The Protector (1985)

20% of critics liked it
(5 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(6,687 ratings)

On the eve of presenting a pair of prized elephants to the King of Thailand, a young martial arts expert and his father are shocked to discover that the beloved creatures were stolen by an international mafia syndicate, and now the determined fighter must travel to Australia to get his animals back… More On the eve of presenting a pair of prized elephants to the King of Thailand, a young martial arts expert and his father are shocked to discover that the beloved creatures were stolen by an international mafia syndicate, and now the determined fighter must travel to Australia to get his animals back in this adventure from the team behind the international action hit Ong Bak. To Kham (Tony Jaa) and his father, the elephants that they were about to present to the King of Thailand were not simply pets, but members of the family as well. When Kham learns that the criminals who stole his elephants have taken them back to their home base in Australia, the fearsome fighter vows to brave the strange new land and bring his animals back safely no matter what the cost. Upon arriving in Australia, Kham enlists the aid of Thai Police Sergeant Mark (Petchthai Wongkamlao) and pretty slave Pla (Bongkuch Kongmaili) in taking on down notorious crime boss Madame Rose (Jing Xing) and locating the animals he loves before it's too late. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: James Glickenhaus
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 23, 1985 Wide
On DVD: Jun 4, 2002
Studio: Weinstein Company

Critic Reviews

Phil Villarreal, Arizona Daily Star
Tony Jaa's surname is actually shortened from "JAAAAAA!" which is the sound opponents make when he snaps their tendons, cracks their skulls and pops out their eyeballs in a whirlwind of Muay Thai mayhem.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Typical fun loving, acrobatic action Chan.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...the quality isn't much to brag about...little in the way of bonus items.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Jackie Chan beats up people and things blow up....If it's good enough for you, the picture works.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

Okay Jackie Chan actioner.
Doctor S

Watch only to inwardly scoff at a Hollywood that had no idea what they had in Jackie. Here he plays a gun-toting, foul-mouthed cop partnered with gun-toting, foul-mouthed Danny Aiello. Only redeeming value comes from Jackie's acrobatics and that the experience so disgusted him… More
Watch only to inwardly scoff at a Hollywood that had no idea what they had in Jackie. Here he plays a gun-toting, foul-mouthed cop partnered with gun-toting, foul-mouthed Danny Aiello. Only redeeming value comes from Jackie's acrobatics and that the experience so disgusted him that he was inspired to make a cop movie of his own to show Hollywood how to make a REAL action movie. The result: Police Story. Fights/stunts: -------------- wearing a towel in a spa chasing a boat on foot over and through twisting Chinese canals final battle in dockhouse and on crane
Christopher B

Jackie's worst, but still quite watchable. I can see why Chan ran back to Hong Kong screaming after this one.

Cast

            Tony Jaa as To Kham

            Petchtai Wongkamlao as Sergeant Mark

            Bongkoo Kongmalai as Pla

            Jin Xing as Madame Rose

            Johnny Tri Nguyen as Johnny

            Nathan Jones as T K

            Lateef Crowder as Madame Rose's Lead Capoeira Fighter

            Jonathan Patrick Foo as Madame Rose's Lead Wu Shu Fighter

            Amonphan Gongtragan as Goong

            Damian De Montemas as Vincent

            David Chatchavan Asavanod as Officer Rick

            Sotorn Rungruaeng as Kham's Father

            Winai Poonpermponsiri as Fortune Teller

            Nutdanai Kong as Kham 9 Years Old

            John Sambataro as Por Yai Bull Elephant

            John Lamond Jr. as Chief Inspector John Lamond

            Jackie Chan as Billy Wong

            Danny Aiello as Danny Garoni

            Roy Chiao as Mr. Ko

            Victor Arnold as Police Captain

            Kim Bass as Stan Jones

            Richard Clarke as Supt. Whitehead

            Saun Ellis as Laura Shapiro

            Ronan O'Casey as Police Commissioner

            Bill Wallace as Benny Garucci

            Paul L. Smith as Mr. Booar
See full cast