony Jaa vs Scott Adkins: ****





I thought it was interesting how each of the three leads were booked in this movie. At first I thought Iko's character was meant to be the lead but by the end it was clear to me it was Tony Jaa. Iko barely wins any fights in this movie. He has a stalemate with Jaa early on, which makes sense. He then immediately loses to Chen, which is fine. He defeats Yanin (who I wish had more to do in this flick) in a short skirmish, but in his final clash with White is totally dominated. White beats him down and it's only with Chen's help and a convenient spike that he wins. Villains losing to conveniently placed spikes has got to be one of my least favorite martial arts film tropes. I don't understand why Iko couldn't just beat White straight up; maybe the idea of him defeating a man twice his size, who also knows martial arts, seemed unrealistic to folks. I'm so used to Iko being booked stronger than this so it was weird.

Jaa and Chen, meanwhile, win just about every fight they're in. Chen beats Bisping twice and Jaa gets to beat final boss Adkins. This is to be expected for the heroes but it's just interesting to me how much more shine they get compared to Iko.

The fighting gets really good once Adkins gets involved. Bisping is a bit stiff, clearly still new to the art of screen fighting and White is someone I find hit or miss, depending on the level of the fight directors and choreographers he works with. He was good in his clash with Iko. Chen had to carry Bisping, clearly. Adkins was tremendous as usual. His attacks look so powerful and he clearly conveys a sense of intent with his strikes. You totally buy him handling both Jaa and an injured Iko in a 1 v 2 situation.

The grouping of all this talent was neither a major letdown nor a blow away success. I would very much enjoy a sequel, even if the rogues gallery would no longer include Adkins or White. The three leads are talented enough to leave me wanting more. Recommended.

Tom Yum Goong 2 (2013) aka The Protector 2

House Fight: 1.25/5

No. 20 vs No. 31: 2/5

Kham vs Bikers: 2.25/5

Kham vs Sisters vs Thugs: 2.75/5

Kham vs No. 02: 3.5/5

Kham vs Security: 2/5

Kham/Ping vs Thugs/02: 3.5/5

Kham vs No. 02: 3.5/5

Kham vs Thugs: 2.5/5

Kham vs No. 02 on Train Tracks: 3/5

Kham vs No. 00: 2.25/5

End Fight: 2.5/5

Man, how disappointing. There's a really long action/chase scene towards the beginning that just bored me. Jeeja Yanin's character is underutilized, as she's presented as being a tier below all of the top fighters in the movie. There's also an overuse of wires and special effects (which Jaa became famous for not using) and the choreography isn't strong enough to make up for it. The final fights see Rza taking on Jaa, and although Rza looks better here than he did in his own movie (Jaa makes for a better opponent than Batista), it's still underwhelming. 

The only fights here worth watching are between Marrese (No. 02) and Jaa. Marrese is not bad. Their final duel develops an interesting concept in which Jaa and Marrese electrify their own bodies. It might've been cool if it was in a better movie, and also if it wasn't cheapened by internet lightsaber sound effects. Still, all of their fights are good, none of them are great.

As a movie overall it feels less inspired than the first Tom Yum Goong. Jaa fans and hardcore fans should watch, but skippable for everyone else.