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"BANGKOK DANGEROUS" (2008) (Nicolas Cage, Shahkrit Yamnarm) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Extreme Extreme *Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None Heavy Mild Heavy Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Minor Minor Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action: A solitary hitman unexpectedly begins to mentor his young assistant while on a job to kill several people in the Thai capital. PLOT: Joe (NICOLAS CAGE) is a veteran assassin who lives and works by four simple rules: Work alone, trust no one, don't leave any evidence, and know when to get out. With the latter in mind, he's decided to take one last job for Thai crime boss Surat (NIRATTISAI KALJARUEK) that will involve killing four people. Hiring local Bangkok street hustler Kong (SHAHKRIT YAMNARM) as his assistant who gets the target info from go-between exotic dancer Aom (PANWARD HEMMANEE), Joe sets out to complete the task at hand and then leave. What he doesn't count on, however, is deciding to teach Kong the tricks of his trade (he usually ends up killing his assistants to cover his tracks) or falling for deaf pharmacist Fon (CHARLIE YOUNG). When his last target ends up being a high profile politician (and thus a riskier kill), Joe must decide what to do, especially now that he's developed feelings for Fon and thus is conflicted about his place and role in the world in which he operates. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older male adolescents might be somewhat interested, especially if they're fans of gritty action flicks and/or someone in the cast. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For violence, language and some sexuality. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: NICOLAS CAGE plays a solitary assassin whose deadly, efficient and anonymous reputation precedes him, meaning he's always in demand and paid highly for his work. He kills various people (including those who work for him), but surprisingly decides to mentor Kong in his line of work. He also ends up falling for Fon, with those feelings conflicting with the work at hand. He briefly uses strong profanity. SHAHKRIT YAMNARM plays the street hustler who Joe hires as his temporary assistant. After figuring out Joe's line of work, he wants the assassin to train him, and thus learns the tricks of the trade. He also uses strong profanity, briefly drinks, and finds himself attracted to Aom. CHARLIE YOUNG plays the deaf pharmacist who takes a liking to Joe despite their differences and inability to communicate. NIRATTISAI KALJARUEK plays the crime boss who hires Joe to kill four people, including a high profile political figure. When things appear to start unraveling, he calls for the situation to be cleaned (meaning death orders). PANWARD HEMMANEE plays the exotic dancer who serves as the go-between for Joe and Surat. She ends up being interested in Kong. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this R-rated action flick. Profanity consists of at least 5 "f" words (including in subtitles), while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered and sexually related song lyrics are heard. A three-way sexual encounter is briefly seen (2 women and 1 man, with one moving on top of the man), while bare breasts are seen there and elsewhere in the film, as are several scenes featuring scantly clad exotic dancers. Violence consists of all sorts of murders and deaths by various means (mostly gunfire), and some of that has extremely bloody/gory results (a body with no lower half, a severed arm, etc.), while non-lethal fighting also occurs. Those scenes and moments of potential peril might be unsettling or suspenseful for some viewers, while the action and stunts, etc. might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while there's background drinking and smoking, as well as the presence of heroin (mostly just seen, but injected into one addict's arm to make his death by other means appear to be an overdose). Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's a partial strobe effect in a club, while there are flashes from guns fired in the darkness. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there are varying amounts of camera movement in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see miscellaneous beer drinking. We see Joe preparing some heroin, but it's not for himself. After he shocks his current assistant with a zapper, he injects the needle into the addict's heavily scarred arm (presumably from past drug use), to make his death appear to be via an overdose. People drink in a club. Surat comments on Joe's request for heroin. Later, we see Joe looking at that and the syringe accompanying it (both inside a bag), presumably to be used again as listed above (in a person he kills). Miscellaneous people drink in a club. After some thugs jump Kong, Joe tells him to get a beer out of the fridge as it will help with the swelling. Kong does and drinks a bit. We see miscellaneous drinking in a club. Miscellaneous people have wine. Joe throws out his small package of heroin (presumably due to deciding not to kill Kong). Joe looks at another small bag of heroin that's been delivered in his latest assignment briefcase. BLOOD/GORE Joe uses a sniper rifle to shoot his next target from a distance. We see blood spurt out when the man is hit, and then see a growing pool of blood on the table under the man's head. After Joe tells Kong he can't stop for anything while returning with the assassin's marching orders, Kong asks, "What if I have to piss?" Joe cuts his arm/shoulder on something in passing on his motorcycle and we see the somewhat