Tony Jaa's Underrated 2005 Martial Arts Movie Had One Of The Best Henchmen In The Entire Genre

The 2005 martial arts epic film The Protector starring Tony Jaa is brimming with memorable fight scenes. The film follows Kham (Jaa) as the last in his line of family members who have protected Thailand’s war elephants. When his beloved animals are stolen by a corrupt member of parliament and a gang of poachers, he embarks on a quest for revenge. In his journey, Kham finds himself entwined in a world of gangsters, drugs, and treachery.

Perhaps the most memorable fight sequence in The Protector is Khan’s battle with a Capoeira Fighter (Lateef Crowder) in a Buddhist temple. Capoeira is a martial arts dance technique with Afro-Brazilian roots. The capoeira henchman provided an interesting match for Tony Jaa’s martial arts skills, which largely originate in a different culture. The diversity of fighting styles was an important moment for the genre, and The Protector deserves more recognition among Tony Jaa’s movies.

The Protector’s Capoeira Fighter Is One Of The Genre’s Best Henchmen

The Surprise Attack Makes The Moment A Standout

The martial arts genre’s most famous films tend to lack capoeira representation. The Protector‘s inclusion of varying types and styles of martial arts makes it a visually striking and insightful film in itself. This coupled with the suspense of the capoeira fighter launching a surprise attack at a Buddhist Temple should certainly cement The Protector in the genre’s hall of fame. The fight raised the film’s stakes by several levels.

Tony Jaa: The 10 Craziest Stunts In The Protector (2005)

Tony Jaa’s big follow up to Ong Bak was The Protector, which attempted to one-up what he’d previously done, with even more jaw-dropping stunt work.

While Tony Jaa is known for his own skills, the fact that the capoeira fighter beats him in a fight makes the fighter one of the best martial arts henchmen out there. Not just anyone could take Tony Jaa in a fight, and the unique sequence makes the henchman plot line incredibly engaging. This is only one of many reasons why The Protector deserves more hype.

The Capoeira Fighter Is Just One Reason The Protector Is Underrated

The Film Is Visually Striking

Outside its fight sequences, The Protector offers gorgeous scenery of Australia, Thailand, and more. This allowed for the plot to explore many places and cultures while centering Jaa’s Thai background, and how they are all affected by gang violence, poaching, and socioeconomic issues in different ways. The film’s underlying message of fighting for the conservation of endangered animals is decidedly modern, and would likely resonate even more with current audiences.

Capoeira deserves more attention in the martial arts world.

The Protector is a classic Tony Jaa film thanks to its methodical fight scenes, but it also took production far and wide, creating narratives and characters that many viewers could relate to. Capoeira deserves more attention in the martial arts world, as it is an incredibly singular practice in Brazilian culture, and it is part of such a pivotal moment in this production. For its unique take on martial arts and central story line, The Protector certainly deserves more modern recognition.