Fireball - First Look

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Hi everyone.

Cult Labs is officially promoting FIREBALL, a violent Thai fight film that still manages to deliver a big emotional wallop on top of the state of the art action violence. It's a canny trick that not many genre films can pull off.

No official press release yet so these are just my thoughts having sat down and watched the film with my partner. I've watched a lot of Martial Arts films in my time as well as Mainstream Action flicks and this one has a little weight. Not too much or at least, not enough to detract from why we watch these films in the first place.... Bone snapping, eye gouging, spine splintering fight scenes!

All I'm saying is, it's nice to have something to remember after the flurry of fists and broken teeth and FIREBALL give you that.

Aside from promotional duties, I personally recommend it. We we're left shaken by the film and I've been raving about it ever since.


Here's a teaser clip (more to follow over the next few weeks), let me know what you all think!

[DeadAlive]

I do like a good sports film.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

I don't think you could get away with thise movies in the NBA!

[Sam@Cult Labs]

I've got some official press release info now:

PREPARE TO WITNESS THE MOST MIND-BLOWING MARTIAL ARTS ACTION FILM SINCE “ONG-BAK”.

In 2005, “Ong-Bak” introduced a whole new level of martial arts mayhem to unsuspecting action movie fans around the world and raised the bar as far as on-screen, in-your-face fight and action choreography was concerned. Now, producer Adirek Watleela (Bang Rajan; Bangkok Dangerous) and director Thanakorn Pongsuwan (Opapatika; The Story Of X-Circle) take things in a new direction with the electrifying and relentlessly violent FIREBALL, starring popular Thai rock star Preeti “Bank” Barameeanant in the dual roles of twin brothers who become dangerously involved in Thailand’s ultimate underground bloodsport.

Eschewing plot complexities in favour of all-out action sequences, FIREBALL combines the breakneck paced sport of basketball with the bone crushing brutality of Muay Thai fighting and mixed martial arts for an action movie experience quite unlike any other.

Recently released from prison, Tai discovers that his twin brother Tan is in a coma after being beaten to near-death by a rival. Further investigation reveals that in order to raise money to secure Tai’s early release, Tan had become involved in an illegal and deadly but highly lucrative underground sport known as Fireball, a no-holds-barred combination of basketball and martial arts in which ruthless murder is simply part of the game.

Seeking revenge on the man responsible for his brother’s condition, Tai poses as Tan and infiltrates the gangster-run world of Fireball by joining a team consisting of equally desperate individuals, including a Thai boxing champion out to prove himself, a Thai-African in need of money to support his impoverished family, and an old friend of Tan’s with a mysterious past.
After entering the latest Fireball tournament, Tai and his teammates are forced to risk everything, including their lives, by fighting their way to the final round of the championships in an arena from which several of them may not return. Along the way, Tai determines to identify his brother’s attacker and exact his revenge no matter what the cost to himself or those around him.

Breathtakingly paced from start to finish and featuring numerous extended scenes of stunning sports and explosive martial arts choreography, FIREBALL is a truly exhilarating action movie guaranteed to bludgeon viewers into submission and leave them as exhausted as its protagonists by the time the final credits begin to roll.

[Philleh]

Glad to see this got a swift UK release! Was worried it would be another Ong-Bak job!

I first watch that in Thai with no subtitles on a Hong Kong DVD, then I saw it in Italy on the big screen (the Luc Besson version, ugh) then finally it came out over here and I finally got to see what the hell they were all saying! ha ha.

Excited about this film, big time!

[Sam@Cult Labs]

Same here!

When I got the disc I thought, here goes another average action flick but It really grabbed me.

Here's the official trailer, in case you missed it on the front page...

[Peter Neal]

Over 4 mins had to go for the "FSK approved" "18"-rated German release.

Here's a link to a list of cuts with pics.

I guess those who want to avoid spoilers should probably ignore this:

http://www.schnittberichte.com/schni...php?ID=3207495

[ponga]

I'm glad this movie release outside Thailand.
And I hope it'll recieve a good review from the west audience.
The most part that I like in Fireball is the dramatic scence and the actor's performance.

[Philleh]

Ugh, they've taken all the grit and emotion from it then PN! ha ha.

Lame.

[Sam@Cult Labs]

I've got the pack shot for the DVD release...