The Protector

Year:

2006

Duration:

108 min | Germany:90 min | USA:81 min

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

IMDB rate:

7.1

Director:

Prachya Pinkaew

Details

Country: Thailand

Release Date: 2006-09-08

Filming Locations: Australia

Earnings

Opening Weekend: $5,034,180 (USA) (10 September 2006)

Gross: $11,905,519 (USA) (22 October 2006)

Cast

Actor

Character

Bongkoj Khongmalai

The Protector

Tony Jaa

Kham

Petchtai Wongkamlao

Mark

Xing Jing

Madame Rose

Nathan Jones

T.K.

Johnny Nguyen

Johnny

Lateef Crowder

Capoeira Fighter

Jon Foo

Wushu Fighter

Damian de Montemas

Vincent

David Asavanond

Officer Rick

Sotorn Rungruaeng

Kham's Father

Amonphan Gongtragan

Goong

Nutdanai Kong

Kham (9 years old)

Dean Alexandrou

Vincent's Henchmen

Jintana Arromyen

Massage Girl

Thanin Banjongkajorn

Kang

Gianni Belfiore

Vincent's Henchmen

Sutanai Buyaketu

Suthep

Nipon Chaisirikul

Gangster's Master

Sambat the Elephant

Por Yai

Don Ferguson

Johnny's Henchmen

Cholatit Haenphan

Tui

Apichart Hanbang

Boxing Referee

Lin Sin Hui

Chal's mother

Mongkol Kaimook

Johnny's Henchmen

Jasper Kassidy

Monk

Nam Young Kim

Mini Mart Owner

Yun Leng Kua

Gu Zheng Musician

Ornsiri Kunrajarya

Singer in Safehouse

John Lamond Jr.

Chief Inspector Lamond

Uthaiwan Laohaveranith

Madame Rose's Aunt

Ric Lawes

Australian Secretary General

Andrew Lawton

Officer Rick

Panda Likoudis

Jimmy

Lu Siew Luan

Kang's mother

Prasit Manaskuljaroun

Chern

Erik Markus Schuetz

Johnny's Henchmen

Rene Minkwitz

Fortune Teller's Henchmen

Kanchan Numwat

Master of Oracle Ceremony

Heinz Ollesch

Fortune Teller's Henchmen (as Reinz Ollesch)

Philip George Pfister

Fortune Teller's Henchmen

Kimball hyunu Pojas

Asian Channel Cameraman

Sok Pong

Passerby at Sydney Airport

Winai Poonpermpmpon

Fortune Teller

Napat Poori

Suthin

Chan Pornpitakthepkij

Tom Yum goong Restaurant Supervisor

Kunyaratana Rienjaroensuk

Newscaster

Nee Saeaew

Madame Rose's Grandmother

Sonya Angela Schoeggl

Asian Channel Reporter

Somsak Senglee

BMX Rider

Singha

Korn

Jong Somjai

Mr. Sim

Jampargar Sriboonruang

Mango Vendor

Colin Stevens

Vincent's Henchmen

Andrew Tate

Policeman

Suman Thepsathit

Tom Yum Goong Restaurant Manager

Amornrath Ubon

Woman in Spa

Andrew Veigh

Forensics Staff

Tanissorn Wangijcharoenchai

Chal

Watson Wisuwan

Johnny's Henchmen

Phuangpha Yailaibang

Woman in Spa

Pumwaree Yodkamol

Girl on the street

Yoyo

Korn

Tony Chu

Thug

Nate Harrison

Fighter (uncredited)

Ann Hu

Madame Rose

Nick Koleszar

Cop searching house for suspect (uncredited)

John Ladalski

Fighter (uncredited)

Lex Luther

Bodyguard

Damian Mavis

Bodyguard

Niko Rusakov

Kham's opponent

Wannakit Sirioput

Mark's replacement partner

Ron Smoorenburg

Kham's opponent

Brice Stratford

Thug

Eddie Vee

Kham

Did you know?

Trivia

According to the director on the special edition DVD, the continuous fight scene took five full takes for a variety of reasons, including stunt objects not breaking and the stunt mat not being in place in time. The five takes were filmed over a one-month period.

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This is the first Thai film to be a "top ten film" at the American box office on its opening weekend, opening in fourth place.

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Tony Jaa has developed a new style of Muay Thai specially for the film: "Muay Kotchasan" is based on elephants' movements ("throw, stamp on, grab, break").

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Goofs

At the end, when madame Rose lifts up with the helicopter, the landing site is clear of people, though in the previous and next scenes there were characters at the big "H" mark.

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The scene where the huge bell falls revealing Jaa with the drum sticks, the next scene when the wushu fighter approaches Jaa, the bell is gone.

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During the final fights were Tony Jaa is attacked by hordes of people you can see that the same footage is used over and over, only from different sides. Because people that are defeated in the beginning can be recognized later in the running scenes.

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Quotes

Inspector Mark: And this is the main Asian market in downtown Sydney, most of the people here are Asian, you know? Chinese, Thai, Vietnam

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Inspector Mark: [while chasing after Kham who's in a taxi, Mark looks at Officer Rick, who's driving, in a funny way] Stop here!

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Kham: You killed my father, and you stole my elephant!

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Faq

Q

What are the differences between the European Cut and the Thai Version?

A

In several European countries, e.g. France, Italy and Germany, a heavily shortened version, the so-called European Cut, was released that runs nearly 19 minutes shorter than the original Thai Version. Mostly the plot was streamlined but there are also some violent scenes that were cut out of the European Version. A different soundtrack was also used. A very detailed comparison between both versions, split in two parts, can be found here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).

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