Mercury Man (film)

This article is about the Thai superhero film. For the unrelated Charlton Comics character, see Mercury Man.

Mercury Man
Thai film poster.
Directed by	Bhandit Thongdee
Produced by	Prachya Pinkaew Sukanya Vongstthapat
Starring	Wasan Khantaau Metinee Kingpayome Arnon Saisangchan Jinvipa Kheawkunya Parinya Kiatbusaba Darunee Khrittabhunyalai
Cinematography	Sittipong Kongtong
Editing by	Sudtipon Tubtim
Distributed by	Sahamongkol Film International
Release date(s)	August 10, 2006 (Thailand)
Running time	101 min.
Country	Thailand
Language	Thai English
Budget	60 million baht [1]

Mercury Man (Thai: มนุษย์เหล็กไหล or Ma noot lhek lai) is a 2006 Thai superhero martial arts action film. It is directed by Bhandit Thongdee with martial arts choreography by Panna Rittikrai of Ong-Bak, Tom-Yum-Goong and Born to Fight.

Plot

After being stabbed with an ancient Tibetan amulet, a Bangkok firefighter named Chan is transformed into a superhero when his body becomes a massive heat source, which he learns to manipulate to give him super strength, increased agility and the ability to make great leaps.

Chan's fate is entwined with an Afghan terrorist, Osama bin Ali, who wants the power of the Tibetan amulet to use in a plot to destroy the United States. With his international terrorist organization, led by henchwoman Areena, Osama kidnaps Chan's mother and transsexual sister (Played by famed transsexual Thai kickboxer Nong Toom, credited as Parinya Kiatbusaba) and takes them to the Royal Thai Navy base, where he hopes to launch a rocket at a US Navy chemical weapon ship. Osama also has suicide bombers spread out throughout Thailand, stationed in American franchises in Thailand, ready to act on his word.

Aided by the young female guardian of the amulet, Chan rescues his mother and sister. However, he must face Areena, who has stabbed herself with a companion amulet, giving her the powers of extreme cold and ice.

Production

Similar to Ong-Bak, which was also choreographed by Panna Rittikrai and produced by Prachya Pinkaew, Mercury Man contains "shout outs" to Western films. References to Spider-Man are seen throughout Mercury Man, in dialogue, in Spider-Man T-shirts worn by extras and through spray-painted messages in the scenery, such as "Spidy how R U?"^[2]

Soundtrack

Arnon Saisangchan (Osama bin Ali), is the lead singer of the Thai rock band Blackhead. Known as Phu Blackhead, he sings the song heard over the closing credits.

References

1. ^ Agence France-Presse. August 18, 2006. "First Thai superhero to battle Hollywood at box office", via Channel News Asia (retrieved August 18, 2006)
2. ^ July 5, 2006. "Mercury Man says Hi", Twitchfilm.net (retrieved August 18, 2006)

External links

• Mercury Man at the Thai Film Database
• Mercury Man Official Trailer (WMV Format)
• Mercury Man at the Internet Movie Database