Bangkok Dangerous

As far as atypical action stars go, Nicolas Cage is certainly the benchmark. Slight in stature, unimposing in his countenance and with off-beat and backhandedly jocose line delivery, Willis or Stallone he is not. However since his action debut in Michael Bay’s The Rock, Cage has been at the forefront of the genre, with classic smashes that include Con-air, Face/Off, Snake Eyes, Gone in Sixty Seconds and recently Ghost Rider and Next. Even more so in his sub-par recent offerings, Cage is always the best thing about his films, adding humour and his trademark semi-wackiness to roles. But despite all efforts, the remake of the 1999 film of the same name, Bangkok Dangerous seems uncharacteristically empty and lifeless.

In his latest adventure, Cage ventures to the screen as a veteran hitman named Joe (I guess Cher was taken), contracted to exotic Bangkok, to do work for a mafia leader named Surat (Nirattisai Kaljaruek). But while on assignment he begins to wear. He finds himself falling for a local beauty (Charlie Young) who happens to be a deaf/mute. (In the original, it was Joe who was the deaf/mute) He also falls into the role of mentor to an ambitious but rough street thief named Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm) who wishes to learn from the best. All of the crucial elements are at play here; love interest. Check. Naïve student who will rise to the occasion during a montage. Check. Evil Mafia Boss who will betray our hero. Check. And yet, everyone just seems to be going through the motions. Even the usually enthusiastic Cage seems sedated and uninterested, and the story progresses at a slow pace, which drags the story out to an unfortunate length, despite the actuality of a short running time.

The problem, ironically, lies with the directing Pang brother’s hesitance to get to the clichéd storyline of the bosses inevitable betrayal on the assassin. For most of the running time we witness Joe’s rampage against undistinguishable targets on the streets of Bangkok, to go home, mentor his student and visit his love interest. This happens quite literally throughout the whole 2/3 of the film, with small interludes that attempt at character development. It is only in the last act the plot finally advances to, well, anywhere and yet with the ending, the story seems even more pointless; as if the directors were jesting for an emotional payoff that ends up feeling contrived. I have never seen the 1999 version of the film, which to my knowledge has become somewhat of a cult favourite, but I assure you something, quite possibly literally, was lost in translation.

I don’t, however want to lambaste this film too thoroughly, for it is enjoyable enough, with some moderately interesting action sequences and, although working far below his normal range, a better-then-the-movie-deserves performance from Cage. I will however unabashedly compliment the relentlessness of the Joe character. To be blunt, he is a brutal killer; never pausing to neutralize, only dispose of, and never giving a second thought to the kill. A conscience is not something evident with this man. When all is said and shot, the romance is sweet enough, the action frequent and the gunshots loud. Unfortunately Bangkok Dangerous is never the sum of its parts, and everyone seems so uninterested and lackadaisical it is a rental at best. The only thing truly dangerous about this feature is the risk of losing your hard earned money at the theatre if you venture in.