Bangkok Dangerous (2008/Lionsgate Blu-ray + DVD-Video)
Picture: B-/C Sound: B+/B- Extras: C Film: C
Nicolas
Cage plays an assassin in The Pang Brothers new slick actioner Bangkok Dangerous (2008, remaking their
own 1999 Thai hit) in yet another “the assassin is turned on” formula film that
goes nowhere and if not for Cage, would be another straight-to-DVD
shelf-filler. Because Cage is involved
and tries to do something with his character, the film can be watchable here
and there, but it is otherwise so enamored with how slick it is that it is
almost in love with itself.
Of
course, this is supposed to be our killer hero’s last job, but the pseudo-irony
is now yet another cliché about the man never being able to have any
peace. There may be a few ideas
scattered about that are not bad, but they never add up to anything and the MTV
style of pointless editing makes it worse, increasingly unexciting and
instantly unrealistic, yet there is Cage making the most of it (including as
co-producer) and hoping for some kind of hit or another action franchise. Unfortunately, even he cannot save it.
Writer
Jason Richman wrote the new adaptation and it does not even have the wit of his
script for the Anthony Hopkins/Chris Rock actioner Bad Company (2002), a film that I did not think was as bad as many
said it was. Yet the idea is so
overdone, especially of late, that unless he did something innovative, this was
doomed. Stuck in the confines of a
remake, that was less likely. This is
“one night in Bangkok” you are not likely to enjoy much.
The 1080p
1.78 X 1 digital High Definition image looks awful, though reportedly shot on
film, is so grainy and noisy that it is one of the poorer Blu-rays I have seen
lately. With that aspect ratio and this
noise, you’d think it was an all-digital shoot.
Decha Srimantra was the Director of Photography on the original and is
back lensing the remake. The
anamorphically enhanced DVD looks much worse with more noise, less definition
and no point. And no, this look does not
equal a darker world, just a noisier-looking one.
The DTS HD
Master Audio (MA) lossless 7.1 mix is the default highlight of the Blu-ray with
its punchy sound and usually decent soundfield, but Brian Tyler’s score is not
his best and there is not much character to the mix. The Dolby Digital 5.1 EX mix on the DVD is
not as good, but it too is the highlight of that disc. The sound cannot compensate for the many
problems in either case.
Extras on
both versions include a Digital Copy disc so you can download a copy of the
film for PC and PC portable devices, an alternate ending, original theatrical
trailer and two making of featurettes.
The Blu-ray adds MixLog enhancements to enjoy the film more, that is, if
you actually like it.
- Nicholas Sheffo
