The Pang Brothers' debut film is brimming with energy. This version of Bangkok Dangerous was filmed in Thailand, not their homeland of China. It must have been challenging to secure funding and other rudimentary objectives before filming began. Their deaf-mute hit-man concept is unique (at least from my own limited film viewing experience). Bangkok Dangerous reflects the precision and enthusiasm of their direction. I can see how many people enjoy it. I can't say that I'm one of them. I found the movie severely lacking a plot until halfway through, and I didn't like how many action sequences were framed. It's so distracting to watch this subtitled movie while various faces appear. Your eyes are drawn to someone's face in anticipation of, well anything, and you miss dialog. Close up shots are to provide introspection within character or audience or heighten the experience of an action segment. If overused, like they are here, they become a murky amalgamation of meaninglessness. However, I must confess that if you know Thai, you won't experience the framing problem to the degree I did.Kong is a warm blooded killer from the mean streets of downtown Bangkok. We see him shooting people throughout the opening segments and cannot detect if he has any remorse for his occupation. He looks passé in comparison to the modern hit men of Western cinema. He goes home after a hard day of work to his shared apartment that is inhabited by his "employer" Jo. Jo may not really be his employer. I couldn't tell what his job is. He seems to exist to provide Kong companionship. Oh, and he also brings in business by asking his girlfriend, Aom, to deliver requests to Kong. Aom is a go go dancer (exotic dancer), who is later raped by an angry client. Jo vows revenge and dies trying to avenger her. She is also killed by the angry client. Kong is left alone with no support network until he meets a pharmacist, Fon, who empathizes with him. He loses her when she witnesses him kill two thugs that interrupt their date. Kong is now completely isolated and decides to kill everyone involved with Jo and Aom's deaths before he commits suicide.Kong's condition offers no dialog. We must sympathize with him like we would a silent movie protagonist. He is portrayed Pawalit Mongkolpisit, who admirably adjusts his facial expression to gain our sympathy. I imagine this is why so many shots are extreme close ups. Since no recognizable plot occurs until midway in, Kong receives no initial characterization. The movie should have commenced with Aom's rape. The slow buildup is inefficacious in creating any reason for its existence. It does eventually evolve into a standard revenge tragedy film with an inconclusive romantic subplot. Fon alerts the police of Kong's final assault, like Jo also serves to advance the plot. Anyone could have done that, why her? She is attracted to Kong, decides he is a bad dude, doesn't even want to look at him, and then realizes her affection. How lazily convenient.I don't even mind the movie's slow pace. Hitchcock taught us that speed can be terrible in eliminating tension. He also gave us a reason to care about what was happening to his characters. The Pang brothers don't do that. Bangkok Dangerous is amateurish work created by well-intentioned people. It permits many mistakes more experienced directors would not allow. The American remake (by the same directors) amends the storytelling faults of this original production. It isn't very good either, by the way. At least they are improving.

Here we go again. make a good Asian film and soon Hollywood will come around and ruin it for you. Those who have followed my criticisms of remakes know how I feel. For others, The Departed was a shallow remake of Infernal Affairs.Now, I see that Nickolas Cage is in a remake of this film. Despite the fact that the Pang brothers are directing and writing, it cannot hope to capture what was here.This is not just an action flick. It is so much more. It is the story of a child with hearing and speech impairment that was cruelly taunted by other children. He grew up into a meaningless life and meaningless jobs until someone noticed he has an ability that could be honed to perfection. Sure, he became a hit-man, but someone cared enough to teach and guide him to his potential.Now, with just two friends, Kong (Pawalit Mongkolpisit) was happy. He lived with his teacher (Pisek Intrakanchit), and got assignments from Aom (Patharawarin Timkul). Life was good, but about to get better.He meets Fon (Premsinee Ratanasopha) and love enters his life. He is supremely happy. Unfortunately, she learns the truth about his occupation, and he has to do some real soul searching.The streets of Bangkok are a perfect backdrop used to maximum effect by the Pang brothers, and the cast is a group that you can really get close to. This is a story that can never be duplicated by someone from Hollywood, and I am disappointed that they would even try.

Kong has been mute and deaf since childhood yet he is a very talented assassin who kills for money on behalf of his mentor, Joe. One day he visits the local pharmacy and meets Fon.Kong experiences love for the first time and tries to hide his life as an assassin. Meanwhile Joe's girlfriend is violently raped by a crime boss, Joe takes his revenge and in turn he is killed by his own boss, for breaching work ethic's 'Don't kill a client'.During a midnight stroll, Kong and Fon are attacked by thieves and Kong reacts with his killer instincts by killing the thieves; Fon realises Kong's profession and leaves in fear. Soon Kong must face up to his past as he looks to destroy the people that killed his mentor and friend.I expected a film with high octane violence like the John Woo movies but what I got was something entirely different. The character Kong is full of sadness and pain especially the scene when a young Kong, tries to scream and cry; yet no words come....This was very touching and sad; it maybe ignorant of me but I never realised or it never occurred to me that a mute person cannot shout or scream when in anger...The bond between Fon and Kong was very cute and the way she tries to talk to him. The training scene was also a plus, very exciting to see how Kong learnt his trade.It may lack the high octane shoot-outs but it delivers something much more, an actual story with great moments.

A genuine surprise. I had seen The Eye, and felt that while it had some excellent set pieces and scary moments, that it could have been better. Perhaps the American remake will be good, unlike The Ring. I had also seen Bangkok Haunted, a horror movie which had atmosphere, but few scare. So I came to this, knowing that the directors were stylish, but that they needed a superior, straighter story to tell if I was to appreciate them fully. This has it all. Great story, which will hold you until the end, fully drawn captivating characters, explosive and original action, strong performances, superb editing and dialogue, and packed with emotion. As I may have said, I'm a sucker for sentimentality, and real love stories, not the ones Hollywood tries to sell us 95% of the time, and this has both. But don't be put off if you hate that sort of thing, there is a lot of violence too, and the lovers are both very attractive. So, the story, not totally original, few are these days, but too much emphasis is placed on originality, and this adds many clever twists to an old story. A deaf-mute hitman seeks revenge on those who wronged him, while protecting his girlfriend, and proving he is not simply a killer. The climax is just as good, if not better than anything in The Matrix, and this has as many stand out scenes. But enough praise. It will probably be difficult to get hold of this film, but see it if you get the chance. Truly beautiful. Will probably climb my list as time goes on.