Writer: Loong Wai Ting

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Watch this if you liked: “The Three Ninjas,” “The Karate Kid,” “Ong Bak”

"Power Kids" reportedly took more than four years to make but truth be told, it sure doesn't seem worth the wait. Discounting bad acting and choppy story, the only watchable element in this movie are the cute kids with their never-ending, eye-popping stunts. However, even with the hard-hitting kicks and bone-crushing elbow slams, the sad case about "Power Kids" is that the stunts become repetitive and eventually dull.

The first hour of "Power Kids" is quite monotonous, with the usual story line - poor kids getting bullied by the bad guys and poor kids showing off their fighting skills. As if this isn't enough to warn you about the forthcoming substandard story, the story picks up with another cliched little-brother-needs-a-heart-transplant-or-he'll-die development. But till then, the stage is set for these kids to prove what they have and follow in the footsteps of Thai's bigger action stars like Tony Jaa and Jeeja Yanin.

For this reviewer, one really commendable aspect of "Power Kids" is the genuine fighting spirit seen from these young actors. While their moves onscreen can be repetitive, how many kids out there are able to smash their heads through glass panels and walk away seemingly unharmed? And because most of the time these kids are taking down the adults, the choreography and interaction between these two parties are something noteworthy.

Needless to say, the comedic timing pulled by Paethaiy Wongkumlao, the son of Mum Jokmok of "The Bodyguard" fame is bang on. With his simple jokes while remaining straight-faced, Paethaiy is just as good as his father!

Though "Power Kids" can be abrupt, the running time is rather short for the characters to develop themselves and for the story to get better. Leaving all the cliches behind, this movie can still count as entertainment for kids and adults alike. It just needs a serious remake or sequel to redeem itself for this really bad opening stutter.

Cinema Online, 06 May 2009