Bangkok Dangerous (2008)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Directors:

Oxide Pang Chun
Danny Pang

Writers (WGA):

Jason Richman (screenplay)
Oxide Pang Chun (1999 film)

Release Date:

5 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Thriller

Tagline:

There's only one way out.

Plot:

A hitman who's in Bangkok to pull off a series of jobs falls for a local woman and bonds with his errand boy.

Plot Keywords:

Bangkok | Errand Boy | Hitman | Punched In The Face | Diamond

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Nicolas Cage	...	Joe
Shahkrit Yamnarm	...	Kong
Charlie Yeung	...	Fon (as Charlie Young)
Panward Hemmanee	...	Aom
Nirattisai Kaljaruek	...	Surat
Dom Hetrakul	...	Aran
Tuck Napaskorn	...	Kong's Brother
Steve Baldocchi	...	Michigan
Chris Heebink	...	USC
James With	...	Chicago
Peter Shadrin	...	Anton
Arthajid Puengvicha	...	Official
Duangjai Srisawang	...	Man in Arena
Veerasak Boonchard	...	Winai
Joe Sakol Palvanichkul	...	Tuk Tuk Driver (as Sakol Palvanichkul)

Also Known As:

Time to Kill (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Thai

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | UK:18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Finland:K-15 | South Korea:15 | USA:R (certificate #43590) | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Singapore:R21 | Norway:15 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Sweden:15 | Singapore:NC-16 (edited version) | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Malaysia:18PL | Japan:R-15 | Czech Republic:12 | Brazil:16 | Argentina:16 | Germany:18 | Australia:MA | France:U (with warning)

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Company:

Bangkok Dangerous

Trivia:

The main villain in this movie, Surat, was portrayed by Nirattisai Kaljaruek, Thai drama's director and the executive of Kantana Group, the well-known TV program and film production company. In the 1999 version of Bangkok Dangerous, the man who portrayed as the main villain is also the executive of the TV program production company.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final shootout, the gun Joe is using switches between a Glock and a Sig Saur between shots.

Quotes:

Joe: I was taught four rules...
Joe: One: Don't ask questions. There is no such thing as right and wrong.
Joe: Two: Don't take an interest in people outside of work. There is no such thing as trust.
Joe: Three: Erase every trace. Come anonymous and leave nothing behind.
Joe: Four: Know when to get out. Just thinking about it means it's time. Before you lose your edge, before you become a target.

Movie Connections:

Remake of Bangkok Dangerous (1999)

Soundtrack:

Sexy Men a.k.a. Sexy Man

Shockingly mundane & ordinary…

"Bangkok Dangerous" isn't a bad film – or at least not as bad as most of the reviews around here claim – but it is an astonishingly ordinary film that features literally every cliché of "hired assassin" concept you can possibly think of. There's the lonely and super-skilled hit man who intents to pull of one last job before quitting the business for good, he teaches his errand boy to become his successor, finds love and happiness with a girl for the first time and – last but not least – refuses to make the final hit because his target is a noble individual. We know this is the prototypic pitch of every thriller in its type, yet we still pay the full price of a cinema ticket because the film stars Nicolas Cage and we'll probably see a lot of spectacular action and virulent gunfire. "Bangkok Dangerous" is a big-budgeted remake of a Thai thriller released in 1999, which was also directed by the Pang brothers. In the original, the hit man was a deaf-mute but since Nicolas Cage is far too expensive to have him shut up the whole time, they made his love interest a deaf-mute instead. Unfortunately, this takes away the one truly ingenious aspect about the original. What remains is a painfully predictable and bland thriller that can't even be saved by the handful of impressively staged action sequences. Still I wouldn't call "Bangkok Dangerous" a complete waste of time, though, as there are a couple of stylish and worthwhile – albeit less obvious – elements working in its favor. Nic Cage gives a good performance as the unworldly killer and particularly the Pang Bros' depiction of the city of Bangkok is deeply enchanting. Especially at night it looks like a melancholic and depressing place infested with prostitution, petty crimes and perverted tourists. The moody soundtrack emphasizes the atmosphere of melancholy even more. This is definitely not a film that'll increase the tourist business there. Otherwise there's very little to say about "Bangkok Dangerous". If you're a fan of Nicolas Cage and rough action, you won't regret giving this one a look. Just realize you'll have completely forgotten about it the next day.