Bangkok Dangerous

[Jimjim]

I liked:

the fact that it turned the baddie farang movie stereotype around: this time the farang had a conscience (thanks to it being made outside of Thailand maybe?)

It was actually mostly made in Bangkok, or completely, but it's a Hollywood film. It's a remake of the original Thai movie of the same name, which I liked. Check it out sometime. The original filmmakers of that film sold the rights for a Hollywood remake but I believe they actually directed this one as well.

[wileycoyote]

Good Posting

[lazeeboy]

I liked:

the fact that it turned the baddie farang movie stereotype around: this time the farang had a conscience (thanks to it being made outside of Thailand maybe?)

It was actually mostly made in Bangkok, or completely, but it's a Hollywood film. It's a remake of the original Thai movie of the same name, which I liked. Check it out sometime. The original filmmakers of that film sold the rights for a Hollywood remake but I believe they actually directed this one as well.

the thai version is on you tube in 11 parts with english subtitles

[Insight]

Looks like it's getting crap reviews all round on RottenTomatoes

[tavarich]

I remember when they were filming it in BKK. It was during the coup. I read that the hero of the movie jumped in the first plane out of there when the coup started I guess he got scared.

[kayo]

there was a lot of rumours to that effect.

The producers had a plane standing by for him (primarily for insurance reasons) but he didn't leave.

There is also a claim by the film's producers that filming only stopped for about 6 hours and that during filming of certain sequences that day, they can claim to have fired the only shots during the coup d'etat.

[Spee]

Looks like it's getting crap reviews all round on RottenTomatoes

It also b*mbed at the box office in North America. Supposedly, it was not opened to the critics for pre-screening, which is not a good sign and presumably puts it into the "fastest to DVD" contest. I was unaware that the directors of the original were also the directors of this remake.

[ThaiPauly]

We went to see it last night.

We both thought it was a very good film, but then I am a big fan of Nick Cage.

My Wife recognised a few of the actors, the blonde Thai crook guy can be regularly seen dining in Nobu's on Thong Lo apparantly

[kmart]

The trailer looked great. I love Nicholas Cage. I bet you its much better than Hanuman!

Hope it's better than the remake of the cult classic "Wicker Man" that Hollywood recently murdered, with Cage in the leading role.

[girlx]

i don't always like nicholas cage but i thought he was really good in this movie. and i think i liked it better than the original, though the story was different. i thought the fact that he is not deaf/dumb in this film but the girlfriend was was kinda weak. the girl who played his girlfriend annoyed me a bit too.

Edited September 8, 2008 by girlx

[lazeeboy]

gonna watch it in about 1 hour .still downloading it

[Groongthep]

Apparently it's a big box office flop

Nicolas Cage bombs at box office with "Bangkok"

Sunday September 7 2:21 PM ET

Less than a year after starring in the biggest movie of his volatile career, Nicolas Cage led the North American box office to its worst weekend in five years on Sunday with one of his weakest.

"Bangkok Dangerous," a thriller in which the 44-year-old actor plays a jaded assassin, opened at No. 1 with estimated three-day earnings of just $7.8 million, distributor Lionsgate said. While no one was expecting it to be a hit, industry observers had predicted it would earn more than $10 million.

The last box office champ to open lower was the David Spade comedy "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star," which kicked off with $6.7 million during the weekend of September 5-7, 2003.

Overall ticket sales also fell to their lowest level since then, said tracking firm Media By Numbers. The top 12 films earned $51.6 million, up from $50.5 million that weekend.

Early September is traditionally a quiet time at the box office since the summer blockbuster season is over. The studios spend the early fall quietly dumping their underperforming movies on the market. "Bangkok Dangerous" was the only new wide release this weekend.

Lionsgate, a unit of Lions Gate Entertainment Corp, said it was happy with the film's opening and expected it to be profitable. Although the movie reportedly cost $45 million to make, Lionsgate acquired U.S. and Canadian rights for a modest sum from "The Departed" producer Graham King's Initial Entertainment Group.

The film is a remake of the 1999 Thai film of the same name, with both being directed by Hong Kong-born twin brothers Danny and Oxide Pang. The remake was not screened in advance for critics, which is rarely a good sign.

Cage has actually done a lot worse at the box office: His terrorism thriller "Next" opened to $7.1 million in April 2007 and the family drama "The Weather Man" to $4.2 million in 2005. But he was last in theaters with the biggest movie of his career, "National Treasure: Book of Secrets," The action sequel opened to $45 million in December on its way to $220 million.

