The Bodyguard (2004 film)

The Bodyguard
The cover to the Thailand DVD release of the film.
Directed by	Petchtai Wongkamlao
Produced by	Somsak Techaratanaprasert
Written by	Petchtai Wongkamlao
Starring	Petchtai Wongkamlao, Pumwaree Yodkamol, Piphat Apiraktanakorn, Tony Jaa
Cinematography	Nattawut Kittikhun
Editing by	Thawat Sermsuwittayawong
Distributed by	Sahamongkol Film International
Release date(s)	January 21, 2004 (Thailand)
Running time	95 min.
Country	Thailand
Language	Thai

The Bodyguard (Thai: บอดี้การ์ดหน้าเหลี่ยม) is a 2004 wire fu action-comedy written and directed by Thai comedian and actor Petchtai Wongkamlao and featuring martial-arts choreography by Panna Ritikrai. It is followed by the 2007 sequel, The Bodyguard 2.

Plot

After a shootout with dozens of assassins, Wong Kom, bodyguard to Chot Petchpantakarn, the wealthiest man in Asia, finds his subject killed.

Chaichol, the son and heir to the family fortune, fires the bodyguard and takes it upon himself to find the killers. He's then ambushed, and the rest of the bodyguard team is wiped out. Chaichol, however, comes out of it alive, and finds himself in a Bangkok slum, living with a volunteer car-accident rescue squad and falling in love with tomboyish Pok.

Meanwhile, Wong Kom is working to clear his name, and stay ahead of the chief villain and his bumbling gang of henchmen.

Cast

• Petchtai Wongkamlao as Wong Kom
• Piphat Apiraktanakorn as Chaichol Petchpantakarn
• Surachai Juntimatorn as Chot Petchpantakarn
• Suthep Prayoonpitak as Choung Petchpantakarn
• Aranya Namwong as Rattana Petchpantakarn
• Pumwaree Yodkamol as Pok
• Apaporn Nakornsawan as Mae Jam
• Wachara Pan-Iom as Songpol
• Yingyong Yodbuangam as Arthit
• Choosak Iamsook as Songpol Gangster No. 1
• Samart Payakaroon as Songpol Gangster No. 2
• Krisranapong Ratchatha as Songpol Gangster No. 3
• Sayan Muangcharoen as Songpol Gangster No. 3
• Tony Jaa as Supermarket fighter / himself (as Panom Yeerum)

Casting notes

• Petchtai Wongkamlao, a popular Thai comedian, plays the straight man.
• Some of the film's promotional materials imply that this followup to Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior stars Tony Jaa. In fact, Tony only has a small (but still memorable) role as an anonymous fighter in a supermarket.
• In addition to Tony Jaa, dozens of Thai celebrities, including sports figures, comedians and musicians, have roles and cameos on the film. Among them are:
  • Surachai Juntimatorn, portraying Chaichol's father, is more popularly known as "Nga Caravan" of the pioneering 1970s songs for life band, Caravan.
  • Yingyong Yodbuangam, who portrayed one of the leaders of the bad guys, is a well-known luk thung singer.
  • Twin-brother boxers Kaokor Galaxy and Khaosai Galaxy, portraying the "twin assassins".
  • Another boxer, Samart Payakaroon, is Songpol Gangster No. 2.
  • Chao Kokaew Prakaykavil na Chiang Mai, a blue-haired fixture on Thai newspaper society pages until her death in 2005, portrays a maid.

Production notes

• One of the most infamous scenes in the film is when Petchtai Wongkamlao's character runs naked across Bangkok's crowded Victory Monument public square, a major junction for public transportation. Petchtai sought to have a body-double do the stunt, but couldn't find anyone to do it, so he had to do it himself. On the "making of" documentary on the DVD, he said it was the most embarrassing thing he had done in his life.
• There are several references to the Movie Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior. An Example is in the Supermarket fight scene, where Tony Jaa's character says : You are welcome, Humlae, and Petchtai Wongkamlao responds by stating that this is another Movie ( Ong-Bak: Muay Thai Warrior). Petchtai Wongkamlao played a character named Humlae in this Movie.

Awards and nominations

• Best supporting actress winner, Apaporn Nakornsawan, Thailand National Film Awards, 2005.

External links

• The Bodyguard at the Internet Movie Database
• The Bodyguard at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Bodyguard review at Kung Fu Cinema.