Ten years after the original film was released as a worldwide hit, Bang Rajan 2 barely recalls the ferocious fighting spirit of 2's spectacular first installment. And although ten years have passed, the film directed by Tanit Jitnukul takes place two years after the events of the original. Tanit Jitnukul seeks to expand the narrative beyond Siamese versus Burmese, but also Siamese versus Siamese.
Tanit immediately immerses the viewer in the thick of things, offering them an exciting battle filled with the clang of blades, the whistling of arrows, shots of sniper muskets and splashes of computer blood. The people slaughtering the Burmese are the Yantric Warriors, a group of stripped-to-the-waist, tattooed guerrillas who survived in a remote mountain village. In search of food, they make forays, running and shooting along the way.
The introductory episode only encourages. After the initial hostilities cease, the pacing of the film begins to make one feel sleepy: the characters sit in the camp and chew lard. They talk about what they are going to do after the war. Young men follow on the heels of modest, bright-eyed girls. Some plot points are repeated repeatedly, while the more interesting stories remain largely untouched.
In the first film, the small farming village of Bang Rajan took on a column of Burmese invaders, thereby delaying a two-pronged attack on the Siamese capital of Ayutthaya.
With the destruction of Bang Rajan, Ayutthaya itself fell. The year is 1767. The land of Siam is under the yoke of the Burmese, who, when returning, steal Buddha statues and lead with them columns of prisoners shackled in square bamboo collars.
The leader of the Yantric warriors is Nai Man, played by famous tennis player Paradorn Srichapan in his screen debut. Thanks to his athletic build, the former Wimbledon competitor looks natural in the fight sequences, in which he trades his racquet for a pair of swords and uses wide, sweeping strikes to sever the limbs of his enemies. Surprisingly, Paradorn appears quite unshakable, which matches his stern and stoic character, who has the responsibility of overseeing and protecting the village, and the ever-increasing number of Burmese captives freed and returned home thanks to him.
The village of yantric warriors became home to the only surviving person from Bang Rajan, the wandering Buddhist monk Thammachot, again played by Thirayuth Pratyabamrung. His spiritual teachings continue to inspire young men to act courageously. He blesses the warriors before battles and tears pieces from his old robes, which the warriors wear on their arms as armbands, just like in the first film. This yantric clothing gave the warriors their nickname.
Because of his reputation as a spiritual leader, the monk was sought after - the Burmese general ordered a strike force to find Thammachot. The yantric robe may not have actually stopped the swords from slitting the throats of their owners, but it did turn the wearers into believers, believing in something other than fear.
Meanwhile, Siamese troops entered the field. The soldiers cut off from Ayutthaya had faded and torn uniforms, the cracked helmet of their commander Phraya Singh (Chatchai Plengpanich) had an edge broken off, and the helmet itself was held together with string. Not a light burden for a tired head. They were attacked, but in this second good fight scene of the film, the Yantric warriors came to their aid.
The Siamese troops returned with the warriors to the village, setting off a conflict between the conscripted Siamese government soldiers who wanted to fight the Burmese in the upcoming battle, and the villagers who wanted to continue the game of survival, evasion and escape.
During this scene, the dialogue becomes tedious, hinting at the modern Thai political conflict of the yellow-shirted urban elite (represented by the Siamese soldiers) and the red-shirted rural populace (the Yantric village warriors).
The logic was that Thais should love Thais, and all other nationalities go to hell - this is how the continuation of such reasoning may seem.
Much more interesting conflicts and personalities can be found outside the yantric village - in the Burmese camps. Among the other characters, the captive Siamese stands out, who chose to cooperate with the enemies and promised that he would earn the trust of the prisoners. Struggling with pangs of conscience, he urges others not to fight, in which case they will be provided with the best treatment and they will survive.
A young captive was brought to the Burmese warlord's harem, with a luxurious bed and at least four women, located in a palanquin carried by slaves. She was insulted and humiliated, and once raped on the orders of a military commander. The girl, who has gone to extremes, will eventually take part in the battle for the freedom of Siam.
As the final battle approaches, a tall Buddha statue, stolen from Ayutthaya and dragged by slaves, falls off a cliff into a river. From there she is caught by Yantric and Siamese soldiers, finally working together.
Despite its drawn-out dialogue and overall weak acting, Bang Rajan 2 nevertheless deserves to be the most ambitious project from Phranakorn Film, which bought the rights from the now-closed Film Bangkok. Phranakorn, who made her fortune from hillbilly comedies and ghost films, proves that splashes of computer-generated blood are worth a lot. The fall of the huge Buddha is done in 3D, but it looks good.
All that remains is a final desperate battle with the soldiers, villagers, including women, leading them to a glorious death. Among the participants in the battle there are several guest stars - Vinay Kraibutr, Jaran Ngamdi and Bin Binluert from the first film. Here they are spirits. The brave swordsman Vinay watches Paradorn's back, Jaran, the only mustachioed man in the entire film, helps his mustachioed counterpart, and Bean, the axe-wielding village drunkard, once again rides a buffalo, encouraging the axe-wielding character in the new installment.
Chatchai screams at the top of his lungs, the camera zooms in and everything goes dark in an anti-climax.
What? Did you think the film would end differently?
Wise Kwai Rating: 3/5
Author: Wise Kwai
Translation: EvilDollaR
PS I just couldn’t help but translate the humorous descriptions of the shots of “Bang Rajan 2” made by Mr. Kwai. I even rhymed one description, just like in the original. :)
- Damn, I'm a tennis player, not an 18th century partisan leader.
- Yep, I picked up this helmet from the props department. That's all they had. Used in Naresuan.
- If this palanquin is swinging, entering without knocking is prohibited.
- Dude, I thought you died in the previous movie!
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Tags: Bang Rajan 2, Paradorn Srichaphan, Tanit Dzitnukul
Tags: Bang Rajan 2, Paradorn Srichaphan, Tanit Dzitnukul
when will it come out?
It is already online, but without translation.