2004 — The Bodyguard

If you came here looking for a lost sequel to the Whitney Houston film, you will be disappointed. But if you are ready to discover one of the most underrated action films of the 2000s, stay with us. The confusion surrounding the keyword “The Bodyguard 2004” stems from the fact that two major films about bodyguards were released within two years of each other. In 2004, Hollywood released The Guardian (not a bodyguard film), but the international market saw a flood of Asian action cinema.

The Thai film The Bodyguard (Thai: บอดี้การ์ดหน้าเหลี่ยม) was released on January 22, 2004. Due to the immense popularity of Ong-Bak (2003), which introduced Tony Jaa to the world, western distributors were desperate for similar content. They needed a keyword that would pop up on early torrent sites and DVD bins: was born. Plot Summary: A Widow, a Conspiracy, and a Country Bumpkin The film follows Wong Kom (played by Panna Rittikrai), a rural, buffalo-herding martial artist who moves to Bangkok to work as a low-level security guard. Through a series of slapstick events, he ends up as the personal bodyguard to a wealthy, young widow named Pornpimol (played by Petchtai Wongkamlao—yes, the comedic sidekick from Ong-Bak ).

If you love Ong-Bak , The Raid , or even just the absurdity of Kung Fu Hustle (released the same year), you owe it to yourself to watch Panna Rittikrai flip a car, fight on a bus, and save the day against all logic.