Kerd ma lui (2004)

Director:

Panna Rittikrai

Writers:

Morakat Kaewthanek (screenplay)
Panna Rittikrai (story)
(more)

Release Date:

5 August 2004 (Thailand)

Genre:

Action

Plot:

A group of athletes helping a poor village must stop an evil tyrant and his men from terrorizing the village.

Cast

Nappon Gomarachun	...	General Jang Sei Yang
Santisuk Promsiri	...	Lowfei
Dan Chupong	...	Deaw
Piyapong Piew-on	...	Tun
Somrak Khamsing	...	Tug
Amornthep Waewsang	...	Moo
Suebsak Pansueb	...	Jo
Nantaway Wongwanichislip	...	Nye
Kessarin Ektawatkul	...	Nui
Rattaporn Khemtong	...	Tunta
Chatthapong Pantanaunkul	...	Foong (as Chattaporn Pantana-Angkul)
Sasisa Jindamanee	...	Baetoey
Payong Mounda	...	Village Head
Swat Hoopsom	...	Disabled
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
June Angela	...	Nui (voice: English version)
Vanna Bonta	...	Mali (voice: English version)
Sahaschai Chumrum	...	Lieutenant Thripundomrong Liddomerong
Elyse Dinh	...	Tukta / Newscaster (voice: English version)
Josiah D. Lee	...	Scruff (voice: English version)
Marlene Sharp	...	Additional Characters (voice: English version)
Wannakit Sirioput	...	Foh
Don Tai	...	Tub (voice)
Eddie Vee	...	Deaw (voice: English version)

Directed by
Panna Rittikrai

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Morakat Kaewthanek		screenplay
Panna Rittikrai		story
Thanapat Taweesuk		screenplay

Produced by
Prachya Pinkaew	....	producer
Sukanya Vongsthapat	....	producer
Sita Vosbein	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Traithep Wongpaiboon

Cinematography by
Surachet Thongmee

Film Editing by
Thanapat Taweesuk

Stunts
Michael B.	....	stunts
Seng Kawee	....	stunt coordinator
Banlu Srisaeng	....	stunt coordinator

Other crew
Panna Rittikrai	....	action choreographer
Banlu Srisaeng	....	action choreographer

Production Companies

• Baa-Ram-Ewe
• Sahamongkolfilm Co.

Distributors

• 3L Filmverleih (2006) (Austria) (theatrical)
• 3L Filmverleih (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Mars Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Dragon Dynasty (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Madman Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (DVD)
• Momentum Pictures (2004) (UK) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2006) (Romania) (all media)
• Punto Zero (2008) (Italy) (all media)
• Weinstein Company, The (2006) (USA) (all media)

Also Known As:

Born to Fight (Europe: English title) (International: English title)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

Thailand

Language:

Thai | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

France:-12 | Australia:MA | Brazil:18 | Malaysia:18SG | Germany:18 | New Zealand:R16 | Japan:PG-12 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Patpong, Thailand

Company:

Baa-Ram-Ewe

Goofs:

Continuity: During the truck chase scene, Daew's partner drives his van between General Yang's trucks and shoots on both sides, killing the passenger in the truck on the right and the driver of the truck on the left. After the truck on the right hits its brakes and Daew falls off of it, Daew quickly jumps into the passenger side window of the truck. The dead passenger is nowhere to be seen.

A good martial arts film full of crowd-pleasing stunts.

First of all, be wary of anyone who gives a score of 1. Only completely objectionable and morally bankrupt pursuits could warrant such a score.

Kerd ma lui is an action film that follows the life of an undercover Thai cop who is ailing from the recent loss of a partner. To salve his pain and to fulfill his duty as his sister's guardian, he decides to take some time to travel to an outlying village on a mission of good will. Whilst there, the village is overrun by murderous terrorist with sinister motives, not least of which being to indiscriminately slaughter innocent villagers for all the world to see.

The story in Kerd ma lui is solid and well paced. The cast of characters are adequate and they all serve their immediate purpose. There's a good deal of nationalism in the film as it does deal with terrorism and nuclear holocaust, but the Thai nationalism was refreshing to me as it offered a perspective that I had never before experienced. It was nowhere as political as the nationalism prevalent in many US films, but it was inspiring never the less.

The real meat of the film is its action. It's a reckless brand of stunt mastery that actually inspires fear and concern for the performers. Each stunt and flawless take seems to tempt fate. For example, trucks perform jumps only to land a couple of feet away from an actor's head. And though some of the choreographed fights between the less skilled performers utilize camera tricks for impact effect, there are some fights with hits that simply aren't pulled--high flying moves full of so much momentum and speed that they need to be slowed down in order to be appreciated. Speaking of slow motion, it's used quite liberally throughout the film. I've heard complaints against this, but it's important to note that some of the choreography would simply not be seen at 24 fps.

Kerd ma lui is a good film that has a lot more going for it than Ong bak. It has a deeper storyline and characters that are likable and interesting. The suspense is more genuine and the fights aren't as repetitive. Comparisons to Ong bak aside, Kerd ma lui manages to be a decent film that is certainly worth a watch and, as always, it provides a glimpse into a foreign approach to the action genre. Without doubt, the Thais have succeeded in creating an action fighter that outperforms many of its counterparts from the west.