The Bodyguard 2004 [RECOMMENDED]
No wires. No CGI. Panna Rittikrai used a hidden hydraulic piston under the car, but the effect is still jaw-dropping. It became an instant meme in Thailand and remains one of the most audacious practical stunts of the decade. | Feature | The Bodyguard (1992) | The Bodyguard (2004) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Star | Kevin Costner, Whitney Houston | Panna Rittikrai, Petchtai Wongkamlao | | Genre | Romantic Thriller | Action-Comedy | | Soundtrack | “I Will Always Love You” | Thai pop songs and buffalo sound effects | | Primary Weapon | Handgun, good intentions | A motorcycle, a frying pan, and a water buffalo | | Ending | Tragic separation | Explosions, dancing, and a freeze-frame | Legacy and Availability Despite being a massive hit in Thailand, “The Bodyguard 2004” never received a proper North American theatrical release. It went straight-to-DVD under the label “Bollywood?” (incorrectly) or “Best of Martial Arts.”
For years, the only way to watch was via grainy 240p YouTube uploads or imported region-free DVDs with notoriously bad English subtitles (one famous subtitle reads: “I will fold your laundry with violence.”) the bodyguard 2004
Recently, a 20th-anniversary restoration has been making the festival circuit. As of 2024-2025, the film is slowly becoming available on niche streaming platforms like Hi-YAH! and Amazon Prime’s “Worldwide Action” section. Searching for “The Bodyguard 2004” is like finding a secret door in a video game. You expected a Hollywood romance, but what you get is a chaotic, physical, hilarious, and genuinely thrilling piece of Thai cinema history. No wires
Rittikrai does not move like a young Tony Jaa. He is older, stockier, and looks like a farmer. That is the point. His fighting style in this film is brutally efficient: elbows, knees, headbutts, and using the environment. In one famous eight-minute uninterrupted take, Rittikrai fights fifty men on a moving tour bus, using seat belts, fire extinguishers, and luggage racks as weapons. It is a masterclass in practical stunt work. Unlike the somber tone of the 1992 Bodyguard , the 2004 version is pure slapstick. Wong Kom is a country bumpkin who doesn’t understand city life. He tries to use a mobile phone as a fishing weight. He mistakes a ladyboy for a woman. He communicates with his pet buffalo via telepathy. It became an instant meme in Thailand and
The plot is deliberately thin, serving only as a clothesline upon which to hang spectacular fight sequences and absurdist Thai comedy. If you have never seen this film, here are three reasons to track down a copy of “The Bodyguard 2004” immediately. 1. The Panna Rittikrai Factor Before Tony Jaa was a star, Panna Rittikrai was the godfather of modern Thai action. He directed the brutally physical Born to Fight (2004) and choreographed the unstoppable Ong-Bak . The Bodyguard is his rare starring vehicle.
(released in some territories as Kun doo kum pun or The Bodyguard 2 , depending on the market) is a Thai action-comedy masterpiece that has achieved cult status. Directed by and starring Thai action legend Panna Rittikrai (the stunt choreographer behind Ong-Bak and Tom-Yum-Goong ), this film is a chaotic, hilarious, and bone-crunching love letter to the bodyguard genre.
If you love Ong-Bak , The Raid , or even just the absurdity of Kung Fu Hustle (released the same year), you owe it to yourself to watch Panna Rittikrai flip a car, fight on a bus, and save the day against all logic.
