Hey everyone. Capone in Austin here, but I haven't forgotten my awesome friends in the Windy City. I can't even begin to tell you how many great ideas I'm getting for future Chicago screenings at Fantastic Fest. It overwhelms the brain. In the mean time, here's an excellent opportunity for Chicago-area peeps.

So if the headline for this story makes you a little giddy, I'm going to guess that you've seen the original ONG BAK, starring the incomparable Thai martial arts superstar Tony Jaa. And if you've seen it once, you've probably watched it several times, shown it to friends, hosted screenings of it at your home to make sure that everyone you knew caught Jaa fever, and have been salivating at the thought of a return to ONG BAK's elephant-worshipping world of CGI-less action and a culture most Americans are unfamiliar with. So, yeah, we're having the exclusive Ain't It Cool Chicago screening of ONG BAK 2, which I first saw at SXSW in March. The film has a slightly different--dare I say more spiritual--vibe than the first, and if I remember correctly is more of a prequel experience that really isn't connected to the first film plot-wise. And I think it's safe to say that if you haven't seen the first one, you won't be lost watching ONG BAK 2, but go see the first one immediately because it rocks as well as rolls. And of course Tony Jaa is still at the center of the new film, and that's what we all care about the most.

This AICN screening of ONG BAK 2 takes place Monday, October 5 at 7:00pm at a theater in Chicago (the exact location will only be given to contest winners). We've got a couple hundreds seats to fill, so let me tell you how to snatch up one or two of them.

Here's how to secure a pass good for you and one guest: Send me an email at capone@aintitcoolmail.com with the subject line "ONG BAK IS BACK!". In the body of the email, I need your Name, whether or not you're bringing a Guest (guests' names are not required), and the answer to the following question (read carefully): What is your favorite martial arts film and why?

Keep your question BRIEF--limit your answers to 50 words or less (no matter how tempted you are to go over the limit). Winners will receive an email from me later this weekend.

Please keep in mind that if you win, you will still need to arrive early to the screening if you want a decent seat. Although this is an AICN event, we're going to overbook it slightly to make sure we have a full house. And for God's sakes, if there's even the slightest chance you'll have to back out of attending if you do win, don't enter. You'd be amazed how many last-minute emergencies (or other lame excuses) crop up in the 12 hours before every screening. If you have a job that might make you late, or an ill/pregnant relative, or a temperamental significant other, do not enter.

Good luck, everyone! Hope to see you there.

-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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