After three weeks at No. 1, DreamWorks/Paramount's Hollywood satire "Tropic Thunder" slipped to No. 2 with $7.5 million, while Columbia Pictures' comedy "The House Bunny" rose one to No. 3 with $5.9 million in its third week. Their respective tallies stand at $97 million and $37 million.

DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures are units of Viacom Inc. Columbia Pictures is a unit of Sony Corp.

(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Cynthia Osterman)

[sabaijai]

I preferred the original, felt more creative/original ... Cage's latest fake hair was distracting. No one has yet pointed out that it's the same directors for both films, Danny and Oxide Pang, who are Hong Kong Chinese, not Thai. They also directed The Eye, which has been remade twice (including a Hollywood version produced by Tom Cruise). Bangkok Dangerous was their first film.

On his own, Oxide Pang also directed The Tesseract, written by Alex Garland of The Beach fame.

[Jimjim]

Bomb? It was number one at the box office! Granted, it was the worst weekend in five years, but at least they're at the top, baby! I would have never said this movie would make a lot of money. Not surprised a bit. I forgot I know a guy whom I worked with in Bangkok that got a small speaking role in the film. I probably know a few others who got extra roles in it. Not sure if any of them made final cut. Maybe I will watch it sometime just to see.

Edit: Sabaijai, I did note that the original directors made this film as well but that was in the other thread about this film in General Topics. They are from Hong Kong but lived in Thailand for many years.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Jimjim

[Tod Daniels]

Saw it last Thursday, the day it opened in Bangkok. Mostly because I watched them film some of it at the Sheraton Grande & Soi Cowboy.

It wasn't a bad way to spend a mindless afternoon. Even on opening day it was just 140baht at The Emporium, so a bargain compared to going to a newly released movie in the US or UK.

Predictably Cage made all the typical "tourist" blunders; wai'ing everyone and their soi dog, choking on spicy thai food, speaking two-word-thai backwards, but for the most part it was well worth the $4US it cost to see it

I must concur that I was also amazed at the stuff the censors let slide thru. There was no "blur ball" obscuring guns, nudity with girls, or severed limbs spouting blood.

Unfortunately the trailers they were showing leading up to the movie had about every good action scene, so nothing really new. I thought it was a bummer he killed himself at the end too.

I'm looking forward to Tropic Thunder. ..

[Beacher]

The trailer looked great. I love Nicholas Cage. I bet you its much better than Hanuman!

Hope it's better than the remake of the cult classic "Wicker Man" that Hollywood recently murdered, with Cage in the leading role.

Cage has a habit of doing that (murdering films).

Sorry, you Cage fans, but I can't stand the man's "acting" (or in my opinion his inability to act).

[Jingthing]

It has the top box office in the US right now. I just saw it. Not as good as the original, but really a completely different movie. Thailand lovers will find a few funny moments, even if they make you groan (which they probably will). It isn't a great movie or even a very good one, but its very watchable and Cage has a strong screen presence even if you don't like his acting. Definitely worth a watch. If you are now out of Thailand, do not expect a travelogue. Its a story, mostly set in the fight sets like houses and warehouses.

Edited September 8, 2008 by Jingthing

[sabaijai]

I was hoping the Pang brothers' remake might include a cameo by Pawalit 'Bank' Mongkolpisit, who played the hit man in the original. Bank's a very 'natural' actor, somewhat rare for Thailand. Has anyone here seen Bar Paradise, a Cantonese-and-Thai film shot in Bangkok in 05, also starring Bank? I also enjoyed his performance in The Elephant King, which hasn't been released here yet.

[bonobo]

(reprinted from another thread)

generally liked it. It was not as good as the original, but still enjoyable.

I am not sure why they had to get a Hong Kong actress (Charlie Young) to play Joe's love interest (aren't there enough pretty Thai actresses available?), and Kong's character is rather watered down from the original, but overall, it was worth the price of admission.

I am not a Nicholas Cage fan, although many people, especially Thais, say I look like him. So sitting there with my Thai date (who does not look like Charlie Young, mores the pity! ), I did feel a degree of connection in that vein, especially as Nok (the Charlie Young character) was not a bargirl (that whole sexpat scene was limited in the movie.)

