Review of Bangkok Dangerous (2008) by Ellesse H — 06 Mar 2010

I watched this movie solely because it starred Nicolas Cage. It was worth it. Not only was there some decent action and amusing homoeroticism, but the directors even fit in a homage to John Woo (when Nic Cage dual wields pistols in the film's finale!).

I think I've seen this movie before at least two times under another title (one was John Woo's The Killer and the other Blast of Silence) but this is the only one I can think of that features Nicolas Cage slicing off a man's hand with a boat propellor.

So is it fairly stupid? Yes. Is it pretty damn cliched? Yes. But is it damn good entertainment? Yes. Let's face it, not every movie you watch has to be a work of art, nor does every movie Nicolas Cage makes have to be another Wild At Heart.

If Cage does one thing successfully it is balancing the popcorn movies with the more artistic endeavors, and I'd say that for the most part they're entertaining enough to be worth your time. As long as you can appreciate a little stupidity (something that's necessary for a Nicolas Cage fan) and a lot of insanity, you should find something to enjoy here.

At the very least check out Joe's (that his character's name, by the way) hilariously awkward courtship of a deaf/mute woman whose name we never actually learn (though we know it means "rain"), and who ultimately has little to do with the plot.