bloody scrapes. Kong has some bloody scrapes and bruises on his face following being jumped by some thugs. We see a severed lower arm after Joe uses an outboard motor to cut that off his target (with blood on the end, and the hand still twitching). Joe then shoots that man dead, with an underwater view of blood mixing with water beneath the boat. Two thugs grab Joe as he walks along in a park with Fon (she doesn't notice as she's deaf and this occurs behind her). Joe easily disarms and then shoots both men, with some blood splattering up onto Fon's clothed back (that she then touches, getting blood on her hand). Joe nearly shoots his next target (a high-profile politician) during a parade, but can't get himself to do it. We do, however, see an imagined view of following his bullet down to the target's head, followed by a rapid-fire flashback view of Joe's previous killings, some of which have bloody results (including a cut throat). Two thugs are bloody after being wounded in an explosion. We see a little blood on some hanging plastic after someone nearby is shot. Joe grabs Surat's right-hand thug who's about to throw a hand grenade at him. The two briefly struggle with Joe then putting the grenade down by the thug's waist and it explodes, blowing off his lower body while sending him through the air (we see the bloody and legless torso on the floor). Joe has his and others' blood on him after fighting with Surat's men. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Kong tries to hustle various tourists, asking the men if they want girls and telling them he can get them. When they decline that offer, he asks if they want boys. While they're distracted, he uses a razor blade to cut open a bag and steal a wallet. Surat and his goons obviously have bad attitudes. Joe is a professional assassin who kills many people for money. Kong drives his scooter through a red light and then eludes the police car that comes after him. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. We see the cross-hair point of view through Joe's sniper rifle scope as he prepares to take out his next target. As Joe threatens to kill Surat's wife (the threat coming over the phone), we see a small, red target on the side of the woman's head. Surat gives the order for his men to eliminate all risks, thus meaning death orders for Kong and Aom. Joe nearly shoots his next target (a high-profile politician) during a parade, but can't get himself to do it (we see his sniper scope POV). A man grabs another man, pulls his head close, and then aims a gun at his own head. After a few moments, he pulls the trigger, committing suicide but also killing the other man (only partially seen). GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Machine guns/Hand grenade/Bombs/Switchblade: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. Guards carry machine guns. We see Kong shooting a handgun during target practice. We see Kong doing more target practice, with Joe then joining him. We see Joe making some homemade bombs. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Duck f*cker," "F*ck your mother" (nonsexual, said as an insult), "M*therf*cker," "Why the f*ck do you care?" "Bullsh*t," "Birdsh*t," "High class ass," "What if I have to piss?" and "I kicked their asses" (some in subtitles). The action, stunts and more might be enticing for some kids to imitate. A miscellaneous person has tattoos across their fingers. Kong tries to hustle various tourists, asking the men if they want girls and telling them he can get them. When they decline that offer, he asks if they want boys. While they're distracted, he uses a razor blade to cut open a bag and steal a wallet. Kong drives his scooter through a red light and then eludes the police car that comes after him. Aom wears a midriff-revealing top. A man jumps from a moving boat into the water (to avoid being shot). A man grabs another man, pulls his head close, and then aims a gun at his own head. After a few moments, he pulls the trigger, committing suicide but also killing the other man (only partially seen). JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of suspenseful and heavily-dramatic music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) A song has the lyrics "I like the way you push...I like the way you move...Let me feel you good." A song has the lyric, "You're a sexy man." A song has the lyric, "Make me loose control." PROFANITY At least 5 "f" words (1 used with "mother"), 2 "s" words, 3 asses (1 used with "hole") and 1 damn (some in English subtitles). SEX/NUDITY Some songs have sexually related lyrics (see that category for more details). Joe states (in voice-over narration) that he sleeps alone. In the background of a shot we see the silhouetted image of an ad for an exotic dancer club, including that of the shape of one woman bent over. Kong tries to hustle various tourists, asking the men if they want girls and telling them he can get them. When they decline that offer, he asks if they want boys. About an exotic dancer club, Kong tells Joe that there's "high class ass" there. Aom and other exotic dancers do their thing in a club while dressed in revealing attire (lots of skin, including cleavage). After Kong mentions that Joe's next target brings in young girls for sex, we see that man in bed with two girls (from a little bit of a distance and in partial shadows). One is lying beside him and kissing on him, while the other is on top of him having sex, with movement and a close-up view of her silhouetted bare breast. We later see that same man fondling a bare-breasted young woman (who slaps his hands away) and then headed off to the swimming pool wearing just small trunks. We then see several more quick cutaway views of that bare-breasted girl as Joe attacks that man in the pool. We see Aom and other exotic dancers doing their thing in very small and sexy nurses' outfits. SMOKING Several miscellaneous characters are briefly seen smoking, including one with a cigar. TENSE FAMILY SCENES As Joe threatens to kill Surat's wife (the threat coming over the phone), we see a small, red target on the side of the woman's head (worrying Surat). Surat's right-hand thug drags Aom across the floor and threatens to treat her younger sister (who's sleeping) the same way if Aom doesn't cooperate. