Bangkok Dangerous (2008 film)

Infobox Film
name = Bangkok Dangerous


image_size = 200 px
caption = The theatrical release poster
director = The Pang Brothers
producer = Norman Golightly
Graham King
William Sherak
Jason Shuman
writer = The Pang Brothers
Jason Richman
narrator = Nicolas Cage
starring = Nicolas Cage
Charlie Yeung
Chakrit Yamnam
music = Brian Tyler
cinematography = Decha Srimantra
editing = Micheal Jackson
Curran Pang
distributor = Initial Entertainment Group(all countries except North America)
Lionsgate (North America)
released = September 5, 2008 [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0814022/releaseinfo Release dates for "Bangkok Dangerous"] , Internet Movie Database; retrieved 2007-11-01]
runtime = 100 min.
country = US
language = English
budget = US$40 million
gross = $14,511,000
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 1:354363
imdb_id = 0814022

"Bangkok Dangerous" is a 2008 crime film written and directed by the Pang Brothers and starring Nicolas Cage. It is a remake of the Pangs' 1999 debut film of the same name, a Thai film for which Cage's production company, Saturn Films, purchased the remake rights. [Fleming, Michael (June 6, 2006). [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117944679?categoryid=1236&cs=1&query=bangkok+and+dangerous&display=bangkok+dangerous "Cage's 'Dangerous' liaison"] , "Variety" (retrieved August 7, 2006).] Known by its working title, "Big Hit in Bangkok", [August 22, 2006. [http://www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=3403983&fSectionId=&fSetId=251 Nicolas lands in Bangkok for Pang brothers movie] , Agence France-Press (retrieved August 24, 2006).] and also as "Time to Kill", it began filming in Bangkok in August 2006, with locations that include Soi Cowboy. [August 20, 2006. [http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/Weekly2006/weekly276.htm Stickman Weekly 20/8/2006] (retrieved August 21, 2006).] [Agence France-Presse (2007-07-20) [http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/289077/1/.html Thai filmmakers hope remakes will lure overseas audiences] , Channel NewsAsia (retrieved 2007-07-20).]

The film was financed by Initial Entertainment Group, with Lionsgate acquiring its North America distribution rights. [ [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ie53ddac733c873cca29a4d76ae652dfe News] hollywoodreporter.com]

The film was released in North America on September 5, 2008.

Plot

Hitman Joe (Nicolas Cage) goes to Bangkok for a month-long assignment, to kill four people for Bangkok ganglord Surat.

He hires pickpocket Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm) as his go-between, a condition of the contract being that the gang will never meet Joe. Contracts from the Bangkok gangsters go through Kong via a nightclub dancer, who becomes romantically involved with Kong.

Joe's first execution is done in traffic with him riding a bike and stopping in front of the car. He then shoots the target and everyone in the car with an machine pistol. His second target is a hotel owner. Joe sneaks into the penthouse and kills the target by drowning him in the pool.

Originally he plans to kill Kong before he leaves but after Kong gives him information about the second target he begins to train Kong. For the third execution Kong assists Joe, the kill does not go as planned, with the target nearly getting away before Joe catches him and shoots him after a chase in front of many shocked onlookers. Before the third kill the gang attempt to identify Joe, he warns them off.

His fourth target is the Prime Minister of Thailand. Joe is about to make the kill when he has second thoughts, is spotted, and escapes through a panicking crowd. Joe is now a target and is attacked at his house by four gang members. He manages to use explosives to take them out and is faced with the choice of rescuing Kong or leaving the country unharmed. Joe decides to rescue Kong, so he sets off to the gang's headquarters with one of the half-alive attackers who was injured in the explosion at Joe's safe house.

Joe goes to the gang's headquarters, kills most of the gang and saves Kong and the dancer. The fearful gang leader flees to his car with three other accomplices. Joe spots him and shoots the gang members at the front of the car dead. After one of the gang in back of the car attempts to run to safety, Joe kills him. Joe gets into the back seat with Surat, the gang leader.

As the police arrive at the location, Joe is again in a difficult situation; he decides to use what is believed to be his last remaining bullet to kill himself by putting both his and Surat's heads together. Joe then puts the gun up to his temple and pulls the trigger, killing himself and Surat.

Production

The original film's main character is a deaf-mute hitman whose disability makes him a fearless, unflinching gunman. That character has been changed in the remake.

"We'd like to keep him the same, but we understand that from a marketing point of view Nic needs to have some lines," Oxide was quoted as saying in the "International Herald Tribune". "So what we’re going to do is transform his girlfriend instead into a deaf-mute. This switch will maintain the drama of communication between the two main characters." [Jessop, Sonia Kolesnikov (July 13, 2006). [http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/07/13/style/fmlede14.php "Pang brothers see eye-to-eye on horror"] , "International Herald Tribune", retrieved July 14, 2006.]

Reception

Critical Reception

The film was screened in advance for critics, has received a 10% approval rating from 79 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes and is considered "rotten"; the consensus is: "With murky cinematography, a meandering pace, a dull storyline, and rather wooden performances, The Pang Brothers' Hollywood remake of Bangkok Dangerous is unsuccessful." [cite web|accessdate=2008-09-06|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bangkok_dangerous/|title=Bangkok Dangerous (2008) |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes ]

Box Office Revenue

The film grossed $7.8 million in opening weekend, making it one of the lowest-grossing films to reach #1. Lionsgate said that it would make a nice profit from the film. [ [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117991778.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 Variety article] variety.com]

References

External links

* [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bangkok_dangerous/ "Bangkok Dangerous"] at Rotten Tomatoes

Box Office Leaders USA
before= Tropic Thunder
date= September 7
date2=
date3=
year= 2008
after= Burn After Reading