The Action Scene | Impact Factor: The Hong Kong Connection in Contemporary Thai Martial Arts Cinema

The Action Scene explores the form, history, and visceral power of action cinema through its set pieces. A translated version of this essay was published in HKinema , the quarterly magazine of the Hong Kong Film Critics Society. Clockwise from top-left: Ong-Bak (Prachya Pinkaew, 2003), Born to Fight (Panna Rittikrai, 2004), The Protector (Prachya Pinkaew, 2005), Chocolate (Prachya Pinkaew, 2008). “I like both Thai and kung fu shapes. Please show us!” “Are you mad? You could’ve been killed! If you want to die, I can arrange it.” — Born to Fight (Panna Rittikrai, 1984) For many martial arts movi

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