Note: This review was originally published in Technician on September 9, 2008.
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Bangkok Dangerous light on danger, disappointing
Just when you thought we were free from the summer explosion of sequels and remakes, Hollywood throws out one more for good measure This weekend saw the release of Bangkok Dangerous, a remake of the Thai film of the same name. Directed by the Pang Brothers, who also helmed the original, the film is hardly the worst as remakes go, but it certainly isn't one of the best.
Nicolas Cage stars as Joe, a hitman who's nearly past his prime. Realizing that it's probably time for him to retire, Joe decides to pull one last job in Thailand - four hits. The opening voice-over informs that he's one of the best in the business because he has four rules he never breaks. These four rules can basically be summed up in a single phrase: don't get involved. Predictably, most of the story hinges on him breaking all of his usual rules and the conflicts that follow.