Customer Reviews

Bangkok Dangerous

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Bangkok Dangerous is a cool blast of daring and violent cinema that will have you enjoying every moment of its ultra-low budget "deaf"-defing trickery. The premise is simple - a dumb Thai hitman does not suffer from gun recoil because he does not hear the sound of his own gunfire and so has deadly accurate aim. He goes around Thailand knocking off criminals and crimelords but then has the fatal error of getting mixed up in some nasty business where innocent and important political people are killed. In the background there is the story of his brother assassin who is temporarily out of a job and a girl who works in the local chemist that he falls for.

You have to see it for the camera work and editing and violent special effects. It really does dazzle and there is lots of techno in the soundtrack. To be honest this little gem from Thailand simply mashes most Hollywood action flicks. Great!

This is a semi-interesting tale of a deaf-mute hitman who achieves a redemptive state after befriending/falling in love with a pretty shop girl. Only after receiving tenderness for the first time in his life does he come to understand his lifestyle for what it is (reprehensible) and begins to make amends the only way he knows how.

The 'meditation on violence' trope is beginning to wear thin to my eyes, but the setting went a long way towards keeping my interest. The filthy alleyways and seedy strip clubs establish the low value placed on human life in the circles traveled by the protagonist. This vehicle allows his rapid repentance a little more believable than it would have been otherwise.

The real gem is the camera technique. Without obvious recourse to the filmographic techniques made available to massive-budget films, the directors use a great number of subtle camera tricks to establish a mood and a style which go a long way towards making up the film's tiny budget. Scratched film in flash-backs, blurred vision during chases, documentary-style use of extras in multiple scenes (specifically the hit from the roof), and other inexpensive tricks move this film closer to Tony Scott than to John Woo.

All in all, this is a three-stars film. If the plot was a little more compelling I would have ranked it higher.

After reading the reviews and seeing the sound bites of reviewers in the DVD package, I set forth to buy Bangkok Dangerous. I was expecting a "hyperkinetic" movie, as one critic put it and a cinematic style that's "similar to John Woo and Quentin Tarantino". I got neither. What I got is a languidly paced film about a deaf-mute hitman eager to redeem himself for a pretty young pharmacist's love. Actually, that's the most interesting part of the movie, how the hitman communicates his love to Fon, the pharmacist. The gunplay, action, the pacing and the camera techniques are nowhere near what critics are comparing it to. There's no gimmicky non-linear storytelling. No "kewl" camera work. No "hip" editing. It is not like Tsui Hark's Time & Tide with its visually-stunning camera work and dense storytelling, instead it is more akin to Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai. Quiet, a little profound. The story is refreshingly simple but it kind of drags on in the middle, plodding to the point of predictable, it makes you wish it has one of those twists Thai TV commercials are known for in global advertising awards shows. All in all, Bangkok Dangerous is a refreshing film to see amidst the noisy action films of Hollywood and Hong Kong. But don't get misled by what's on the cover.

Nope, I don't watch Asian crime flicks , but I did see this film at the Toronto Int'l Film Festival where out of nowhere it won the Foreign Press Award. Impressive given the number of curious and good films it was competing against.

This film was over the top in terms of violence and some of the assassinations were gratuitous. However , the dramatization of the violence was sweetly integrated with acting and script that was underdramatized, real, and understated. The movie successfully moved from in your face sounds , sensations, and events to quietude, gestures implying a lot, and real everyday people and places. It is a great combination . I don't find hokey martial arts films very creative. Those movies are mind numbing.This movie in its sublime moments make you think about real lifestyles, conflicts, and places. I've been to Bangkok and there is an undercurrent of violence that the foreigner knows exists but doesn't see . This film is more about style and is akin to Tarantino's quirkiness, inventiveness, and impact. If you don't read all the reviews first then much in the movie is ambiguous at times and that adds suspense and curiosity. The movie is a gem and I can't wait to be able to see it distributed in North america.

This is one of the best films I've seen in 1999. The story is about a professional hit-man (kong) who became deaf and dumb when he was bullied as a child. He then grows up to believe that no one cares about him, so why should he care about anyone else. For me his deaf and dumbness adds tension to the story because his emotions are portrayed with actions rather than words. As a teenager he meets Jo and Aom and gets involved as a hit man in Bangkok. Assassinating his victims with no remorse or feeling.

Then one day he meets a girl from the local pharmacy. This is when he starts to realise that there are people who care.

There are other subplots to this film, but if I say anymore I'd give the plot away.

Along with a fantastic Hardhouse soundtrack during the action scenes mixing in very well with a more classical theme during the moral parts of the story. The action can be very realistic and very cold at times. There is a rather disturbing gang rape scene. It's not graphic in detail, but will make you really think about the horror of it all. It's also an important turning point in the film.

If you have ever lived or worked in Thailand you will like this film even more as it touches upon certain moral values placed upon modern day Thai society. For those who have never been to Thailand, just sit back and enjoy a well directed, well written film.

The direction (by the Pang Brothers) is superb. I'm sure we will all hear about these guys in the future. The film was made on a very low budget, but despite this special effects are good and are detrimental to the film and in no way over-the-top like the Hollywood rubbish we all have to suffer.

Don't be put off by the fact it is in Thai. As the main character cannot speak anyway, the emotions are universal. The movie is subtitled very well in English also.

Looking forward to a DVD release.

Bangko Dangerous played a little too much like Kar Wai's Fallen Angels(deaf/mute hitman with somewhat arrested developement, similar music video like cinematography, etc) but was enjoyable none the less.
A deaf hitman goes about killing for pay, but stumbles on to a young girl(Premsinee Ratanasophacan) who sees past his handicap and the two fall for each other. Then he takes work home with him, showing the young girl his violent side(aimed at some confronting punks, not her) and coupled with the death of his friend and coworker, his seemingly intact world starts to fall apart.
I won't go on any further and spoil the film for you, but none of it's unexpected or totally new. Still, I don't regret watching the film and wouldn't mind purchasing the DVD simply because, when viewed just as a fim and not some new hope or whatever, it's a good movie.
Definately worth a rent and if you love movies like Leon, Ghost Dog or Fallen Angels, you might want to pick this one up.

I didnt like anything about this flick.Title has Bangkok so I kinda expect to see city once in a while--no luck. The impression from movie is people are killed left and right in Thailand when in reality it very safe, peaceful and plenty of fun not counting culture in different forms waiting on each corner.The problem is crime rate in USA about 10 times higher than in Thailand but movie gives me opposite impression. Give me facts and entertainment.

This movie was qute the surprize. The deaf mute hitman was some one you came to like and feel sorry for. The leading actor only spoke in the end but you really were able to connect with him and actually like him. The move is violent but not over the top. It is subtitled but you really do not need to understand most of the dialog to follow it. I really enjoyed it and the acting was quite good and the plot was different. I think this version is far better than the English re-make with Nicolas Cage.

So if you like action movies with a bit of a love story angle and dont mind doing a little reading you will most likely enjoy it. The sound trac is quite good as well.

Dean

But i did like it. You can tell it was shot with a low budget it almost looks like its real footage shot with a video camera. I liked the remake slightly better, but this is worth a peep

It's easy to understand why this movie marked the new quality standards for Thaļ movies, and Thaļ movies have won fame and respect all around the world.

Fine direction, creative photography, solid characters and not "the Hollywood beautiful type". The influences of Hong Kong productions and The Perfect Assasin are evident however Bangkok Dangerous has its own unique features. The final scene it's just to think over (abused people become cruel and then we get scared for that, but never do something to protect the weak before they turn into criminals).

BD is a movie to behold and enjoy.