I watched the movie at MBK, and it was a little surreal seeing MBK on the screen while sitting in the mall itself. It was also humorous to here the gasps of surprise and laughter from the Thai women in the audience whenever Kong insulted Joe (under his breath) with Thai vulgarities. And that leads to a curious observation. I tend to steer clear of R-rated movies in Thailand as I hate to see a movie cut by censors. But the rain and traffic were so bad on Friday night that we decided to kill time by seeing the movie. So I was pleasantly surprised to see a movie which may have not been cut by Thai censors. There was nudity, brief sex, vulgar language, and very graphic and bloody violence.

[mrclough]

Just got back from the cinema, I really enjoyed the movie, A good way to spend an afternoon. Quality line of the movie " Bangkok, currupt, dirty, dence" says it all really.....

[toptuan]

Unfortunately the trailers they were showing leading up to the movie had about every good action scene, so nothing really new. I thought it was a bummer he killed himself at the end too.

SPOILER! Well, cross that movie off the list!

(And you're complaining that the trailers spoiled the action scenes for you?)

I'm looking forward to Tropic Thunder. ..

Then keep it to yourself.

Edited September 8, 2008 by toptuan

[Tango7]

Rotten Tomatoes gave it something like 12%

Mama Mia 54 %

The Dark Knight 94%

Hancock got 38%

I saw Mama Mia and loved it.. thought it was great and so Rotten Tomatoes was out on that one.

Hancock sucked and so 38% was about right, so, a score of 12% means I will not be going to see it on the big screen. Even if you trebled the score, it still comes under Hancock and so it seems like a no brainer. Wait until it goes to DVD, scrape some money together with your mates to rent it...make sure you're not paying more than 10 pence each ( so make sure there's a lot of you ) and you might get your money's worth.

[sabaijai]

Looks like it's getting crap reviews all round on RottenTomatoes

Yep. The original better rated higher on the tomatometer.

[kayo]

SOURCE (BBC Entertainment)

Bangkok film boxes its way to top

Nicolas Cage in Bangkok Dangerous

Action thriller Bangkok Dangerous has hit the top of the North American box office in its opening weekend.

The film, starring Nicolas Cage, took $7.8m (£4.4m).

It knocked Ben Stiller comedy Tropic Thunder, with $7.5m (£4.2m), into second place, with comedy The House Bunny third with $5.9m (£3.3m).

(article continues at Source)

[bonobo]

I'm looking forward to Tropic Thunder. ..

Funny, funny movie!

[Uros]

My favorite Bangkok Dangerous scenes:

1. A pedal moped runs a red light through a Bangkok intersection. Thai Highway Police cruising the streets gives chase with siren wailing and red lights flashing. Yeah right. I am all for suspending disbelief at the movies, but that really takes the cake.

2. All the shots of Nick Cage studying the tourist map of Bangkok.

3. A bit awkward but nonetheless cool long tail boat chase scene, though the motorcycle bit was laying on a bit thick.

Other than that I enjoyed the first half or so, but sort of nodded off towards the end(less) shoot-em-ups.

[bonobo]

My favorite Bangkok Dangerous scenes:

1. A pedal moped runs a red light through a Bangkok intersection. Thai Highway Police cruising the streets gives chase with siren wailing and red lights flashing. Yeah right. I am all for suspending disbelief at the movies, but that really takes the cake.

Thanks for reminding me!

I actually laughed when that happened. That had to be the most imporbably scene in the entire movie.

[phuketrex]

Thought CON AIR was one of his better ones.

I enjoyed Bangkok Dangerous right through but the scene in the warehouse near the end could have been a lot shorter and I could happily have sat through a lot more of the nightclub scenes with the stunning coyote dancers and Aom (Panward Hemmannee)>>>

Anyone know what nightclub was used for filming?

Thought nudity was illegal in movies shown in Thailand? Surprised me to see it in this..they normally fuzz it over.

The whole of Bangkok Dangerous (1999) is on Youtube in 11 parts in Thai with English subtitles if you want to watch it>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUd_31m97Ns

[Jimjim]

phuketrex, censorship is incredibly inconsistent in movies released in Thailand, so it's no surprise. Not sure what the actual censor law is regarding nudity. I don't think nudity is actually illegal per se, it's more sexual scenes with nudity I believe, which they call pornography, but even if that is their rule that is also incredibly inconsistent. Sometimes the movies get slipped past the censors, sometimes they censors can't be bothered. Whatever the actual law, it's really up to the whim of who's in charge at the moment, or what mood he/she is in that day, or how much tea (nudge nudge, wink wink) they have to drink that day provided by those who don't want their movies censored.

Edited September 12, 2008 by Jimjim

[lazeeboy]

watched it last night ,enjoyable but when are they going to learn how to end a movie ,in hollywood