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Assassins and assassinations. Why Joe would decide to train Kong. Why Joe would suddenly develop a conscience about his line of work. Bangkok. Being deaf. VIOLENCE Joe uses a sniper rifle to shoot his next target from a distance. We see blood spurt out when the man is hit, and then see a growing pool of blood on the table under the man's head. We see Joe preparing some heroin, but it's not for himself. After he shocks his current assistant with a zapper, he injects the needle into the addict's heavily scarred arm (presumably from past drug use), to make his death appear to be via an overdose. We see punches and kicks delivered in a kickboxing (or similar) bout. Joe zooms up on a motorcycle and fires a machine gun into a car, killing his first target as well as others inside the vehicle (no blood). As he races away, he cuts his arm/shoulder on something in passing. A man hits Kong off his scooter and he and other men proceed to kick him repeatedly on the street. Kong then draws a switchblade that he uses to cut those men on their legs before running away. Joe pushes Kong back against the fridge and holds him there by his throat. After Kong asks to be trained, Joe pushes him back against a wall and then shows him how to block or remove an attacker's arm, including with a knife in his hand. Joe attacks his next target underwater in a swimming pool, grabbing and struggling with that man until the latter ends up drowning (all as we hear rapidly increasing heartbeats on the audio track). Surat's right-hand thug slaps a kid on his head. Joe prepares to shoot his next target as both ride in separate gondola type boats. That man, however, spots Joe's gun and flees in a motorboat, with Joe in hot pursuit. Joe fires at his target who shoots back, with the target's pilot jumping overboard. The target then shoots something that explodes near Joe's boat, incapacitating it. Joe then steals a motorcycle and gives chase along the side of the canal, shooting at the target who shoots back. Joe hits the man, but he hits Joe's bike, causing Joe to jump to the boat just as the bike hits a wall and explodes. Joe then spins the outboard motor around and the spinning blades cut off the man's lower arm. Joe then takes the gun from that hand and shoots the target dead. Two thugs grab Joe as he walks along in a park with Fon (she doesn't notice as she's deaf and this occurs behind her). Joe easily disarms and then shoots both men, with some blood splattering up onto Fon's clothed back (that she then touches, getting blood on her hand). Surat's right-hand thug drags Aom across the floor and threatens to treat her younger sister (who's sleeping) the same way if Aom doesn't cooperate. Two thugs attack Kong and he easily beats them up, but then notices that Surat's right-hand thug and others have guns on Aom, so he gives up. Surat's right-hand thug hits Kong and then has him in a headlock, pressuring him to give up Joe's location. Joe nearly shoots his next target (a high-profile politician) during a parade, but can't get himself to do it. We do, however, see an imagined view of following his bullet down to the target's head, followed by a rapid-fire flashback view of Joe's previous killings, some of which have bloody results (including a cut throat). Back in real life, security then spots Joe and many people open fire on him with machine guns and such, riddling the building he's in. He tries to flee as panic and chaos unfold on the street, with more shots fired at him until he manages to blend into the crowd and get away as he uses a camera to break a car window (to steal the car). Armed thugs enter Joe's house, with him sending two homemade bombs down the stairs toward them while he jumps into the bathtub for protection. The bombs go off, destroying much of the house and presumably killing one or more thugs. Joe then comes down to find two of them, wounded and bloody, and he shoots one dead. We see Joe shoot several of Surat's guards dead, and then hear the sound of more such shootings and see even more, while some of Surat's men blindly fire their guns in Joe's vicinity. As Joe makes his way through Surat's headquarters, he shoots more men dead, while some shots are fired back at him. In one gun battle through plastic water jugs, he shoots the other man dead, but is hit somewhere in his torso or arm. He eventually grabs Surat's right-hand thug who's about to throw a hand grenade at him. The two briefly struggle with Joe then putting the grenade down by the thug's waist and it explodes, blowing off his lower body while sending him through the air (we see the bloody and legless torso on the floor). Joe shoots at a fleeing car, hitting two people inside it. He then fires more shots at the car from a distance, hoping to hit Surat. A man grabs another man, pulls his head close, and then aims a gun at his own head. After a few moments, he pulls the trigger, committing suicide but also killing the other man (only partially seen). Reviewed September 5, 2008 / Posted September 5, 2008

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