The Protector 2

Name: The Protector 2
Genre: Action
Released: May 2, 2014
Duration: 104 min
Rating: 45
Cast: Tony Jaa

2014

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Mixed or average reviews based on 10 Critics

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Ratings

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4.8

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4.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Magnet Releasing | Release Date: May 2, 2014

Starring: Tony Jaa

Summary: Boss Suchart is the influential owner of a major elephant camp. When he was murdered in his own home – the killer delivered three fatal blows on his body – all evidence points to Kham (Tony Jaa), who was present at the crime scene and was seen with the victim the moment before he died. Kham is forced to run as the police launch a pursuit.Boss Suchart is the influential owner of a major elephant camp. When he was murdered in his own home – the killer delivered three fatal blows on his body – all evidence points to Kham (Tony Jaa), who was present at the crime scene and was seen with the victim the moment before he died. Kham is forced to run as the police launch a pursuit. Meanwhile, the twin nieces of Boss Suchart (Jija Yanin Wismitanan and Teerada Kittisiriprasert) are out for revenge. But luck is on Kham’s side when he runs into Sergeant Mark (Mum Jokmok), an Interpol agent sent to Thailand on a secret mission. As Kham is hunted by several parties, he’s also desperately searching for Khon, his elephant, whose disappearance is involved with Boss Suchart’s death. In another twist, Kham is drawn into an underground fighting ring run by LC (RZA), a crime lord who’s obsessed with collecting top-class martial artists from around the world. LC’s fighters are branded only by numbers, such as the lethal, beautiful Twenty (Ratha Pho-ngam) and the diabolical No.2 (Marrese Crump). These fighters are ordered to defeat and capture Kham for a special mission that LC has in mind.… Expand

Director: Prachya Pinkaew

Genre(s): Action

Rating: R

Runtime: 104 min

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Critic Reviews

The Playlist - Drew Taylor

May 1, 2014

If The Protector 2 was dour, then it would also become totally unconvincing. Sure, it's silly, but it's also wildly entertaining and sprinkled with some nice emotional beats. As long as Tony Jaa keeps losing his elephant, we'll keep showing up to watch him track it down. Read full review

Entertainment Weekly - Darren Franich

May 1, 2014

Thai martial-arts maestro Tony Jaa’s newest film overloads on terrible F/X that rob the film of the actor’s usual brute-force balleticism. Read full review

Village Voice - Nick Schager

Apr 29, 2014

Director Prachya Pinkaew's hectic editing and breakneck pacing turns the action spastic, and his lack of interest in anything approaching coherent drama renders the proceedings one long showcase for its lead's Muay Thai combat skills. Luckily, those are considerable. Read full review

New York Daily News - Elizabeth Weitzman

May 1, 2014

It’s a shame to see both actor and director play things so safe. Not only is much of the choreography reminiscent of their better films, but they rely too much on digital effects. Instead, we should be awed solely by the sight of a first-rate fighter. Read full review

New York Magazine (Vulture) - Bilge Ebiri

May 5, 2014

Slipshod and tiresome, The Protector 2 is more than a misfire, it’s a betrayal. Read full review

The New York Times - Daniel M. Gold

May 1, 2014

With jokes and computer-generated spectacles diluting the action, this is not one for fight-film purists. Read full review

RogerEbert.com - Glenn Kenny

May 2, 2014

I’m upset because he’s doing such cheesy wire work, and because the CGI effects he’s interacting with are so lame. Read full review

