Hello all! I've been a long time lurker here but finally registered to tell you guys about the stuff cut out of TOM YUM GOONG for the US release as THE PROTECTOR. I have had the DVD and VCD for quite a long time but felt I should see it in the theater to note what they cut and, of course, to support Tony Jaa in the US.

First off, the really bad news is that the Weinsteins have seen fit to give TYG that bleached out movie look. You know, like Mel Gibson's PAYBACK or Steven Spielberg's MINORITY REPORT. It makes the film look ugly as hell. Sorry about that but that is the only way I can describe it. The thing is every version I have on video (and even the online US trailers) look really sharp. But this look faded and nasty. This is obviously a creative decision and whomever is responsible should be shot.

It is true the film only runs 1 hour and 22 minutes. It is mostly dialogue bits taken out but what really bothered me is they cut stuff out of the fight scenes! The most glaring example is in the warehouse fight where Jaa does the splits underneath that low bar. It is an incredible bit (one of my favorites so I was looking forward to it on the big screen) and is only about 30 seconds long but it is gone. Instead, Jaa slips thru the small opening in the chain link fence and then they cut to him doing his three point jump up the other fence.

Anyway, I watched my DVD and here are some other bits missing:

-the young Tony Jaa learning how to take down a tree from his elephant is gone.

-the mother elephant funeral is gone

-the bit where Jaa and his father go to the market and see the sign advertising for the elephant judging is missing.

-the dancing/prayer bit after the elephants are stolen is gone. This is where Jaa has a shot with his injured father. The US version makes the viewer think the father is killed and Jaa has subtitles saying, "You killed my father!" through out. The whole opening is whittled down to about 10 minutes.

-the people singing really badly in the scene of the first fight are no longer there.

-Jaa throwing that guy he got the photo from out of the window so he can escape is gone.

-after the boat chase things got really screwy. They cut right to Jaa landing in Australia with a title saying "Australia. Two weeks later." The first news report from Australia is missing so we no longer see the people protesting the elephant situation.

-Tony Jaa getting his passport checked is missing, but the "Jackie Chan" cameo stays. He then gets in the taxi and the chase begins.

-Officer Mark is introduced when the cops chase the stolen taxi. His entire intro involving him going around Thai town and acting goofy is gone. So is the store robbery he stops (which will confuse people because the robber is the guy who kills the police commissioner later and Mark knows his name when he sees him). This whole section is the biggest missing bit and it might actually work better.

-the sequences are rearragned here so that after Jaa escapes the cops, they introduce Madame Rose. In the original Thai version she is introduced before Jaa lands in Australia. Here, she is introduced in between Jaa escaping from the cops and the warehouse fight. In the original version, Jaa escapes the cops and is immediately shown confronting Johnny on the bridge.

-the talk they have with the monk is missing.

-the US version offers no resolution for Johnny's character. The last time we see him is when Rose tells him to leave her bathroom. Gone is the ending where he shows up and kills the crooked cop while Mark holds him. So, in the US version, the bad guy is never killed!

-the shots of Madam Rose imagining herself in the red ornate robe as if she were a queen when the skeleton is unvieled are gone.

-I'm pretty sure the "Tony Jaa vs. 50 guys" is missing some bits. I don't recall seeing my favorite part where Jaa takes the grey haired guy down by wrapping his leg around his neck.

-they show the big thugs throw the elephant but don't show it crashing through the glass window! They also don't show Jaa reuniting with his elephant at the end. They just show him walking away all wounded.

There are probably tons of other bits gone but that is just want I can see by memory of the US version and watching the DVD.

Thats a pretty nice detailed list of what was cut in the American version. And pretty much what i've seen from the Protector premiere in NY matches what is missing in the entire list too I believe. I was hoping that they would add some deleted scenes such as the flying elbow bit in the first encounter of Johnny and Kham, scenes of Kham growing up, and a fight scene between one henchman before fighting Lateef.

How was the music by Rza by the way? I wonder how it would sound like...

thanks very much for the thorough report, udar55 !! and welcome to the forum as an active member

sounds like the official US version is much more severely cut than the one that danny and i saw at the AMMI screening.

Apparently, udar55, you remembered more changes than I did. Here is what I got:


1) Kham's uncle is now his father.

2) Kham's "father" gets shot, they cut the scene showing that he survives, and then purposely mistranslate Thai spoken lines to say that he was killed.

3) Everyone has new voices, even if they already spoke english. They dub new english voices over the Australians.

4) They change lines (even English lines). For example, right before the scene where Kham fights all the skaters, Johnny says "kill him", but they dub over a different voice saying, "He'll pay" or "make him pay".

