This week, we’re kicking it up a notch with the 2005 Thai action flick The Protector (original name: Tom Yum Goong), starring Asian action sensation Tony Jaa! Jaa plays Kham, the last member of a tribe of elephant protectors, who must brave the big city of Sydney, Australia to rescue a pair of elephants that were cruelly stolen from him by the mob that controls an exotic food restaurant named Tom Yum Goong. The plot’s extremely thin and drags on way too long, but the real highlights of the film are Tony Jaa’s intricately choreographed fight scenes – minute after minute of Jaa completely throwing his body into visceral, brilliant fight choreography.
It may be a bit of weirdness sitting through the poorly-written dialogue and paper thin characters to get to them, but boy, are they worth it. Luckily, we’ve got some drinking rules and a custom cocktail to tide you over until the next time Tony Jaa launches himself at someone!
LISTEN HERE OR DOWNLOAD:
THIS EPISODE’S DRINK: Mu-ai Thai
4 parts pineapple rum
2 parts dark rum
5-6 parts coconut milk
2 parts orange curacao
lime syrup
dash, sake
splash, anisette
dollop, cashew butter
Combine and shake. Pour into glass. (Alternatively, shake just the alcoholic ingredients and layer ingredients on top.)
DRINKING RULES FOR THE PROTECTOR:
- Whenever Tony Jaa hits someone with his elbows or knees
- Every time you see a slow-motion shot
- Every time someone says the word ‘elephant’
FINISH YOUR DRINK WHEN:
The reporter says to Mark, “ What do you say about the reports of a Thai man, with a red scarf and a baby elephant?”
Next week, we’re meeting the savior of the universe with the 1980 camp classic Flash Gordon! AA-AHHH!
