Movie Review: Bangkok Dangerous

It's called Bangkok Dangerous not Nicholas Cage soft and sexy, which is what I think some of the few viewers in the theater with me came to see. Looking out at the crowd on opening night I mainly saw elderly people and women who looked like Nicholas Cage fans, coming to see their idol. Sneaking a peek during the movie I also noticed many of these same people covering their eyes during the scenes of brutal violence. Ah, yes, Bangkok got a little bit bloody. However, it is not an abundance of gore, but I think it was the soundtrack that truly raised the level of fright for some of those with a weaker stomach.

Bangkok Dangerous was directed by The Pang Brothers, who also directed the original Asian movie that it is a remake of. It stars Nicholas Cage; duh.

I did not see the original movie. In the original the lead assassin was a deaf mute. This is not the case in the 2008 version. Intellectuals who watch Asian movies because the majority of Americans do not and it gives them a sense of thinking themselves more cultured started picking this new Bangkok Dangerous apart before it even hit the big screen. I can only imagine now what they are whining about after having seen it. Personally, I am not afraid to admit I'm never planning on watching the original and don't give a crap about Asian movies good or bad. Yeah, I'll watch some, but give me evil ole Hollywood any day! Having said that: I liked this remake of Bangkok Dangerous.

The character played by Nicholas Cage is yet another dark, multi-dimensional character like those that have been playing well in Hollywood the past couple of years. He uses and kills people and yet you feel for him on some level and want him to win over the romantic interest of the movie.

The plot sounds like a cliché hitman on his last job sort of tale, but truly it goes deeper on the emotional levels and more intricate in the set up of day to day details for this hitman. It is intriguing.