5) Pretty much all the comedic scenes with Petchtai Wongkamlao are cut. That whole scene where he is being interviewed by the news lady is gone. His partial English, partial Thai dialogue with his partner is nonexistent. Now almost everything he says is in English. The only exception is when he is speaking Thai to Kham in the police car.

6) Madame Rose is no longer a transexual. They take that out completely. Her mob family doesn't want her to be the leader simply because she is a woman, not because she is a shemale.

7) Sometimes they interlaced two scenes together. For example, you'd see parts of Kham at the religious ceremony after his elephants are stolen mixed with the band playing at his first fight scene. In this way, they shorten that whole segment.

8) The movie begins with text telling the background of this Jaturangkabat (sp?) tradition.

9) The ending doesn't have the monologue about elephants being respected in Thai culture. Instead they have replaced it with some English monologue that gives praises to the overall culture without even mentioning the elephants.


Here is my take on some of the changes:

They knew that the mass majority of ignorant Americans would not accept the idea that Kham is fighting primarily for his elephants. The American studio felt this was too preachy and so they first of all made Kham's uncle into being his father, and secondly they had him killed. In this way, Kham has a stronger reason to hunt down these people. At least, this is what they thought. I actually felt that the original plot was stronger. It was more about the love for these elephants in this ancient culture. The scene where little Kham and uncle are washing Por Yai is practically gone as well.

In the end, the film is 1 hour and 22 minutes long, as opposed to the original 1 hour and 49 minutes.

Oh, by the way...

The 5:20pm showing at the Regal cinemas in downtown San Diego, California had about 20, maybe 25 viewers. No one seemed too incredibly thrilled about the film. Although good reactions came at the ending fight sequence, particularly the 50 or so minions of Madame Rose. The sound was crappy in this version also. Maybe it was partially the screen I was at.

I agree with you. The Weinsteins also underestimate the target audience for these films. They think that the viewers have ADD and that we can't deal with long dialogue scenes setting up the plot. They think we just want ACTION! ACTION! ACTION! That is too bad because they really cut back on a beautiful part of the movie (the relationship between Kham and his elephants). Oh well. Thank goodness for the original version.

actually in the original thai version that is his father, not uncle.

great reviews from the both of you udar and paraprakrti !! thank you both very much

Oh, so then the English subtitles to the version I saw in Hong Kong are wrong. That's wierd.

Finally saw this film. Holy fudge, the Weinstein totally butchered this film. They made it even worse.

man after reading all ya'll comments on what's missing in the american version was all damn didn't expect that much to be cut out. was all short and they made it a bit confusing they just threw this movie off for god sakes. was just gaw they just ruined it for me.
that first time watchin him cry just wanted to cry as well.

that part when kham was stabbed from one of the 50 fighters that paused moment when kham looked at his wound looks up at him then he snapped out of it when the dude tried stabbin him again and kham started beating the crap out of them.

How insulting are the Weinstein Brothers to Tony Jaa and his team?! In practically every interview Tony gave about this movie, he emphasised that one of the main purposes of this film is to show the world the relationship between Thais and elephants. The Weinsteins completely ignored this and effectively editted their own version of the film. I hope they never get the chance to work on a foreign film again. This makes me so angry! Thank God the UK distributers kept the UK version that I went to watch intact.

I don't know what to say, I just don't understand why some people can't accept foreign films the way they are. Those guys successfully censored out the Thai culture.

very good points, and i completely agree with you. weinstein's "dragon dynasty" label is really scary to me now. they'll be distributing many more asian films under that label, including ong bak 2.

this is really disappointing and insulting.

udar55 is a regular on the Kung Fu Fandom forum. Hello my friend, nice to see you on Jaa's forum.

GOD DAMN YOU WEINSTEINS!!!!!! RACIST FAGGOTS!!!!!! UHHHH I WOULD LOVE TO SEE JAA DO SOME SERIOUS BONE BREAKING ON YOU BASTARDS!!!!!!!

TITLING IT 'THE PROTECTOR' WAS A BAD IDEA TOO!!!!!!!! STUPID IDIOTS!!!!!! MAYBE YOU FOOLS SHOULD HAD DONE A RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE EVER USED THAT TITLE BEFORE!!!!!!!! THERE IS ANOTHER "THE PROTECTOR" STARRING A CERTAIN JACKIE CHAN!

I have to make a correction. Someone on another forum mentioned this scene is in the film. I could have sworn it wasn't in the one I saw. I'm probably going to go check it out again tonight to see it with a big crowd so I will double check. I'll also try to memorize the "50 guys vs. Tony Jaa" scene before I go to see if there is stuff missing in that. My apologies for being wrong with the ending bit.

