Writer: Loong Wai Ting

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Watch this if you liked: “Balls Of Fury,” “Kung Fu Dunk,” “Born To Fight”

Of late, Thai martial arts movies seem to be lacking in creativity - there hasn't been anything to look forward to since the first instalment of "Ong Bak." As if running out of good scripts, the Thais now mix their own brand of martial arts with international sports like basketball, and the result in this movie is something called "Fireball." Though from the trailer it looks a tad like Hong Kong's "Kung Fu Dunk," this "Fireball" by director Thanakorn Pongsuwan is more bloodied, violent and sad.

Why sad? First of all, "Fireball" is undeniably choppy and poor. The camera work for example, is confusing. The camera is often spinning out of control, shaky at times and a little out of focus especially during fighting scenes. Action sequences were often shot tightly and edited quickly to emphasise brutality and urge.

However the director's attempt to focus on contemporary styles in capturing decisive moments is commendable. While director Thanakorn Pongsuwan continues to spot and groom shockingly good performers from largely unknown stuntmen, the most important aspect of him is that whatever he chooses to make, Pongsuwan delivers it with full dedication.

Characters aside, Muay Thai is definitely the "it" factor but there are also strong parkour elements to wrap around the storyline better. As for the film, it's definitely a showcase of real talent and real actions from real masters. "Fireball" is entertaining in its own right but not surprisingly it's not going to be etched in anyone's memory for long.


Cinema Online, 16 May 2009