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User Reviews

DirtyLilHamster

Jul 30, 2014

I bought and viewed the 3D Blu Ray version of The Protector 2. I really enjoyed it, and I also have The Raid: Redemption, The Raid 2: Berandal, Ong Bak trilogy, and everything from Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan on Blu ray. I would like to point out that this movie was filmedI bought and viewed the 3D Blu Ray version of The Protector 2. I really enjoyed it, and I also have The Raid: Redemption, The Raid 2: Berandal, Ong Bak trilogy, and everything from Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and Japan on Blu ray. I would like to point out that this movie was filmed with a 3D camera on set and special effects were added after production to make even more 3D like objects fly at the screen. The poor reviews are from people that watched it in a format that is unintended by the Director. This means that if you watch it on Blu ray or whatever without 3D it's going to seem like wack computer generated images are in the film. Given the movie does have wack computer images, but they aren't unbearable. That's what's going on with these lazy reviewers. They don't know anyone with a 3D Tv. The story is superior to TYG (The Protector) as after the initial viewing I fast forward it until I get to Tony Jaa going up a flight of stairs fighting people, etc. The story in the first was dumb as hell, but the action was amazing. The sequel has a beget sorry and so so action. I feel like the reviewers watched this in Thai without subtitles because they are incorrect in explaining scenes in the movie. You'll read reviewers saying they had the same boring idea to kidnap his elephant again, but the movie mocks this idea as well, with a scene in which the comedic cop says to Tony Jaa "You lost your elephant... again!? Most people lose their keys". The movie is funny, and it is intentional, as there are comedic timed moments where Tony Jaa walks into a room seemingly oblivious and fights (he doesn't have good comedic timing) but his cop friend from all the other Tony Jaa movies is the funniest I've seen him. There is a lot of action and the movie is very entertaining but the action scenes in the first film are more brutal. This shows more fighting while doing crazy stunts then just doing Muay Thai on a bunch of people like the first film. With all that said, RZA made the movie a little dumber, but not enough to ruin it. The concept is he loves fighting and has engraved numbers from 22 down to Jaa with the #1 branded on his chest against his will in the movie and this backpack that electrocutes him if he doesn't fight. Its not comparable to The Raid films (those are on another level) but this looks good in 3D and is fun to watch. Only in 3D! Don't be lame, go get yo' ass the 3D Blu ray at Best Buy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

lordslayer

Jun 28, 2014

Thai martial-arts maestro Tony Jaa’s newest film overloads on terrible F/X that rob the film of the actor’s usual brute-force balleticism.

Ong Bak and The Protector were AMAZING. This movie is the opposite of what made him popular in the first place. This movie not only uses wires, butThai martial-arts maestro Tony Jaa’s newest film overloads on terrible F/X that rob the film of the actor’s usual brute-force balleticism.

Ong Bak and The Protector were AMAZING. This movie is the opposite of what made him popular in the first place. This movie not only uses wires, but horrible looking CGI and scenes obviously shot in front of a green screen. Not only does the CGI look bad in this movie but Jaa's fighting abilities seem to have taken a hit too. He looks slower and even a little sloppy at times. JeeJa Yanin is completely wasted in this movie too. Why even put her in the movie just to get beat up most of the time? And the RZA? He took an already bad movie and plunged it to the bottom of the barrel. He's a terrible actor and shouldn't be anywhere near a fight scene.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

quincytheodore

Jan 22, 2015

Tony Jaa is undeniably one of the best action stars we have today. His stunt is mercilessly violent, delivering each devastating blow with pinpoint accuracy. The main reason The Protector 2 is such a letdown is because the film lacks the usual crisp stunts, then replaces them with a lot ofTony Jaa is undeniably one of the best action stars we have today. His stunt is mercilessly violent, delivering each devastating blow with pinpoint accuracy. The main reason The Protector 2 is such a letdown is because the film lacks the usual crisp stunts, then replaces them with a lot of CG and poorly made 3D effect. The plot is abysmal, not that most of his work offer complex story anyway, but with less than stellar action, it’s harder to overlook the faults in narrative.

Story follows Kham (Tony Jaa) as he tries to rescue his elephant buddy once again, but this time he's involved in illegal fighting ring, a murder investigation and a conspiracy to throw nations into war. There is so much going on without any decent explanation. People are literally popping out of nowhere, it has no start up or careful development of any kind. This is almost like a flash mob, but instead of dancing they just fight randomly.

Many sequences are dubious, there is barely any transition between a scene and the next one. Kham might run in rooftops, climbing buildings, and then suddenly fighting thugs in a warehouse of some sort. It's simply not coherent enough to establish foundation for solid storyline. Characters are strictly shallow, an unfortunate misuse of RZA and Yanin "Jeeja" Vismitananda (Chocolate). With them in the cast, the characterization could have had more range, but director Prachya Pinkaew didn't capitalize the actors efficiently.

Fight scenes are sadly watered down with CGI. Some wire stunts are acceptable, but there is considerably more special effect in play. Granted, CGI will ensure less injury since they deal with dangerous hardwares, but this is not the direction Tony Jaa movie should go as his main selling point is the brutal unadulterated fist of face contact. Instead the movie goes to unimpressive 3D effect of throwing projectile into the screen, it is the farthest thing from improvement. Some acts are even borderline unintentionally funny.

Nevertheless, the fight is still top-notch and better than most action films, however that alone will not be enough to overcome its many horrible flaws.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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