If the Weinsteins are going to distribute Ong-Bak 2, we need to become The Protectors and protect Tony Jaa's (and other Asian stars') films from being tortured like this. I think the first move for us to make is e-mail the Weinsteins to point out our feelings. Don't be rude to them. Say it in a polite way, otherwise we'll just look like immature little kids and they won't take us seriously. Thank them for distributing Tom Yum Goong but politely say what they did with the film was wrong, even offensive. We must let them know that we are more than just one dimensional people who can only associate with emotions involving the loss of a father. We must tell them to not do the same with Ong-Bak 2.

When Ong-Bak 2 is close to being released in America, we should write to them again or get a petition going.

that's a great idea!

i'd post contact infomation for the weinstein company, but i can't find it because it seems their website is down.

lol, and I even felt the plot was kinda weak to begin with!

Serioously now, we have to do something about this. If anyone has any contact information to that company please share with us. We need to make sure that OB2 and other movies won't get this lousy treatment.

I knew it, I said they would sushi this film in the US, thats why I wont go see it in theaters, I have the DVD already anyway of the Korean version

Also I think they left out the scene where Tony breaks Stuntman Ron Stoorumburg's arm then yanks him in a circle to spin kick him in the face.

Honestly, the plot was crap to begin with anyway. Tom Yum Goong without the fight scenes is the worst movie of all time.

Hehe it didnt suprised me I knew it they gonna cut the best fight scenes in this movie.America should stop with that cut crap thing,it just runied this movie.I wouldnt watch tom yum goong in theather and if they would gave me free tickets.

And they were using that in the TV ads!

Oh, I'm saddened.
At first I thought that there will be some of the deleted scenes appear in the US version. But it sounds that things turn out to be totally different.

I understand cutting up some of the scenes with Madam Rose, Johnny, Officer Mark, etc. since those scenes were expendable. The relationship between Jaa and his elephants was the focal point of Tom Yum Goong and they just completely removed that. The beginning scenes with the elephant and young Tony Jaa should have been kept in tact, also the ceremony to wish Kham luck in finding Por-Yai should have been kept too.

I was extremely disappointed that they would eliminate all traces of Thai culture and tradition.

Quentin Tarantino has teamed up with The Weinstein Company to launch a new DVD label called Dragon Dynasty. In essence, it finally provides a home for all of their many stalled Asian film acquisitions, as well as new titles and reissues of past releases.

"I'm delighted that my film SPL will be one of the lead titles for Dragon Dynasty," said Donnie Yen. "Harvey has put a great team together for the brand, and I look forward to collaborating with them on the upcoming release of Seven Swords. Finally, we Asian action filmmakers have a proper platform to present our work to the international audience."

Sammo Hung stated, "I hope this new label brings more fans to our films, so that we have an even bigger audience in the future. I'm very happy to see SPL, Dragon Squad and some of my older films released by Dragon Dynasty. I'm a heavy hitter myself, and it's good to see TWC throwing its weight behind our industry!"

Other hot titles expected to appear on this label include Tom Yum Goong (as The Protector), Born to Fight, Seven Swords, and Dragon Squad. The Weinsteins also plan to release 43 titles from Fortune Star's massive library and a number of notable independent releases like The Killer and Hardboiled. Their plans include expanding the label's catalog to include Asian films from all action-oriented genres.

Titles that TWC opts for theatrical release will be handled through them, while all home video output will be in the care of their partner, Genius Products Inc.

Tarantino will be actively involved in all aspects of brand development. In addition, Hong Kong producer and martial arts movie expert Bey Logan, who now works for TWC, is working on acquisitions and on building up a number of Special Edition versions of classic Asian titles like Fist of Legend and The Tai Chi Master. These titles will come packaged with a host of bonus content such as documentaries, interviews and deleted scenes.

