Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Chakrit Yamnam, Charlie Yeung
Directors: Pang Brothers
Running Time: 100 mins

Recognized solely for their collaboration on the Chinese horror film The Eye (2002) and a host of Thai films twin brothers Oxide and Danny Pang team up for the eighth time to direct a remake of their first film also titled Bangkok Dangerous (1999). In the slightly altered remake Nick Cage (Leaving Las Vegas, Con Air) stars as the hitman Joe who flies to Bangkok for a month to complete his final task of killing four targets for local gang lord Surat. Joe’s final assignment gets a little more complicated when he falls in love with a deaf-mute pharmacist and his mediator Kong finds himself in trouble with the client.

Films that surround hitmen are never really that complicated and prove to be solely based on looks. They neither have any depth nor charm about them while they can only be appreciated for the manner in which they are delivered. Bangkok Dangerous certainly is void of a telling story and is as predictable and clichéd as a film could possibly be. The film also delivers very little of the only thing it promises which is a host of unrealistic car chases, gun battles and near atomic explosions. Still, the Pang brothers certainly do know how to deliver a film and Bangkok Dangerous did have a unique look to it. 1999’s film revolved around a hitman called Kong who was deaf and mute but for the sake of marketability Joe’s girlfriend was instead made to suffer the burden of having no audible lines in the film. The scenes featuring Joe and his girlfriend (Charlie Yeung) were especially significant as it was the only feature of the movie that didn’t make it a complete rip-off of so many other action movies. With absolutely no dialogue these scenes rested heavily on the two actors and their chemistry on screen which was charming enough to pull through.

Nicolas Cage playing the lead roles in films such as National Treasure and Ghost Rider has certainly lost some of my respect as of late. Bangkok Dangerous shows the deeper and isolated side of Cage which frankly I don’t think really exists. Cage playing a ruthless hitman while simultaneously falling in love with a deaf-mute girl he meets at a pharmacy doesn’t necessarily add up to make any sense. It certainly doesn’t help the film’s consistency either. Audiences can also look forward to some characteristically over-cooked Southeast Asian acting with the likes of mob bosses and hosts of armed gang members being locally casted. None of these films will be worth a watch without the stylishly added aspect of seriously terrible acting.

Bangkok Dangerous is certainly a forgettable and clichéd film with no significant attempt made to draw large audiences but if you’re into pointless action flicks then this one ain’t so bad. Select a popular theme with a marketable plot; throw in a renowned actor who draws audiences into the fray and a few explosions later you’ve got a nice little profitable film. If only audiences were actually that gullible.