‘Ong Bak 2′ coming to VOD ahead of theatrical release

By Mark Pollard | Published June 12, 2009

ONG BAK 2 Magnolia Pictures has just put out a press release announcing an October 23rd theatrical release date for Tony Jaa’s highly anticipated period martial arts movie ONG BAK 2. They have also made good on their promise to release the film on video-on-demand services.

Interestingly, ONG BAK 2 will initially be made available to cable VOD, Amazon.com and Xbox Live in the U.S. on September 25th, a full month ahead of the theatrical release.

This forward-thinking and diversified approach is a smart move by Magnolia that I only wish could have happened sooner since many fans have already tracked down overseas editions and pirated copies of the film. While ONG BAK 2 would undoubtedly look great on a big screen, the reality is that it’s getting harder for distributors to put niche movies into theaters and turn a profit and harder for audiences to tear themselves away from their home entertainment systems and computers.

If successful, I wouldn’t be surprised is this gradually becomes the new model for distributing niche movies. Films could be released sooner and at lower cost to the distributor, in turn making it more likely that we might actually see more licensed foreign films brought into the U.S. If films began to be released worldwide on VOD services in a timely fashion and at a reasonable cost, this could go a long way in combating revenue loss through piracy and cross-border, gray-market sales. Films will still have to be released to DVD and Blu-ray to satisfy collectors though.

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  • WuxiaFan
    I bought the Malaysian DVD as soon as it was available so I could see the movie instead of enduring the long wait for it to make it to US theaters. Tony Jaa is truly unbelievable and it will be incredible to see him on the big screen.
  • Well, Mo Kraak, you enjoy that. I saw Tom Yum Goong in the theater when it opened under the title "The Protector" in a theater with three friends two other people who came to see the movie. By the end of the film, all six of us were sitting in the same row, talking at the movie more than to each other, left the theater after the end of the movie and got beer. Hell of a time. Have fun doing all that in front of your computer.

    Captain Boosh, I have no problem with watching video on demand if it's the only available way to watch it. If Ong-Bak 2 isn't at a theater anywhere remotely close, by all means, watch it on your computer or Xbox or whatever. It does irk me that theatrical releases for these films are made even less likely because of illegal file sharing, and streaming video makes it less likely still. I saw Kung Fu Hustle in a theater which didn't have any audio/visual foul-ups. I can't imagine wanting to watch that on a monitor or even a television rather than seeing it in a theater with a giant screen, rattling sound, and appreciative, like minded audience.
  • Captain Boosh
    Am I the only person who just doesn't like this movie? It felt so stale. Other than seeing Jaa run on a herd of elephants which is insane because falling = death.

    On another note, this VOD stuff is actually good. When foreign films do get released in theaters here, it's usually limited release in LA and New York only. You can't fault people for not going to see it in theaters. Unless you're Jackie Chan or Stephen Chow (which CJ7 didn't even get a wide release), it's not gonna happen. Plus, I went 3 times to see Kung Fu Hustle only to get my money back because they have no quality control in theaters (the sound was terrible because they could care less about a niche movie). I was waiting for that glorious surround sound and big screen only to be disappointed over and over again from a huge multiplex theater (26 screens).

    But, I also hate people who support bootlegging and internet downloading because there is no way the business will be able to continue to make new films that we like if you don't give your money to the people who make it.
  • Whatever. All I know is that it'll definitely be the first Amazon HD rental on my Roku/Netflix box. Tony Jaa is the best and i consider it an honor to pay for his peerless style of entertainment. However, GoldenPigsy, that does not mean that I would pay to see the film in a sticky, noisy and overpriced movie theater.
  • I'm with Rhythm-X on this. Although I'm less pissed at Magnolia than I am at the fans who bootleg these movies and don't bother to pay for them when they show up in theaters. You people who download deserve to watch these movies in crappy quality on your computer monitors. You are the reason why distributors invest in this incredibly stupid "VOD" crap. How about you guys get out of your houses and actually go watch this movie in a theater as it was intended?
  • Rhythm-X
    "While ONG BAK 2 would undoubtedly look great on a big screen, the reality is that it's getting harder for distributors to put niche movies into theaters and turn a profit."

    Oh f***k you, Magnolia.

    I waited months and avoided bootlegs and imports so I could see this on the big screen and you give me this? If all you're doing is DTVing these films - why should I screw around with the middleman when I can go straight to the source? I've long believed in supporting domestic releases - but why? Obviously there's no longer anything in it for me compared to importing, unless you strong-arm the overseas distributors into not providing any subtitles in an attempt to force my hand. In that case all you force is my middle finger into an upright position. Guess what? You need us a whole hell of a lot more than we need you. If this is the best you can do, we don't need you AT ALL.

    At least now I know there's no reason to wait any longer to watch ONG BAK 2.
  • STDthaGreat
    A friend of mine found a real nice DVD-quality copy off the internet and put it on a DVD. I'm gonna see this bad boy on the big screen and buy the real DVD. Jaa deserves every f'n penny.
  • nicaraguan23
    Tony deserves my money I admit to seeing a boot leg cause I couldn't wait but will be seeing it in theaters whe it gets here.
  • DarkWarrior
    Freaking insane film Tony Ja out did himself with this feature.Loving his directing too.
  • keimuri no shinobi
    if y'all dont know this thing has been on asiandvdclub.org for the last 2 months amazing movie or tap into your local chinatown bootlegger i picked up a great copy there too about a month and a half ago
  • STDthaGreat
    The last 15 minutes of the movie is just pure kung-fu ectasy! You don't get 10-15 minute pure fight choreography like this anymore. Jaa showcases in this movie how he can diversify himself and not depend on the same muy thai arsenal that we have grown accustomed to. These great movies take too damn long to come to the states.
  • This movie is Nuckin Futs!

    I saw it playing on display today... I've NEVER seen fight choreography like it.

    Check it out.
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