Bangkok Dangerous

There are two versions of this DVD: the Rolls-Royce with an extra disc jammed with bonuses galore and this one, the stripped-down Smart car edition. The Smart car offers only the film, presented both in widescreen disc and (if it matters anymore) 4:3 full screen. Needless to say, widescreen best presents the film, bringing out the action sequences and the lush landscape of Bangkok. Both versions present the Pang Brothers' remake of their 1999 cult hit Bangkok Dangerous, which has been adapted to suit Hollywood star Nicholas Cage. Cage plays Joe, a cold, cynical hit man who flies to Thailand to perform four jobs. Along the way he enlists a young smartass pickpocket named Kong (Shahkrit Yamnarm) as his apprentice and falls for a pretty, deaf-mute pharmacist, Fon (Charlie Young), the only one who warms Joe's icy exterior. Thailand humanizes Joe to the point where he can no longer do his job and in a sudden turn of events, he becomes a target himself. This action flick got hammered when it premiered at the end of last summer but unfairly so. True, we've seen hit men gain a conscience before, and there are countless action flicks starring professional killers. However, the Pang twins have presented a slick, entertaining package that shows style and even restraint when compared to more violent non-stop actioners like the recent Bond films. Furthermore, Cage's performance deserves a second look. He underplays his hit man so well that when Joe does open up to Fon we glimpse a vulnerable, redeeming side to his character that adds a layer of meaning to the ending. Bangkok Dangerous deserves a second look.