Review by Stuart Barr
Stars Seigi Ozeki, Kanokkorn Jaicheun, Sorapong Chatree, Winai Kributr, Thanawut Ketsaro
UK certification 15 | UK RRP £21.99 | BD Region B | Runtime 87 minutes | Directed by Nopporn Watin
An historical martial arts movie set in Siam in the 15th Century (or thereabouts), Yamada is a Japanese samurai who is double crossed by his own countrymen and left for dead. Finding refuge in a local village, he recovers from his wounds, is taught the skill of Thai boxing, and discovers the simple philosophies, grace and beauty of Thailand and its people.
Essentially this is a long Thai tourist board advert featuring many, many shots of Buddha statues against glorious sunrises and sunsets. The plot is straight up martial arts meat and potatoes stuff.
WARNING: I shall now spoil 90% of martial arts films.
It goes like this: The hero gets beat up. The hero recovers from injury. A new mentor bests the hero in combat. The hero trains in extended montages in which the music is suddenly brought up. The hero finds the love of a good woman. A small child forms a touching bond the hero. The bad guy from reel one suddenly turns up again in the final reel and laughs maniacally. There’s a big fight.
Yamada looks reasonable good (although it would try the patience of Siddharth Gautam himself with the endless shots of Buddha statues) and the Thai warriors look visually striking with amazing Jedward haircuts, Oliver Reed taches and tribal tattoos. However even martial arts completists are likely to find the films bland plot just too generic for words.
Most harmfully, the fight scenes aren’t particularly good, blighted by editing trickery. As the film progresses there is a growing use of CGI blood, culminating in some really terrible computer generated gore in the big dust off at the end.
EXTRAS ★★ An audio commentary with action film expert Bey Logan; a Masters of the Ring Cine-Asia featurette; deleted scenes; and a trailer gallery.