From the Rental Vault (2009): Raging Phoenix

Why this movie is called Raging Phoenix is kind of hard to figure out. It could be that the character played by martial arts champion Yanin "Jeeja" Vismistananda is an aimless drifter who finds purpose for her life and is reborn, like a phoneix from the ashes. Or it could be that the English-language marketing company that distributed it thought Raging Phoenix was a cool-sounding name.

Either way, this Thai film stars Vismistananda as Deu, a young woman whose life lacks direction, purpose and pretty much everything else. Failed relationships, failed career in a band, being left behind as an afterthought by an international business mogul mom leave her feeling pretty much worthless about herself. She is exactly the kind of victim that a criminal gang, the Jaguars, seeks to abduct to be sold into slavery in underworld brothels. But their attempt to take Deu fails when she is rescued by Sanim, (Patrick Tang), a martial artist master of a kind of fighting called "meyraiyuth." This fictional martial art mixes inebriation with breakdancing moves to pound on and defeat opponents.

Sanim and his two friends, Dog [Feces] and Pig [Feces], eventually agree to train Deu in meyraiyuth to help them combat the kidnapping gangs. A previously unknown partner, Bull [Feces], subjects her to a final test, in which she learns that the source of strength for the meyraiyuth fighter is not alcohol, but emotional pain. The five decide to try to infiltrate the Jaguar lair and end their reign of criminal terror, as well as rescue Sanim's fiance, Pai.

The acting and English voicework are pretty standard fare and don't stand out as especially good or bad. The fight scenes are expertly choreographed and although they may go on a little long, they are almost worth watching in their own right. It helps that Vismistananda is cuter than that video of a mom cat hugging her dreaming kitten and a martial arts expert on her own. She's cast in the mold of the 1980s/1990s pint-size punching pixie Cynthia Rothrock, but is a better actress. Just don't anyone tell Rothrock I said that; I like my kneecaps where they are, thanks. 

Raging Phoenix tacks on a sci-fi-ish ending act that adds a ton of new information and storyline and almost sinks it. The spectacular fight choreography, though, pulls it through at the finish and leads to a surprisingly complex final scene. That, plus the exploration the concept of fighting strength that comes from emotional pain, sets Raging Phoenix a bit above the usual martial arts fare.