Striking Rescue (2024) does exactly what it says on the tin and packs the punch you’d expect from Tony Jaa movie and is a thrilling return to form for the Muay Thai master. Like Jaa’s character on his relentless mission for vengeance, this film came out of nowhere, unleashing high-flying kicks and bone-crunching moves onto the big screen. With no official IMDb announcement or early fanfare, Striking Rescue (2024) almost dropped like an early Christmas present, surprising everyone and leaving martial arts film fans soaking their undies in excitement.

Jaa is back in his element, dishing out jaw-dropping action in a way that makes most action stars look like they’re moving in slow motion. The agility, precision, and pure athleticism he brings are nothing short of mesmerizing – especially impressive when you consider the physical feats some actors half his age would find exhausting. And, yes, there are no elephants in peril this time. Instead, Jaa’s character An Bai – a veteran special forces agent and Muay Thai exponent – is on a revenge-fuelled rampage to take down the crime syndicate that destroyed his family.

With direction by Cheng Siyi (who I know very little about), Striking Rescue (2024) does aim for your heart strings as well as deliver on the action front. The film casts Chinese martial arts veteran Xing Yu (Ip Man, Shaolin, Kung Fu Hustle), who channels Yuen Wah circa Dragons Forever (1988) with villainous menace, rocking a  soup catcher moustache and puffing away on a giant cigar. The supporting cast is a strong lineup, including Hong Junjia, Shi Yanneng, Philip Keung Hiu-Man, and Yu Bolin, who all add a bit of local flavor to An Bai’s gritty journey.

On paper the plot does sound like the typical action fodder you would find from a   Van Damme, Segal or any generic action movie. What sets it apart is the relentless pace of action and shear wrathful vengeance An Bai has. The child in peril subplot does slow elements of the film down, but the performances are still tender enough considering the language barrier between and his co-stars.

The film opens with a modern homage to the classic “against the red / clay pot” basher intros of old-school martial arts movies, as Jaa batters his fists against makeshift training devices that would make Goodyear proud. From there, Striking Rescue ( 2024) barely slows down. Every scene bristles with intensity, fuelling An Bai’s quest for revenge. Shot in the beautiful and dangerous borderlands of Thailand, the fights are epic – some are a tad over-the-top but still packed with nostalgic nods to Ong Bak and Warrior King. You’ll even catch a subtle showdown between Thai and Chinese choreographed styles, and tips it’s mongkol to Jaa’s  earlier films. The rivalry between the two stunt teams will add an extra layer of tension that martial arts fans will appreciate as both sides try to outdo each other.

The film doesn’t put it’s female characters on a pedestal either, and the corridor fight scene between Jaa and the main female protagonist is one of the highlights of the film.

And let’s talk about the final fight scene: Tony Jaa and Xing Yu absolutely go for it. Their chemistry and talent shine as they battle it out in one of the year’s best fight sequences. While some supporting characters feel like mere fillers leading up to the next fight, the relentless pacing and explosive action more than make up for it. The ending does slightly go out with a whimper rather than a cathartic bang, but it does emphasise the atonement that is needed to show where Jaa’s character’s actions have led him.

With Well-Go USA picking up the film for a U.S. Release in December 2024, fans can look forward to catching it on the big screen. Hopefully audiences can cheer on An Bai’s fight for justice, just as many of the people who saw On Bak (2002) for the first time. Sure, the story is straightforward, but it delivers what it promises: high-impact action. For die-hard Jaa fans and newcomers alike, Striking Rescue (2024) is bound to become a cult classic that recalls the glory of Jaa’s early career and his genre-shaking Ong Bak. Hopefully this movie will bring a new momentum to Jaa’s career which he can utilize in his English language movies. Here’s hoping for a Tony Jaa vs Donnie Yen vs Keanu Reeves in a John Wick style movie (with elephants !).

Jaa-Dropping :An electrifying comeback for Tony Jaa with action that’s, well…Jaa-some!

If you like Striking Rescue (2024) check out – Ong Bak (2002) ,Tom-Yum-Goong (2005), Born To Fight (1984 ), Born To Fight  (2004), Dynamite warrior (2006) , Merantau ( 2009), The Bouncer / Lukas(2018), Leon: The Professional ( 1994).

Striking Rescue
4/5

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *