Ong Bak 3 Directed by: Tony Jaa, Panna Rittikrai Starring: Tony Jaa, Sorapong Chatree Rating: R Release Date: January 14, 2011

TRAILER SCORE: 6/10

MY THOUGHTS: The trailer swings pretty uncontrollably from awesome to painful and whenever there's even a hint of awkwardness, it usually points to more bad things than good. Except, I am a slavish devotee to Ong Bak: Thai Warrior and Ong Bak 2 was fine, too - Tony Jaa is supernatural and we don't need a well-constructed script for him to impress the hell out of everyone...oh, and it opens on my birthday. So it doesn't really signify that the trailer is cheesy in parts, badly directed in parts, and openly worshipful of its star/writer/co-director Tony Jaa, because I'm still going to see it. Not only that, I'll probably make my friends take me for my birthday, so fun can be had by all.

It seems to be trying for the variety of Lord of the Rings Trilogy style closing grandeur, like it's an epic story that will end on an epic scale, but that's an artful ruse. If Ong Bak 3 makes enough money, there will be numero cuatro to look forward to. And no matter how ridiculous the series gets, I for one will continue to give them my money. Do I mind the ponderous, clumsy slow-mo? Sort of, yeah, but then you get Tony Jaa swinging on the tusks of an elephant and kicking bad guys in the face, so it all balances out in the end.

Happy birthday to me!