There are few filmmakers around today outside of Disney bold enough to make a movie�s entire emotional gravitas hinge on the plight of an elephant. Much less one that involves Tony Jaa, a veritable ass-kicking seven-nation army, taking on scores of psychotically violent Thai drug dealers to save his beloved jumbo from a fate worse than a fate worse than death.

If Oscars were handed out for sheer enjoyment and entertainment value alone, Ong-Bak would clean up tomorrow. The plot might be full of holes, the dialogue hilariously wooden in places, and the plausibility factor stretched beyond all comprehension, but if you see a more engrossing film this year get in touch.

Ong-Bak tells the story of Kham (Jaa) and his two elephants Por Yai and Korn. Unbeknown to Kham and his aging father (Sotorn Rungruaeng), a close contact of the family is heavily involved in organised crime and the smuggling of endangered animals to Australia.

Prized jumbo Por Yai is kidnapped from the Thai Water Festival, sparking a burning rage within Kham to save his dear companion from the clutches of the Thai mafia. What follows are some extraordinary, often ludicrous, Jaturungkabart Muay Thai fight scenes, including one 4-minute epic which pits Kham against an entire brothel of Thai mafia men, as he attempts to rescue Por Yai from being killed for his tusks.

Kham travels to Sydney to hunt down the elephant stealing gang, cue a classy but predictable cameo from Jackie Chan, where he befriends two bumbling Australian policemen, Sergeant Mark (Phetthai Wongkhamiao) and Officer Rick (Damian De Montemas), who aid Kham in his quest. Kham also meets a Thai girl, Pla (Bongkod Kongmalai), who has been roped into the city�s sex industry and is desperate to escape.

Ong-Bak excels in combining genuine emotional interest in the plight of Por Yai and the determination of Kham to right wrongs, with some bone-crunchingly imaginative, special effects-free fight scenes.

As the bodies lay wasted on the ground, and Kham has single-handedly destroyed another army of streetfighters, he utters the one standout line of the film, �Where�s my elephant?� Delivered with vitriol and paternal outrage, few will doubt its sincerity. Director Prachya has succeeded in getting the very best out of Jaa, who, despite his tender years, is now a veteran of martial arts movies. On the strength of the fight scenes offered, Jaa certainly has the ability to become as iconic a figure as Bruce Lee. From the lush pastoral scenery of Thailand, to the mean streets of Sydney, where Jaa enacts his final one-man rampage, Ong-Bak is an extremely satisfying, emotionally engaging and accomplished piece of cinema that doesn�t take itself too serious. Not so much violence for ecology as potentially one of the most enthralling films you�re likely to see this year. If you only see one martial arts film this year, make it Ong-Bak.