Movie and Television Reviews

In the beginning of Bangkok Dangerous, the Nicolas Cage character, Joe, goes over his four assassin rules. They resemble those in most dishonorable codes: "There is no wrong and right," "don't care about anybody," etc. (I wonder if it's based on some un-Natural Law. Maybe, it's Ayn Rand.). To those four, Cage seems to add his own, fifth, rule: "Never turn down a role no matter how un-challenging to the actor or how weak the script."

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Joe is an assassin in Bangkok to ply his trade. He enlists the help of Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm). Nicolas also falls in love with a deaf girl (In the original Chinese film, Joe himself is deaf.). He teaches Kong assassin tricks like how to shoot watermelons and look in mirrors (Actually, the glass reflection part was pretty cool.).

The story continuously prompts the question, "so what?" As in: Who's Joe? Why should I care about him? Why should I care that the person he doesn't kill remain alive? Is he on drugs? If he is, why doesn't the script deal with it- you know, to develop the character or something?

Cage is in serious mode throughout the film- I think I saw one smile and maybe one other emotion. No acting, however. The training montage is weaker than Team America's. The action is unimaginative (One chase resembles the boat scene in the James Bond film, The Man with the Golden Gun.). The slap fight- martial arts scene looks like one of the bunnies in The Girls Next Door taking a self-defense class. Romantically, I think more sparks flew between Spitzer and ho #7 than Cage and his foreign conquest.

The Girls Next Door - Season 3

BD itself looks and sounds like somebody dropped the film can underwater. I thought I was watching one of the camcorder movies we'd buy from the Iraqis outside of the base.

For a movie based in Thailand and featuring one of its many "tourist destinations," BD was strangely "uninteresting" from a male perspective.

Team America: World Police - Unrated (Widescreen Special Collector's Edition)

The Man With The Golden Gun (Special Edition)

The bottom line is that I was bored and you will be too.

Politics/Message:

The message reminds me of those in "artistic" comic books: Ethical nihilism. Cage does something "good" or, at least, restrains himself from doing something "bad" for no reason except an emotional attachment, but then does something very non-life affirming at the end. This must be what passes for moral reflection amongst bourgeois, middle class rebels.

Cast below:

Follow up:

Directed by
Oxide Pang Chun
Danny Pang

Writing credits
(WGA)
Jason Richman (screenplay)

Oxide Pang Chun (1999 film) &
Danny Pang (1999 film)

Cast (in credits order)

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)
Savaros Sriratum ... News Anchor #1
Thanrada Kao-Im ... Waitress
Aratchporn Satead ... Vendor Lady
Winai Thawattana ... White Target
Pornpat Tipthongkum ... News Anchor #2
Gonthron Bossarakam ... Man in Slum
Thanapon Parnjaroen ... Bell Man
Jeremy Thana ... Gangster #2
Allwarin Apirakyothin ... Aom's Sister
Andrew Pfeffer ... Caucasian Prisoner
Oliver Steel ... European Crying Boy
Kitchanpon Apirakyothin ... Fat Man
Chalita Chaisaeng ... Fat Man's Girl #1
Chatchaya Watcharakitikorn ... Fat Man's Girl #2
Arnunthaya Suksalak ... Fat Man's Girl #3
Thanitar Jirapanid ... Girl with Target #1
Nareerat Jeanmahan ... Girl with Target #2
Suwatjanee Suriyapas ... Last Target's Kid #1 (Girl)
Pariwut Prachayanan ... Last Target's Kid #2 (Boy) (as Pariwut Pratchayanun)
Tuengtanpon Thongnawakun ... Last Target's Wife
Keang Kunsri ... Last Target Man
Chris Lowenstein ... Past Target #1
Oliver Ackermann ... Past Target #2
Russell Wald ... Past Target #3
Laura Herold ... Past Target #4
David L. Michaels ... Past Target #5
Ron Anderson ... Past Target #6 (as Ronald Anderson)
Chollamark Chiengthong ... Surat's Wife
Armondthap Limdusit ... Target Man #1
Jirakit Suwannapap ... Target 1's Driver (as Jirakit Suwannapab)
Chatchai Phuengparyun ... Target Boat Driver #1
Arkrapong Pimpajak ... Target 1's Bodyguard #1
Songsak Sampanpim ... Target 1's Bodyguard #2
Duangrutai Suwannarat ... Thai Garland Girl
Songpohl Dittasom ... Waiter
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Produced by
Nicolas Cage .... producer
Norman Golightly .... producer
Chris Lowenstein .... line producer: Living Films
Denis O'Sullivan .... executive producer
Andrew Pfeffer .... executive producer
William Sherak .... producer
Jason Shuman .... producer
Matt Summers .... associate producer
Ben Waisbren .... executive producer

Original Music by
Brian Tyler