Bangkok Dangerous (R)
Slow action thriller from bored-looking Nic Cage.
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- Studio: Lions Gate Entertainment
- Directed By: Danny Pang, Oxide Pang
- Cast: Nicolas Cage, Shahkrit Yamnarm, Charlie Young
- Running Time: 100 minutes
- Release Date: 09/05/2008
- Genre: Action/adventure
- MPAA Rating: R
- MPAA Explanation: violence, language and some sexuality.
Parents need to know
Families can talk about the appeal of stories about assassins. Why are professional hit men the protagonists of so many action thrillers? Despite what they do, are they sympathetic characters? Why or why not? The movie implies that killing "bad" men is OK but killing "good" men isn't. What do you think about that message? What separates the "good" guys and the "bad" guys in this movie?
Message
Social Behavior:
At first the assassin believes there's no "right" or "wrong" and kills whomever he's paid to eliminate. But by the end of the film, he discovers his conscience and puts his life at risk to save someone else's.
Consumerism:
Some, but not excessive. Mercedes, cell phones, and a couple of expensive Japanese motorcycles.
Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:
Club-goers drink, as do gangsters at dinner; a cold bottle of beer is placed on a man's bruises; heroin is discussed and shown in a Ziploc bag, but it's not used.
Violence
Explicit violence is to be expected in an assassin thriller, but most of the violence here is on the tamer side -- until the final sequence. Joe usually kills his targets by shooting them from afar, but one is drowned and another is shot by a gun taken from his own amputated hand. There are a few beatings in addition to gun violence, and the last shoot-out involves some grislier moments of a torso-less man and a suicide/murder.
Sex
Sexy Thai go-go dancers perform at a club in several scenes. A middle-aged man is shown having sex with two young women; one is topless. A couple flirts, hugs, and kisses.
Language
Surprisingly little cursing ... in English. Nearly all of the swear words are spoken in Thai and subtitled, including "f--k," "motherf---er," etc.
Common Sense says
What's the story?
Reviewed by Sandie Angulo Chen
Is it any good?
Thai actor Yamnarm infuses some much-needed levity into a few scenes, and Chinese actress Young is so lovely you can't blame Joe for falling instantly for her gentle beauty. Ultimately, though, the action is artificial, the characters aren't likable enough, and Joe's not nearly as fascinating as moviedom's most iconic guns for hire.
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