"Bangkok Dangerous" Review
| Movie: Bangkok Dangerous * Official Site * Gecko Preview & Trailer | In Theaters: Sept. 5, 2008 |
| Runtime: 99 minutes | Directed by: Oxide and Danny Pang |
| MPAA Rating: R for violence, language, and some sexuality | Gecko Rating: |
Bangkok Dangerous is not so much a crime thriller as it is a slow-moving profile of a depressed hitman. It’s the kind of movie you might watch if you came across it surfing around at 3 a.m.
I wonder what Nicolas Cage was thinking when he made this movie, which features his droney voiceover narration and lots of close-up shots of him pondering the fact that he kills people for a living. I have to think it went something like this: I’d like to go to Thailand. Why not make a movie there and see the sights in the process?
More after the jump…
Cage plays Joe, an anonymous, globe-trotting assassin who takes out targets precisely and succinctly, gets paid, and moves on. He has four rules and, presumably, no conscience. But he’s ready to get out of the business, and he sees an opp to do just that in Bangkok, where he’s called on to kill four people.
But as the job progresses, he makes nice with a cute, deaf-mute shop girl (Charlie Yeung) and bonds with a local boy (Shahkrit Yamnarm) hired to run his errands. Why Joe suddenly decides to get human is a mystery. We’re never really clued in as to why he picks now to get a conscience.
Anyway, there’s a lot of pensive moodiness in this movie — shots of Cage scoping out the target, sitting in his rental house, having awkward dinners with the shop girl — and not a lot of action, aside from a couple of short motorcycle stints and a goofy boat chase through a floating market.
The few scenes of proposed levity don’t really work. At least, I guess it was supposed to be funny when Cage tried spicy Thai food, and the shop girl laughed at him.
I didn’t see the original Pang Brothers film, on which this one is based, but hope to heck it was better than this one and with fewer cliches.
You know how the beginning of Tropic Thunder starts? With the parody trailers of the guys’ movies? Just take out Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr., and put Nic Cage in there. That’s what I was thinking during Bangkok Dangerous. It’s a big parody of crime-thriller movies.
Images: Bangkok Dangerous, Lionsgate, 2008
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7 opinions for "Bangkok Dangerous" Review
KLaus
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:18 pm
Sorry-
My words were a bit too harsh.
I thought you were a man.
If I would have known you were a woman I clearly would have used kinder words
again-sorry- and im sure if you read the great works of literature and also experience life around the world your ability as a film critic would improve greatly.
It probably will anyway as you practice ur art, and time goes by-
especially if you can also face criticism
k
Jane Boursaw
Sep 7, 2008 at 11:24 pm
No problem. I can take criticism and can probably take most guys in a street fight.
But I have a zero tolerance policy for inappropriate and disrespectful language on this blog. I’m running the show here, and if a comment contains what I deem to be inappropriate or disrespectful language, out it goes.
Also, I’ve been a film critic for 25 years.
KLaus
Sep 8, 2008 at 1:09 am
“I can take criticism and can probably take most guys in a street fight.”
I like that- That was good and it shows you have tenacity.
Also, I probably shouldnt have offered my views on your work based on only one of your reviews (BKK Dangerous)
It was very unprofessional on my part.
Again- you have my humblest apologies.
and thanks for removing any offensive text
What I wrote was clearly innapropriate
k
PS Just out of curiosity- Did U like, “The Libertine”
starring John Malcovich and Johnny Depp?
I used to watch Malcovich performing at Chicago’s Steppenwolf theatre in the late 70’s
k
Jane Boursaw
Sep 8, 2008 at 8:51 am
K - I haven’t seen “The Libertine.” Is it good? Should I put it in my stack ‘o stuff to watch?
k
Sep 8, 2008 at 9:41 am
it didnt do well at the box office and has had mixed reviews, and it is rather offensive in language and in the deeds of Deep’s characterization of John Wilmot the second Earl of Rochester.
I would give it go though
Johnnies opening monologue is …….well
I think u had better see it urself
Box Office: Sept. 5 - 7, 2008
Sep 10, 2008 at 12:27 am
[…] wasn’t that crazy about Bangkok Dangerous, but there really weren’t a lot of new offerings this weekend, which is probably why it came […]
Mango Weekly - 11 September 2008 at The FARANG Speaks 2 Much
Sep 11, 2008 at 2:02 pm
[…] “You know how the beginning of Tropic Thunder starts? With the parody trailers of the guys’ movies? Just take out Ben Stiller and Robert Downey, Jr., and put Nic Cage in there. That’s what I was thinking during Bangkok Dangerous. It’s a big parody of crime-thriller movies. “ - Jane Boursaw at http://www.filmgecko.com […]
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