The Distributor Dimesion is probably the worse. They re-release HK Titles, and it's re-scored and dubbed in english. Then when they release the DVD, they don't leave in the Original as well. Jackie let these people distribute Super Cop, Legend of the Drunken Master, and Operation Condors. Maybe Jackie thought it was better for the US audience not to see it the way he originally shot it for the HK version. Because on his come-back to the US, he re-released his films, and at the sametime was filming recent movies. Jackie loves his movies, and he was promoting his titles that were distributed by Dimesion here in the US. I know for myself, because I record a lot of his interviews on TV when he was promoting Supercop, to Twin Dragons, to Legend of the Drunken Master, to The Medallion, etc. on Jay Leno, on Late night shows, on Good Morning America, and all of those shows. I think Jackie wanted the US audience to see a different look to his films.
For Jet Li, he let Dimension re-release his stuff, and it's dubbed in english of course, and re-scored, but the Original is NOT in the disc. Again, for Jet, maybe he was thinking the samething like Jackie. Maybe they think americans wouldn't understand or care for the Original asian version.
With the Miramax, they re-released Shaolin Soccer in theaters and it didn't do well, because of the horrible edits, cuts, new music added, and the bad dubbing in english. Stephen Chow was very disappointed at what Miramax did to his masterpiece. That's why when he released Kung Fu Hustle, he let Columbia Tri-Star re-released it. Tristar is probably the best distributor for the asian films I suppose. Because they are the only ones who at least leave in the original Cantonese audio track with subtitles. What Miramax did RIGHT for Shaolin Soccer was, on the DVD release, they did LEAVE in the FULL UNCUT Cantonese Original Shaolin Soccer on the disc.
Which was a good thing, I'm glad they did that, because I never watch their crappy american version, and because the uncut version is on the dvd, it makes it almost worth getting. The Shaolin Soccer HK DVD is much better, but not uncut, still though they have interviews and the making of the film. The uncut was released on VCD... So HK is kinda messed up themselves re-releasing different version on separate discs.
Now for the Dragon Dynasty and the Weinstein Co., they are pissing me off, but then again, they must be doing what Miramax did to Shaolin Soccer. They re-release Jaa's movie in theaters their way, then I'm sure when they release "The Protector" on DVD, they're going to leave in the Original Uncut version on it as well. Dragon Dynasty and the Weinstein re-release SPL with a different title "Kill Zone"... I saw the screen shots, and actually didn't look too bad. On the disc, they did leave in the Original Cantonese audio track. Donnie and Sammo seems to be happy with it. But for the SPL film, there is 2 different versions, and what the Weinsteins could had done was put in the different ending for the film. They do have other features on the disc. Still though, I don't say it's the best version, but Sammo and them seems to be happy with what Dragon Dynasty and the Weinsteins are doing. So I don't know what to say. With all of these re-releases, I'm sure Tony Jaa knew what the Weinsteins had done to his film, and maybe he was possibly happy when they paid him a lot of money for them to do it their way.

Liu Chung Liang, when you copy an article for the forum, please be sure you include a link to the original source.

The theme should be clearer in "The Protector". I mean Kham's love for his Phor Yai and Khon.

Tony said "emotion drives action".

The American Cut of Tom Yum Goong is the worst version out there. It is like watching a crappy TV movie.

I know the American version was cut to pieces but I guess none of the whiners noticed the 2 disc edition.
WTF! I guess that Americans shouldn't be allowed to get any Asian films because of Hollywoods butchery.
Skru that!
I'm sorry that the common American can't travel to the country of origin and purchase the pure film from the maker himself!
You should be glad that at least what is on the market now is making it out of countries like Thailand and China - this has not always been the case.
If this is a MB for bashing everything American then I may need to find another MB!

critterdee:

You seemed to have entirely missed the point of this thread.

I went back through this thread.
I do understand the point that is made about Asian films being butchered. I've often made the same comment.
I just don't like the feeling of - if the industry is going to mess things up, it would be better not to let these films in.
It's like as trying to get certain movies into the Chinese theaters. Only in that case it's due to Government bans and censorship. Hopefully with time and good efforts both these matters can be settled.
Dragon Dynasty is what it is. At least it's a start. I know I wouldn't have the opportunity of owning several of my favorite movies with out DD. But I guess that is not your point or problem.

Hollywood has reigned supreme for so long, it will take time for this transformation. But the transformation has begun.

Maybe I see things differently from others.

I agree with everything you say critterdee.

No one is bashing America, we're just upset that they have to change the entire plot (making it that Tony wanted revenge for his father's death instead of just solely wanting his elephants back) so that the non-Thai audience would "get" the movie. I think it's an insult to our intelligence and it makes the assumption that we are too ignorant of other cultures to comprehend the movie in its original form.

But as you said, it is what it is and it's better than nothing. As long as Tony gets his name out there and becomes an international movie star, that's all that's important.

If you look at what was available in the US in, say, the 80's compared to now. There is a trend toward the better.
All foreign films were completly corrupted to "better suit American standards" - Like the issue in Protector with dubbing even English speaking actors. History does show that the quality we have now has gotten better.
At least in the DVD market, many more movies have a duel disk version that allows a directors cut or (as with Protector) the more pure form.
Thanks to people like Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, Jet Li and even Quentin Tarantino, the US is getting Asian films.

Another way to look at it, even Hollywood movies get edited to death. - How many of you have watch the director's cut of a movie and were amazed by how much was dropped? And the holes that were filled in that version.

Here Br,until last year,was not Thai film.I see TYG,because one person recorded on tv ( tv à cabo).The film is dubbling in portuguese br (I don't know if it's same words) and the comments above to have seem,it's also full of cuts...(deve estar cheio de cortes)
I still can not buy dvd region 4 or 1
I think,it's protectionism,or some form of preconception...(I don't know...I don't like to talk about this.)
Now,I will pray to come here Ong Bak 2