This was not the best introduction to the Pang Brothers.
I really felt at a loss to describe Bangkok Dangerous. The plot and ending are so loaded with cliches, it’s almost as though the screenwriters constructed a movie solely out of tired, over-used devices. The directing is adequate, although the blue filter applied to some of the scenes gets old fast. The primary problem with Bangkok Dangerous is Nicolas Cage.
If you read this blog on a regular basis, you know that I have a bit of a soft-spot for Cage. My theory is that Cage got his Academy Award and then set about purposefully destroying all critical acclaim he had. I think Cage makes bad movies on purpose. This, however, doesn’t explain the horrible performance he turns in.
Normally, Cage likes to overact. I can appreciate this. It’s broad, it’s bold and it takes guts to act like that, even if it turns out to be ridiculous.
This one, however, Cage doesn’t act like much of anything. He stares at fixed points, his face unmoving and mask-like, while he monotonously narrates unnecessary voice-overs. Since he plays an assassin, you’d think he’d want to blend into his surroundings, but his hair is so bad you wonder when Nic Cage stopped bathing and stopped cutting his hair. Said frightening hairdo is the most interesting thing about his entire character. Considering this is Nicolas Cage, he of the “why is it burned? WHY IS IT BURNED?!” fame, I am not quite sure what was going on. Did someone give Nic elephant tranquilizers? Was he under constant hypnosis? Did he forget he was filming a movie?
I don’t know. It does feel depressing that Cage is so not there that creating facial expressions seems to cause him real pain. What sort of crazy mixed up world is this?
I watched this movie twice. It felt like an eternity. I’d take a pleasant, friendly visit from some Cenobites over a rewatch.
1416 and Counting 
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