Movie Review -- Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
- By Aubrey Ward III
- Published 09/10/2008
- Reviews
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Rating:
Aubrey Ward III
I'm not telling you what to see. I'm not telling you what not to see. I'm just sharing my experience and opinion on the movie, tv show or play that I have seen. I'm merely an advisor. Ultimately, you will have to go with your own gut and decide if you'll buy the ticket or not.
View all articles by Aubrey Ward III
The first lesson to ensuring retirement from the contract killing business is to break every rule in the Assassin’s Guide Book. Luckily, there are only four rules to master: 1) Don’t ask questions, 2) Leave no trace of your identity, 3) Don’t make lasting bonds with other people, and 4) Know when to get out. At least, I think that’s what they were. I know I got 3 out of 4 on the nose.
Anyway, Mr. Cage’s character is Joe (Nicholas Cage). Joe is an assassin that is hitting his stride and decides to end his illustrious career in Thailand. Four final targets and he walks away rich and free. Things are going like clockwork until Joe starts to take a shine to his errand boy, Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm). Joe begins teaching Kong all the finer points of his craft such as hand-to-hand combat and target practice. Joe also begins dating a lovely deaf pharmacist named Fon (Charlie Yeung). So much for that relationship ban.
Nicholas Cage (Joe) & Shahkrit Yamnarm (Kong)
Things go from weird to really bad when Joe messes up an assassination attempt and becomes the “targetee” rather than the “targeter”. Plus, Joe’s employers are really eager to find out more about their hired hunter through his buddy, Kong. If Joe was planning to retire with a bang he really succeeded with flying colors.
I know the movie has gotten a lot of flack from other critics along with a pretty low Rotten Tomatoes score.
Personally, I thought the movie was entertaining and I liked the story. I love those movies that make me root for the villain. Technically, Joe isn’t a bad guy but there’s something kind of naughty about cheering the sniper on as he takes out his prey.
I also liked that Joe takes a chance on making a friend in Kong and a suitor for Rain. While others felt that these plot threads slowed down the movie I thought Joe’s relationship building efforts made the movie more well-rounded and less cold. I thought it was a nice twist that Joe decides to start breaking his long standing assassin’s codes and begin reconnecting with the human race.
Cage With Charlie Yeung (Fon)
Then there's the other side of “Bangkok Dangerous”; the dark, violent and bloody side. One of my favorite……wait that sounds morbid.
What I mean to say is one of the scenes that I thought was quite creative is Joe’s attack on Target #3. The man is swimming in a pool and Joe intercepts him under the water and drowns him while the bodyguard and gal pal are on the surface totally unaware that their boss is being dispatched right under their noses. That’s just slick on so many levels.
Have boat, will kill.
Overall, I think this American remake of “Bangkok Dangerous” is a decent action film with some surprising dramatic and even comedic moments that made this a little more than a disposable shoot ‘em up.
Anyway, Mr. Cage’s character is Joe (Nicholas Cage). Joe is an assassin that is hitting his stride and decides to end his illustrious career in Thailand. Four final targets and he walks away rich and free. Things are going like clockwork until Joe starts to take a shine to his errand boy, Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm). Joe begins teaching Kong all the finer points of his craft such as hand-to-hand combat and target practice. Joe also begins dating a lovely deaf pharmacist named Fon (Charlie Yeung). So much for that relationship ban.
Nicholas Cage (Joe) & Shahkrit Yamnarm (Kong)
Things go from weird to really bad when Joe messes up an assassination attempt and becomes the “targetee” rather than the “targeter”. Plus, Joe’s employers are really eager to find out more about their hired hunter through his buddy, Kong. If Joe was planning to retire with a bang he really succeeded with flying colors.
I know the movie has gotten a lot of flack from other critics along with a pretty low Rotten Tomatoes score.
I also liked that Joe takes a chance on making a friend in Kong and a suitor for Rain. While others felt that these plot threads slowed down the movie I thought Joe’s relationship building efforts made the movie more well-rounded and less cold. I thought it was a nice twist that Joe decides to start breaking his long standing assassin’s codes and begin reconnecting with the human race.
Cage With Charlie Yeung (Fon)
Then there's the other side of “Bangkok Dangerous”; the dark, violent and bloody side. One of my favorite……wait that sounds morbid.
What I mean to say is one of the scenes that I thought was quite creative is Joe’s attack on Target #3. The man is swimming in a pool and Joe intercepts him under the water and drowns him while the bodyguard and gal pal are on the surface totally unaware that their boss is being dispatched right under their noses. That’s just slick on so many levels.
Have boat, will kill.
Overall, I think this American remake of “Bangkok Dangerous” is a decent action film with some surprising dramatic and even comedic moments that made this a little more than a disposable shoot ‘em up.